Pennaspirant

Why is the primary purpose of the passage to explain an approach? And not justify an expense?

Pennaspirant

Also, how would you explain that question 13 in page 402? Why is the answer C, displaying a work of art to its best advantage and not E, providing elegant surroundings for exceptional paintings?

GrammarGuy

In question 9, the author is explaining his approach to studying cities:

"The following study is concerned with..."
"It aims to..."
"I want to find out not just who designed the buildings and when they were built but why they were built."

The author is explaining and justifying his approach.

It has nothing to do with justifying an expense.

GrammarGuy

For question 13, the paragraph isn't concerned with the elegance of the surroundings, or even with how exceptional the painting is.

The painting is "large." The author had "no wall and no room to do it justice." The painting needs "a vast, empty room." The author sells the painting and buys a smaller one.

If only he had a large house with large walls and plenty of room to admire the large painting from a distance, then he would be "displaying a work of art to its best advantage." That's what he wants, but doesn't get.