Look closely at the picture of the Boston City Hall. What words would you use to describe it? The Boston City Hall illustrates a post-World War II style of architecture called Brutalism. Some people love it, but many others hate it. As you can see, Brutalist buildings are massive, block-like structures with unpainted concrete exteriors that lack surface decorations.
OK, but what does this have to do with the SAT? A recent SAT passage pointed out that Brutalist architecture was PRAGMATIC or practical because architects were driven by post-World War II necessities. At that time, there was a shortage of building materials and a pressing need to rely on cheap and plentiful supplies of concrete. The style later became famous for its bold, raw aesthetic.
Bonus point! This is not the first time SAT test writers have used Brutalism to illustrate a challenging word. About a year ago, they wrote a passage noting that Brutalist buildings are “divisive” because their massive size and heavy concrete designs are often INCOMMENSURATE or out of proportion with surrounding buildings. For example, the Boston City Hall provides a sharp visual clash with the city’s nearby historic red-brick and traditional buildings.
PRAGMATIC – practical and sensible
INCOMMENSURATE – out of proportion; not matching another thing is size