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The Paragraphs of the Following Essay Have Been Scrambled So

question 10

Multiple Choice

The paragraphs of the following essay have been scrambled so that they are out of order. Read them and then answer the question(s) that follow.
Libraries of the Future − Now
_____ (1) A third illustration of a library breaking the old mold, the Cerritos Public Library in New Mexico strives for mixed-media experience that reflects modern culture. (2) The first titanium-clad building in the U.S., this sleek library's golden skin changes colors with the weather. (3) Its lobby, where a 15,000-gallon saltwater aquarium reproduces a coral reef, looks more like the inside of a futuristic shopping mall than a library. (4) Video screens flash images such as movie clips, and visitors glide in space-age elevators. (5) Librarians don't sit behind desks; instead, armed with headsets and handheld computers, they greet visitors and move among them to offer assistance and guidance. (6) In the children's library, kids can project themselves onto a video screen beside a life-size replica of a T. rex dinosaur. (7) The library aims, through interaction and sensory experience, to stimulate library-goers' imaginations and curiosity, inspiring them to grab one of the library's 300,000 books and start reading.
_____ (8) A second, even more experimental example is the Salt Lake City Library, which has become one of Utah's top attractions since it opened in 2003. (9) The curved glass skin of the building dazzles visitors with views of the city and the Wasatch Mountains beyond, and a roof garden overlooks the entire Salt Lake Valley. (10) Like Seattle's library, this has won architectural awards, but unlike Seattle, it has been called the "unquietest library in America." (11) Inside, music pumps through speakers, and librarians wear "No Shhh!" buttons, although the five floors do get quieter the higher one goes. (12) Patrons can sip coffee at a café, browse a huge CD and DVD collection, surf the Internet on one of the 163 computers, stroll through an art gallery, or attend a lecture or concert in the auditorium. (13) Of course, they can also help themselves to one of the books in the library's 500,000-volume collection.
_____ (14) As information-seekers began turning to computers and the Internet, some people predicted the death of the public library, which supposedly would serve no purpose in an electronic world. (15) But that has not happened. (16) On the contrary, many city planners now think that libraries will take on a new role for busy people in the twenty-first century. (17) In fact, pioneering cities are spending vast sums to reinvent their libraries as community information centers that not only integrate the latest technology but also attract visitors with art, music, comfort, and beautiful design.
_____ (18) To achieve the goal of expanding their citizens' knowledge and literacy, savvy library planners know that, first, they must draw people inside. (19) In the case of these three libraries, the plan seems to be working. (20) Library membership at all three has risen dramatically. (21) Residents who never before set foot in a library are regulars, and after school, young people hang out and do homework. (22) As such extreme library makeovers are revealed, old perceptions of libraries as stuffy or boring shatter. (23) Wired? Enlightening? Gorgeous? Cool? (24) It might be a library.
_____ (25) One example is the new library in Seattle, Washington, which opened in 2004 to worldwide praise. (26) After studying feedback from residents, librarians, and library users of all ages, architect Rem Koolhaas created ⎯ at a cost of $165 million ⎯ a modernistic copper and glass building with interior touches of eye-popping color. (27) Employees describe it as so much fun to work in that they never miss a day. (28) Library-goers enter a huge, welcoming "living room" where they can relax, socialize, read, or connect wirelessly to the Internet. (29) Virtual guides on large monitors greet people and later pop up helpfully on screens throughout the library. (30) At the building's core, a continuous, user-friendly spiral of bookshelves holds the library's collection. (31) Patrons can get help from librarians, search for information on 132 computers, or chat online with the "virtual reference service" in a space Koolhaas calls the "mixing chamber." (32) In the teen center, young patrons can enter sound domes and blast ear-splitting music without disturbing anyone else.
This essay is a(n)

Determine the present value of future payments or investments to evaluate their current worth.

Apply the concepts of compounding interest semiannually and annually in financial calculations.

Assess investment or loan scenarios to make informed financial decisions.

Understand the structure and calculation of annuities, including future and present values.

Definitions:

Mental Patients

Individuals receiving treatment for mental health disorders or conditions, typically under the care of health professionals.

Stanford-Binet

A standardized test designed to measure intelligence and cognitive abilities in children and adults, originating from Alfred Binet's early work.

Psychologist

A professional specializing in studying the mind and behavior.

Age 8

Refers to a developmental stage in childhood characterized by growing cognitive and social abilities, typically corresponding to third grade in the U.S. education system.