The Roman aqueducts that supplied cities such as Rome and Nimes with fresh water demonstrated remarkable engineering precision — some maintained gradients as gentle as a fraction of a percent over distances exceeding 50 kilometers. Yet most aqueducts were constructed without modern surveying instruments, relying on tools such as the chorobates, a level using water-filled grooves, and careful sighting between successive stations.
Which conclusion most logically follows from the passage?
- A
Modern surveying instruments are required for any large-scale engineering precision
- Bcheck_circle
Roman builders achieved fine engineering tolerances using comparatively simple instruments
- C
The chorobates was less accurate than rough estimation
- D
Roman aqueducts typically had steep gradients to maintain flow
Explanation
Achieving fractional-percent gradients with simple tools supports B. A and C contradict the passage; D is unsupported.