### What is a tract home primarily characterized by? - [ ] Custom-built designs - [ ] High-end, luxury finishes - [x] Similar homes built closely together - [ ] Large, isolated lots > **Explanation:** Tract homes are characterized by multiple similar homes built closely together on parcels of land that are subdivided into individual lots. This method significantly reduces building costs, offering good value to consumers. ### Why are tract homes generally less expensive than custom-built homes? - [x] They are built simultaneously, reducing material and labor costs - [ ] They use luxury materials - [ ] They are built with larger lots - [ ] They employ high-end architects > **Explanation:** Tract homes are less expensive because they are built simultaneously, which substantially reduces material and labor costs. Prefabricated components such as stairs and roof trusses also help minimize expenses. ### Where did tract housing in the United States originate from? - [ ] Canadian suburbs - [x] Europe's row housing developments - [ ] Asian apartment complexes - [ ] Australian townhouses > **Explanation:** Tract housing in the United States originated from Europe's row housing developments, where similar homes were built in close proximity to each other. ### What was one of the first significant tract housing developments in the United States? - [ ] Las Vegas, Nevada - [x] Levittown, New York - [ ] Silicon Valley, California - [ ] Miami, Florida > **Explanation:** One of the first significant tract housing developments in the United States was at Levittown, New York. Whole suburbs were mass-produced to accommodate young families after World War II. ### What component in tract housing is often prefabricated to reduce costs? - [x] Stairs and roof trusses - [ ] Custom cabinetry - [ ] Hardwood flooring - [ ] High-end fixtures > **Explanation:** Components like stairs and roof trusses are often prefabricated in tract housing, allowing developers to transfer cost savings to home buyers. ### How does modern tract housing differ from early tract housing designs? - [ ] They feature more luxury elements - [x] Modern developments incorporate a variety of architectural designs. - [ ] They are mostly custom-built now - [ ] Only single-story designs are used > **Explanation:** Many early tract housing developments featured identical homes, but modern developments incorporate a variety of architectural designs to offer more variety to the buyers. ### What was the primary reason behind the mass production of tract homes post World War II? - [ ] To build luxury estates - [ ] To create vacation homes - [ ] To produce commercial buildings quickly - [x] To accommodate young families > **Explanation:** Post World War II, tract homes were mass-produced to accommodate the growing number of young families, addressing the housing demand quickly and efficiently. ### What advantage do home buyers generally get from developers building tract homes simultaneously? - [ ] Custom designs - [x] Reduced building costs - [ ] Gated communities - [ ] Larger homes > **Explanation:** Building tract homes simultaneously substantially reduces material and labor costs, which developers can then pass on as savings to the home buyers. ### Which of the following is NOT typically a feature of tract homes? - [x] Unique, custom floor plans for every home - [ ] Prefabricated components - [ ] Similar architectural styles - [ ] Closely built homes on subdivided lots > **Explanation:** Tract homes typically do not feature unique, custom floor plans for every home. Instead, they utilize similar architectural styles and often include prefabricated components to keep costs low. ### In which state is Levittown, one of the earliest examples of tract housing, located? - [ ] New Jersey - [ ] California - [x] New York - [ ] Texas > **Explanation:** Levittown, one of the earliest examples of tract housing, is located in New York. It was developed to accommodate young families after WWII. ### What was the primary model for early U.S. tract housing developments? - [ ] Single-family detached homes - [ ] High-rise apartments - [x] Row housing developments in Europe - [ ] Victorian-style mansions > **Explanation:** The primary model for early U.S. tract housing developments derived from row housing developments in Europe, where similar homes were built closely together.