In differentiating short-lived and long-lived component parts of a structure, which statement is true?

In differentiating short-lived and long-lived component parts of a structure, which statement is true?

• A. Short-lived items have a longer remaining life than the basic structure
• B. Short-lived items are not repairable
• C. Long-lived items have shorter economic life than the entire structure
• D. Short-lived items have a remaining life expectancy shorter than the basic structure

Answer: (D)

The idea being tested is how component parts relate to the overall structure in terms of lifespan. Short-lived items are expected to wear out or need replacement much sooner than the building as a whole, while long-lived items persist longer than the structure itself. That’s why the statement that short-lived items have a remaining life expectancy shorter than the basic structure is correct: if the structure is planned for, say, several decades, a short-lived component like carpeting or light fixtures will typically have only a fraction of that life left. The other choices don’t fit this concept: short-lived items aren’t necessarily non-repairable, so A and B aren’t accurate; and long-lived items don’t have a shorter economic life than the structure, so C is also inconsistent with the definition.

The idea being tested is how component parts relate to the overall structure in terms of lifespan. Short-lived items are expected to wear out or need replacement much sooner than the building as a whole, while long-lived items persist longer than the structure itself. That’s why the statement that short-lived items have a remaining life expectancy shorter than the basic structure is correct: if the structure is planned for, say, several decades, a short-lived component like carpeting or light fixtures will typically have only a fraction of that life left. The other choices don’t fit this concept: short-lived items aren’t necessarily non-repairable, so A and B aren’t accurate; and long-lived items don’t have a shorter economic life than the structure, so C is also inconsistent with the definition.