Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?

Choice A is the best answer because it accurately outlines the progression of ideas across the passage. The author begins by summarizing an early twentieth-century view (that Gothic builders worked purely by intuition without formal theory), introduces archival evidence that challenged this view by showing builders used geometric canons, and concludes by presenting recent digital stress-modeling that complicates both earlier ideas and leads to a more nuanced explanation (that stability was achieved through trial, error, and overbuilding).

Choice B is incorrect because the archival discoveries contradicted the initial theory rather than supporting it, and the passage never discusses replicating construction techniques.

Choice C is incorrect because the computational data does not confirm either of the earlier explanations; instead, it reveals the limitations of the geometric theory, prompting the author to dismiss both views in favor of an iterative process.

Choice D is incorrect because the text never advocates for a return to traditional analytical methods; the modern digital tools are embraced as providing key insights that shape the author's final conclusion.