What is a colonnade?

• A. A curved wall.
• B. A straight row of columns supporting a roof, entablature, or arcade.
• C. An archway group.
• D. A decorative frieze.

Answer: (B)

A colonnade is a straight row of columns that supports a roof, entablature, or arcade. This arrangement creates a covered walkway and sets up a rhythmic line along a façade, a hallmark of classical architecture seen in temples and public buildings. The columns carry the weight to the ground while the horizontal element above ties the structure together. The other descriptions don’t capture that linear line of vertical supports: a curved wall is a continuous curved surface, an archway group emphasizes arches rather than a row of columns, and a decorative frieze is a sculpted horizontal band without the column alignment.