🔍 Key Concepts

• Purpose of a sweep oar on traditional pulling boats and lifeboats • How length of an oar affects leverage and steering control • Difference between a steering oar and a stroke oar in rowing

💭 Think About

• Think about which oar needs the most leverage over the water to effectively turn or steer the boat. • Consider where in the boat a sweep oar would usually be placed to give the coxswain or steersman good control. • Ask yourself: is the main job of this special long oar to set the rowing rhythm, or to control the direction of the boat?

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify which option clearly connects extra length of the oar with steering rather than just power or rhythm. • Eliminate any choices that describe an oar used mainly for setting the stroke instead of changing direction. • Check which answer best matches the idea of a single, long oar used by the person responsible for steering, often at the stern.