What term refers to a window placed high on a wall to admit daylight without a primary view?

• A. Oriel
• B. Dormer
• C. Clearstory
• D. Bow window

Answer: (C)

The concept here is identifying a window by its placement and function. A window placed high on a wall to bring in daylight without offering a primary exterior view is a clerestory window. It sits above eye level, often along a wall or between roof sections, so it lets light into the space while preserving privacy and not focusing on the outside scenery. The term clerestory comes from the idea of a “clear” story or level that is unobstructed by lower walls, allowing daylight to penetrate deeper into a room. The option shown as clearstory is a variant spelling of the same idea. By contrast, an oriel is a projecting upper-floor window, a dormer is a window set into a roof that adds headroom, and a bow window is a curved bay that projects outward and changes the room’s shape and outward view.