Concept:
In a blast furnace:
- burden descends and undergoes softening and melting
- volume of solid burden decreases in lower zones
- geometry is designed to maintain uniform descent and gas flow
Step 1: Understand bosh region behavior.
In bosh:
- ore softens and shrinks
- void fraction changes
- burden volume decreases significantly
Step 2: Need for tapering.
To maintain:
- smooth descent of burden
- uniform gas flow
- constant pressure drop
The furnace is tapered.
Step 3: Evaluate options.
(A) compensates volume reduction → correct
(B) slag foaming → unrelated
(C) heat loss → undesirable
(D) raceway depth → tuyere region effect
Final Answer:
\[
\boxed{\text{Compensate for decrease in burden volume}}
\]