(1) New York City has a long history with bicycle lanes, which are either painted on a street or constructed alongside a street and are used by bicycles rather than cars. (2) Its first bike lane — and the country's first — was built in 1894, along Brooklyn's Ocean Parkway. (3) Interest in bicycle lanes reappeared in the 1970s, and by 1980, Mayor Ed Koch saw to the construction of them on Sixth and Seventh Avenues in Midtown. (4) However, those lanes faced such fierce opposition that they were immediately removed. (5) Things have recently changed: since 2006, the city has taken bike lanes to a whole new level. (6) It installed more than 250 miles around the city's five boroughs. (7) Many New Yorkers complained the new bike lanes slowed car traffic and reduced the number of parking spaces. (8) Others complained bicyclists were not following traffic rules in the lanes. (9) In Williamsburg, Brooklyn, religious leaders convinced the city to remove a new strip of freshly painted bike lane in their neighborhood. (10) Elected officials and perturbed residents of Staten Island also pressured the city into removing its own 2.35-mile dedicated lane. (11) Most New Yorkers have gotten used to the idea: a recent poll of New York City residents shows that two-thirds of them support the bike lanes. (12) They cite environmental reasons for their support, as well as the health and safety benefits the lanes provide bike riders. (13) Ultimately, the city can be happy knowing that statistics have shown its new bike lanes have already made the streets of New York safer for bikers and pedestrians.
Which is the best way to revise and combine the underlined portion of sentences 5 and 6 (reproduced below)? Things have recently changed: since 2006, the city has taken bike lanes to a whole new level. They installed more than 250 miles around the city's five boroughs.
- A. city has taken bike lanes to a whole new level, they installed
- B. city, which has taken bike lanes to a whole new level, installing
- C. city has taken bike lanes to a whole new level and installing
- D. city has taken bike lanes to a whole new level, installing
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D
Option D effectively combines the two sentences by using a participial phrase ("installing") that succinctly links the action of installing bike lanes to the city’s achievement. This structure maintains clarity and flow, emphasizing the continuous nature of the city’s efforts. Option A incorrectly uses a comma to splice two independent clauses, creating a run-on sentence. Option B introduces an awkward relative clause ("which has taken") that disrupts the sentence's rhythm and clarity. Option C incorrectly uses "and installing," which suggests that the installation is a separate action rather than a continuation of the city’s achievements, leading to confusion.
Option D effectively combines the two sentences by using a participial phrase ("installing") that succinctly links the action of installing bike lanes to the city’s achievement. This structure maintains clarity and flow, emphasizing the continuous nature of the city’s efforts. Option A incorrectly uses a comma to splice two independent clauses, creating a run-on sentence. Option B introduces an awkward relative clause ("which has taken") that disrupts the sentence's rhythm and clarity. Option C incorrectly uses "and installing," which suggests that the installation is a separate action rather than a continuation of the city’s achievements, leading to confusion.
Other Related Questions
The author implies that the social sciences:
- A. Are valued for their techniques
- B. Can make no contribution to progress
- C. Cannot deal with long-term issues
- D. May someday add to the world's knowledge
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D
The social sciences are suggested to have the potential to enhance global understanding in the future, highlighting their evolving nature and capacity for growth. Option A incorrectly emphasizes techniques over the broader contributions of social sciences. Option B dismisses their role entirely, which contradicts the author's implication of future relevance. Option C undermines the ability of social sciences to address complex, long-term issues, a key aspect of their study. Thus, the notion that social sciences may eventually enrich knowledge aligns best with the author's perspective.
The social sciences are suggested to have the potential to enhance global understanding in the future, highlighting their evolving nature and capacity for growth. Option A incorrectly emphasizes techniques over the broader contributions of social sciences. Option B dismisses their role entirely, which contradicts the author's implication of future relevance. Option C undermines the ability of social sciences to address complex, long-term issues, a key aspect of their study. Thus, the notion that social sciences may eventually enrich knowledge aligns best with the author's perspective.
Which is the best version of the underlined portion in sentence 11 (reproduced below)? Although Powers had been born in Georgia and remained in the same region, throughout her life, her quilt exhibited a number of stylistic similarities to the large, appliquéd cotton cloths used in festivals by the Fon people of Dahomey.
- A. (as it is now)
- B. region throughout her life,
- C. region throughout her life
- D. region, throughout her life
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C
Option C eliminates unnecessary words, enhancing clarity and flow. By removing "throughout her life," the sentence remains grammatically correct while emphasizing the relationship between Powers’ origins and her quilt's stylistic influences. Option A retains the original phrasing, which is wordy and less direct. Option B introduces a comma that disrupts the sentence's rhythm, making it awkward. Option D incorrectly retains the comma, which separates elements that should be connected, leading to confusion about the timeline of Powers' life and her quilt's stylistic features.
Option C eliminates unnecessary words, enhancing clarity and flow. By removing "throughout her life," the sentence remains grammatically correct while emphasizing the relationship between Powers’ origins and her quilt's stylistic influences. Option A retains the original phrasing, which is wordy and less direct. Option B introduces a comma that disrupts the sentence's rhythm, making it awkward. Option D incorrectly retains the comma, which separates elements that should be connected, leading to confusion about the timeline of Powers' life and her quilt's stylistic features.
What change needs to be made to sentence 11 (reproduced below) to make the sentence grammatically correct? Most New Yorkers have gotten used to the idea: a recent poll of New York City residents show that two-thirds of them support the bike lanes.
- A. Change 'gotten' to 'got'
- B. Change 'show' to 'shows'
- C. Change 'support' to 'supported'
- D. Change 'lanes' to 'lane'
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B
In the sentence, the subject "a recent poll" is singular, so the verb must also be singular to ensure subject-verb agreement. Changing "show" to "shows" corrects this error. Option A incorrectly suggests changing "gotten" to "got," which does not address the grammatical issue present in the sentence. Option C’s suggestion to change "support" to "supported" alters the meaning of the sentence unnecessarily, shifting it from current support to past support. Option D's change from "lanes" to "lane" is irrelevant, as the plural form is appropriate given the context of multiple bike lanes in the city.
In the sentence, the subject "a recent poll" is singular, so the verb must also be singular to ensure subject-verb agreement. Changing "show" to "shows" corrects this error. Option A incorrectly suggests changing "gotten" to "got," which does not address the grammatical issue present in the sentence. Option C’s suggestion to change "support" to "supported" alters the meaning of the sentence unnecessarily, shifting it from current support to past support. Option D's change from "lanes" to "lane" is irrelevant, as the plural form is appropriate given the context of multiple bike lanes in the city.
Which of the following, if true, would best serve to challenge Ogburn and Thomas’s belief that the discovery of calculus is an example of the 'phenomenon' mentioned in the first sentence?
- A. Uncovering the existence of a journal that Newton kept while working with calculus
- B. Learning that scientists other than Newton and Leibniz had also made substantial progress on calculus
- C. Finding a previously unknown letter between Newton and Leibniz discussing calculus that predated its commonly assumed discovery
- D. Identifying a minor error in Newton’s original mathematical calculations
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C
Option C effectively challenges Ogburn and Thomas's belief by providing evidence that the commonly accepted timeline of calculus's discovery may be inaccurate. A letter predating the established discovery suggests that the ideas behind calculus were circulating earlier than believed, undermining the notion of a singular "phenomenon." Option A, while intriguing, does not directly contest the timing of the discovery; it merely adds context to Newton's process. Option B introduces other contributors but does not dispute the significance of Newton and Leibniz's roles. Option D points out an error in calculations, which does not challenge the overall legitimacy of the discovery itself.
Option C effectively challenges Ogburn and Thomas's belief by providing evidence that the commonly accepted timeline of calculus's discovery may be inaccurate. A letter predating the established discovery suggests that the ideas behind calculus were circulating earlier than believed, undermining the notion of a singular "phenomenon." Option A, while intriguing, does not directly contest the timing of the discovery; it merely adds context to Newton's process. Option B introduces other contributors but does not dispute the significance of Newton and Leibniz's roles. Option D points out an error in calculations, which does not challenge the overall legitimacy of the discovery itself.