Question 143·Medium·Text Structure and Purpose
The excerpt below is from an 1883 public address by a reform-minded city councilor.
Fellow citizens, you have heard it whispered that my bill seeks to topple the proud traditions of our city. You have been told that replacing the gas lamps with electric lights would banish our familiar glow and usher in a cold, mechanical age.
I say instead that I honor our traditions too dearly to leave them buried beneath soot. Let us light our streets so that every worker may walk home in safety, so that commerce may flourish after dusk, and so that visitors may see our avenues not as relics of yesterday but as promises of tomorrow. By illuminating our nights, we do not betray the past—we reveal it anew.
Which choice best describes the overall structure of the excerpt?
For questions about overall structure, first separate the passage into its main parts (often by paragraph or by clear transition words like "but," "instead," or "however"). Paraphrase what each part is doing (for example: presenting a concern, giving an example, or responding to an objection), not just what it says. Then look for an answer that captures that sequence of moves in neutral, accurate language. Eliminate choices that mention actions or topics that never appear (like specific past events or lists) or that oversimplify the relationship between the parts (such as saying a concern is "dismissed" when it is actually addressed and reinterpreted).
Hints
Look at who is speaking in each paragraph
In the first paragraph, is the councilor giving his own opinion, or is he reporting what others have said about his bill? In the second paragraph, how does the phrase "I say instead" change whose viewpoint we are hearing?
Identify the main concern raised at the beginning
What are people worried about when they talk about replacing gas lamps with electric lights? Focus on the ideas of "proud traditions," "familiar glow," and a "cold, mechanical age."
Notice how the second paragraph responds to that concern
In the second paragraph, does the speaker agree with the worry about tradition, ignore it, or use it to shape his argument? How does the final sentence relate to the idea of betraying or honoring the past?
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand what happens in the first paragraph
Look closely at the first paragraph:
"you have heard it whispered... You have been told..."
The speaker is not giving his own reasons here. He is repeating what others have said: that his bill will "topple the proud traditions" and that electric lights would bring a "cold, mechanical age." In other words, he is presenting the criticisms and fears people have about his proposal.
Understand what happens in the second paragraph
Now read the second paragraph, starting with "I say instead..." The word "instead" signals a contrast with what came before.
Here, the speaker:
- Says he honors traditions "too dearly"
- Explains benefits of electric lights (safety, commerce, attracting visitors)
- Ends with "we do not betray the past—we reveal it anew"
So in this part, he gives his view: the change will respect and even highlight the city’s traditions, not destroy them.
Describe the overall structure in your own words
Putting the two paragraphs together:
- First, he states what critics say about his bill (that it harms tradition and the city’s character).
- Then, he argues that the reform will actually fit with and renew those same traditions and values.
So the passage moves from presenting an objection to offering a response that reframes the proposal as consistent with the city’s core values.
Match your description to the answer choices
Now compare that summary to the choices:
- It is not about celebrating a past event or going back to old ways.
- It is not just brushing aside fears as irrational; he directly addresses them by showing how his plan aligns with tradition.
- It is focused on one reform (electric lights), not a list of separate improvements.
The only option that matches this structure is C) The speaker presents a criticism of his proposal, then argues that the change will actually preserve the city’s values.