Question 6·Hard·Text Structure and Purpose
Although several meta-analyses have reported little to no reduction in congestion following the introduction of dockless scooter programs, a number of cities have documented noticeable declines in average travel times after permitting large scooter fleets. Transportation economist Lina Ortiz contends that this apparent contradiction stems from the reviews’ emphasis on weekday peak-hour data, whereas scooter trips disproportionately replace short car journeys during shoulder periods; moreover, the cities noting improvements paired scooter rollouts with parking reforms that the reviews’ models did not isolate.
Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the text as a whole?
For function-of-sentence questions, paraphrase the underlined sentence and label its job (e.g., introduce a contrast, provide evidence, state a claim, give a conclusion). Then read the surrounding sentence(s) to see how the author uses it—does the next part explain it, support it, or apply it? Finally, choose the option that matches both the sentence’s role and the passage’s overall structure, and eliminate choices that add attitudes, claims, or conclusions not actually present.
Hints
Focus on the contrast in the underlined sentence
Look closely at what two groups or sources the underlined sentence is comparing. Is it describing just one side, or is it setting up a difference between them?
Check how the second sentence refers back to the first
In the second sentence, pay attention to the phrase “this apparent contradiction.” What is being called a contradiction, and what does Ortiz say about where it comes from?
Think about structure: setup vs. explanation
Ask yourself: does the underlined sentence itself give an explanation, or does it mainly set up something that will be explained in the next sentence?
Test the answer choices against what actually happens
For each choice, decide whether it matches the passage’s structure:
- Does the passage undermine city reports?
- Does it argue scooters don’t replace car travel?
- Does it treat the sentence as just an example? Or does it mainly set up a discrepancy that the next sentence explains?
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand what the underlined sentence says
Read the underlined sentence alone: it contrasts two things:
- “several meta-analyses” that show little to no reduction in congestion
- “a number of cities” that report noticeable declines in average travel times
So this sentence is not giving a cause, a recommendation, or a single illustrative example. It is highlighting a difference between two sets of findings about scooter programs.
See what the rest of the passage does with that sentence
Now read the second sentence, which begins by referring back to the first:
Transportation economist Lina Ortiz contends that this apparent contradiction stems from the reviews’ emphasis on weekday peak-hour data, whereas scooter trips disproportionately replace short car journeys during shoulder periods; moreover, the cities noting improvements paired scooter rollouts with parking reforms that the reviews’ models did not isolate.
Key points:
- Ortiz explicitly names “this apparent contradiction”—the contrast introduced by the underlined sentence.
- She then explains the contradiction by pointing to
- when/how congestion was measured (peak vs. shoulder periods), and
- what else was happening (parking reforms) that meta-analytic models did not isolate.
So the underlined sentence functions as the setup, and the next sentence supplies the reconciliation/explanation.
Match that role to the best description
The option that accurately describes the underlined sentence’s function is the one saying it identifies a discrepancy between meta-analyses and city outcomes and that the text then explains the discrepancy via measurement timing/scope and additional policies.
Therefore, the best answer is:
It identifies a discrepancy between synthesized research findings and municipal outcomes that the text then explains as a consequence of differences in when and how congestion was measured and what policies were considered.