Question 7·Easy·Text Structure and Purpose
When the city proposed turning an empty lot into a community garden, opinions were mixed. Many residents were enthusiastic about growing fresh produce and creating a shared space. But some neighbors worried that the garden would attract pests and create a mess. In response, volunteer organizer Lila Ramos set up compost bins, scheduled maintenance days, and partnered with a local school to monitor the site. Within months, the garden remained tidy, and even the skeptical neighbors began to participate.
Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the text as a whole?
For "function of a sentence" questions, first restate the sentence in simple words to identify whether it shows a problem, a solution, an example, a contrast, or a result. Then, read one or two sentences before and after it to see how the passage uses that sentence (for instance, does the next part answer a question it raises or provide evidence for it?). Finally, eliminate answer choices that mention things the sentence does not do (like summarizing the whole passage, giving technical detail, or stating the main argument) and choose the option that best matches the sentence’s role in moving the paragraph forward.
Hints
Focus on the contrast word
Notice the word "But" at the beginning of the underlined sentence. How does this contrast with the previous sentence about many residents being enthusiastic?
Summarize the underlined sentence
In your own words, what are the neighbors doing or feeling in the underlined sentence? Are they supporting the idea, opposing it, or explaining details about it?
Connect the underlined sentence to what comes next
Read the sentences that come right after the underlined one. Do they describe results, detailed procedures, an official statement, or a reaction to the worries you just read?
Eliminate answers that don’t match the paragraph
Ask yourself: Does the underlined sentence talk about long-term outcomes, technical methods, or an official claim? Cross out any choices that don’t fit what the sentence is actually doing.
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify what the question is asking
The question asks about the function of the underlined sentence "But some neighbors worried that the garden would attract pests and create a mess" in relation to the entire passage. That means you need to explain why this sentence is included, not just what it says.
Paraphrase the underlined sentence
Put the underlined sentence into your own words: some neighbors are concerned that the garden might cause problems (pests and mess). This is a negative reaction or objection to the proposal.
See how the rest of the paragraph responds to that sentence
Look at what happens immediately after: "In response, volunteer organizer Lila Ramos set up compost bins, scheduled maintenance days, and partnered with a local school to monitor the site. Within months, the garden remained tidy, and even the skeptical neighbors began to participate." These sentences describe actions taken because of the worries and show that the garden stayed tidy and skeptics were won over.
Match this role to the best answer choice
Since the underlined sentence introduces specific worries and the following sentences describe steps that directly respond to those worries and show they were not a problem, the sentence’s function is to introduce a concern that the following information addresses and alleviates, which matches choice D.