Question 70·Easy·Text Structure and Purpose
Urban ecologist Marisol Ortega notes that green roofs can lower building energy costs by providing insulation. They also reduce stormwater runoff, which can help prevent flooding during heavy rains. Despite these advantages, installing green roofs can be expensive for building owners. To address this concern, Ortega and her colleagues propose tax incentives that would offset part of the initial cost.
Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence?
For SAT "function of a sentence" questions, always read at least one sentence before and after the underlined portion. First, restate what the underlined sentence says in simple terms, then ask how it connects: does it give an example, explain a cause, show a contrast, state a problem, or introduce a solution? Pay close attention to transition words like "however," "despite," "for example," and phrases like "to address this." Once you identify whether the sentence is adding a benefit, raising a problem, giving evidence, or drawing a conclusion, eliminate answer choices that describe a different role, and pick the one that best matches the sentence's actual job in the passage.
Hints
Notice the type of question
You are not being asked what the underlined sentence says, but what role it plays in the paragraph. Think about how it connects to the sentences before and after it.
Focus on key transition words
Look closely at the word "Despite" at the start of the underlined sentence and the phrase "these advantages." What is the sentence contrasting with, and is its tone more positive or negative?
Use the next sentence as a clue
The following sentence begins, "To address this concern." Ask yourself: what is "this concern" referring to, and how does that help you see what the underlined sentence is doing?
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify what the question is asking
The question asks for the function of the underlined sentence in the passage, not its literal meaning. That means you must think about how this sentence fits into the author's overall explanation or argument.
Summarize the surrounding context
The first two sentences describe advantages of green roofs: lowering energy costs and reducing stormwater runoff. The sentence after the underlined one says, "To address this concern, Ortega and her colleagues propose tax incentives that would offset part of the initial cost." So the paragraph moves from benefits, to a concern, to a proposed solution.
Understand the underlined sentence's role
The underlined sentence begins with the transition word "Despite," which signals a contrast with the earlier advantages. It states that installing green roofs can be expensive for building owners. Then the next sentence directly responds to this problem with a solution (tax incentives) to "address this concern." This shows that the underlined sentence introduces a problem or obstacle that motivates the proposed solution. Therefore, the correct choice is D) It presents an obstacle that the researchers aim to mitigate.