Question 97·Easy·Command of Evidence
A local newspaper article describes the recent renovation of Grandview Train Station. The writer notes several technology upgrades, such as energy-efficient lighting and digital ticket kiosks. Even so, the writer asserts that the station "still feels exactly as it did when it first opened in 1912."
Which quotation from the article, if true, would most effectively illustrate this assertion?
For questions asking which quotation best supports or illustrates an assertion, first underline the most important idea in the assertion (here, that the place “still feels exactly as it did” at an earlier time). Then quickly paraphrase what you’re looking for in simple words (for example, “something showing the original look or atmosphere was preserved”). Go through the choices and eliminate any that deal only with side issues like money, schedules, or technical details without connecting to that core idea. Among the remaining options, choose the one that most directly and concretely shows the claim in action, not just something loosely related.
Hints
Focus on the key phrase in the assertion
Underline the part of the assertion that matters most: “still feels exactly as it did when it first opened in 1912.” Ask yourself: which option talks about the station’s feel, look, or atmosphere over time?
Distinguish updates from preserved features
The article mentions technology upgrades like energy-efficient lighting and digital ticket kiosks. For this question, you want a detail that shows something has stayed the same, not just something that is new or improved.
Look for evidence about experience, not just numbers
Some options talk about money, schedules, or percentages. Ask: do those details tell you what it’s like to stand in the station and experience it the way people did in 1912, or are they just practical facts?
Check that the quotation directly illustrates the claim
A strong supporting quotation should make you think, “Yes, if this is true, then it makes sense that the station would feel the same as it did in 1912.” Choose the option that best creates that connection.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand what the question is asking
The question asks which quotation would most effectively illustrate the writer’s assertion that the station “still feels exactly as it did when it first opened in 1912,” even after technology upgrades.
So you are looking for evidence that shows the station’s experience, atmosphere, or appearance has stayed the same over time, not just that it was improved or updated.
Restate the key idea in your own words
Paraphrase the assertion:
- The station got modern technology (lighting, ticket kiosks).
- Despite these changes, being in the station feels the same as it did in 1912.
So the correct quotation should show that original features or the historic look and feel were preserved, so passengers today experience something very similar to what passengers experienced in 1912.
Eliminate quotations that don’t address “feel” or atmosphere
Go through the answer choices and ask: Does this tell me that the station feels the same as in 1912, or is it just about practical benefits?
- Choice A talks about when construction crews worked (overnight) to avoid disrupting commuters. That’s about scheduling and convenience, not about preserving the original feel.
- Choice B mentions new LED fixtures using less electricity. That’s about energy efficiency, not about whether the station still feels like it did in 1912.
- Choice D says the project came in under budget, saving the city money. That’s about cost, again not about the station’s atmosphere or historic character.
All three fail to show that the station still feels the same as it did when it opened. Eliminate A, B, and D.
Confirm the remaining quotation matches the assertion
The remaining quotation describes how a specific original feature was carefully handled so that it would continue to create the same visual effect as in the past. This directly supports the idea that the station still feels like it did in 1912 because a historic, distinctive part of the station continues to look and function in the same way.
Correct answer: “Every stained-glass window was removed, cleaned, and reinstalled so that the original patterns continue to cast colored light onto the platform.”