Question

Difficulty: MediumEvaluating Relevance for Adding or Deleting Content

A writer is editing a passage about the history of the neon sign and has drafted the following paragraph:

In 1910, French engineer Georges Claude introduced the first neon lamp to the public at the Paris Motor Show. Claude had discovered that passing an electrical current through sealed glass tubes containing neon gas produced a bright, glowing red light. [1] Seeking to commercialize his invention, Claude founded a company called Claude Neon to sell these vibrant tubes for advertising. By the 1920s, neon signs had crossed the Atlantic, transforming the nightscapes of American cities like Los Angeles and New York with their electric glow.

At Point [1], the writer is considering adding the following sentence:
"Neon is a noble gas, which means it is colorless, odorless, and highly unreactive under normal conditions."

Should the writer make this addition?

  1. A
    Yes, because it provides essential scientific context about the chemical properties of neon gas.
  2. B
    Yes, because it explains why neon gas produces a bright red light when electrified.
  3. No, because it interrupts the paragraph's focus on the development and commercialization of the neon lamp with irrelevant chemical details.Answer
  4. D
    No, because it contradicts the paragraph's assertion that neon gas produces a glowing red light.

Answer

No, because it interrupts the paragraph's focus on the development and commercialization of the neon lamp with irrelevant chemical details.
The correct option correctly identifies that the proposed sentence should not be added because it introduces irrelevant chemical facts about neon gas that disrupt the paragraph's narrative focus on the commercial history and development of the neon lamp.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the main focus of the paragraph.
The paragraph focuses on the historical introduction of the neon lamp by Georges Claude and its commercial expansion.
Understanding the paragraph's core topic helps determine whether new details are relevant.
2
Evaluate the relevance of the proposed sentence.
The proposed sentence discusses the general chemical properties of neon as a noble gas.
Determining if the proposed sentence supports the established focus or deviates from it.
3
Decide whether to add the sentence and select the correct justification.
The sentence should not be added because chemical properties of the gas are irrelevant to the historical and commercial narrative of the neon sign.
Eliminating options that suggest adding the sentence or offer incorrect reasons for deleting it.

Key Concept

Evaluating Relevance for Adding or Deleting Content
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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