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Difficulty: MediumSelecting Concluding Sentences and Transitions

[1]
In 1903, during a winter visit to New York City, Mary Anderson observed a trolley driver struggling to see through the freezing sleet. The driver frequently opened the front window to wipe the wet snow off the windshield by hand, exposing the passengers to the cold and delaying the trip. To solve this problem, Anderson sketched a design for a rubber blade attached to a hand-operated lever inside the vehicle. She patented her invention, the windshield wiper, in 1903, but manufacturing companies initially rejected it, believing the device would distract drivers. However, as the automobile industry boomed in the following decades, Anderson's design proved indispensable. [2]

The writer wants to add a concluding sentence after sentence [2] that highlights the long-term impact of Anderson's invention on modern transportation. Which choice best accomplishes this goal?

  1. Ultimately, what began as a simple solution on a snowy trolley ride became a standard safety feature found on almost every vehicle on the road today.Answer
  2. B
    Unfortunately, Anderson never made a profit from her patent, and she eventually returned to Alabama to manage an apartment building.
  3. C
    Consequently, by the time other manufacturers adopted her idea, the patent had already expired, she was unable to collect any royalties.
  4. D
    On the other hand, her simple invention eventually transforms the driving experience in inclement weather.

Answer

Ultimately, what began as a simple solution on a snowy trolley ride became a standard safety feature found on almost every vehicle on the road today.
The correct option effectively transitions from the historical narrative of the invention to its long-term impact by stating that it became a standard safety feature on modern vehicles. It remains focused on the main topic, uses a logical transitional word, and is grammatically correct.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the key requirement in the question stem.
The concluding sentence must focus on the long-term impact of the windshield wiper on modern transportation.
This establishes the criteria for evaluating the choices based on content relevance.
2
Evaluate the choices for relevance to the target focus.
The option about the invention becoming a standard safety feature on modern vehicles directly addresses the long-term impact. The option about Anderson's personal finances and return to Alabama introduces new, unrelated details.
This helps eliminate off-topic distractors.
3
Check the remaining choices for grammatical correctness.
The option stating the patent expired contains a comma splice. The option with 'transforms' contains an incorrect tense shift to the present tense, and uses an illogical transition word. The correct option is grammatically sound and fits the context.
This ensures the final selection is free of grammatical errors.

Key Concept

Selecting Concluding Sentences
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Topics

Selecting Concluding Sentences and Transitions

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