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Difficulty: MediumParagraph-Level Transitions

The following paragraphs are from an essay about the cursus publicus, the postal system of ancient Rome.

Paragraph 1
Established by Emperor Augustus, the cursus publicus was the state-sponsored transportation and postal system of the Roman Empire. Utilizing a vast network of paved roads, the system allowed the imperial government to send messages and officials rapidly across provinces. Relays of fresh horses and rest stations, known as mansiones, were positioned at regular intervals along main routes, ensuring that courier travel was highly efficient and secure.

Paragraph 2
[1] Indeed, access to this elite network was strictly limited to those carrying an official imperial pass, the diploma. Because the system was funded by heavy taxes levied on local provincial communities rather than the treasury, the Roman administration carefully guarded its use to prevent exhaustion of local resources. Unauthorized travelers who attempted to use the stations faced severe penalties.

Which choice provides the most logical transition from the preceding paragraph?

  1. A
    Roman citizens appreciated the speed of these couriers, however, they were not allowed to use the service themselves.
  2. B
    These horses were carefully selected for their endurance, which helped the couriers travel quickly.
  3. Despite the system's benefits for imperial communication, its services were not available to the general public.Answer
  4. D
    While the infrastructure is impressive, only imperial officials have the right to travel this way.

Answer

Despite the system's benefits for imperial communication, its services were not available to the general public.
The correct choice successfully bridges the discussion of the system's communication benefits in the first paragraph with the discussion of its strict access limitations in the second paragraph.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the focus of Paragraph 1.
Paragraph 1 describes the infrastructure, efficiency, and communication benefits of the cursus publicus.
Understanding the preceding context is necessary to build a bridge between the paragraphs.
2
Analyze the focus of Paragraph 2.
Paragraph 2 details the exclusivity, official passes, and strict limitations placed on using the network.
Understanding the subsequent context determines the direction the transition must take.
3
Evaluate the choices for logical flow and grammatical correctness.
The option referring to the system's benefits and its unavailability to the public connects both paragraphs logically and maintains past-tense consistency without grammatical errors.
A good transition must connect the ideas of both paragraphs while adhering to standard grammar rules.

Key Concept

Paragraph-Level Transitions
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Topics

Paragraph-Level Transitions

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