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Difficulty: EasySelecting Concluding Sentences and Transitions

In the winter of 1903, Mary Anderson was riding a streetcar in New York City when she noticed the driver struggling to see through the falling sleet. To clear the windshield, the driver had to open the window, reach outside, and wipe the glass by hand, which let freezing air and wet snow into the vehicle. Upon returning home to Alabama, Anderson designed a swinging arm with a rubber blade that could be operated by a lever from inside the cab. Patented in 1903, her device became the first functional windshield wiper.

The writer wants to conclude the paragraph with a sentence that emphasizes the lasting impact of Anderson's invention. Which choice best accomplishes this goal?

  1. A
    Drivers immediately appreciated the invention, it made driving in winter storms much safer.
  2. B
    Anderson also loved to travel, and she visited many other northern cities during the winter.
  3. Today, variations of Anderson's basic design are standard safety features on vehicles worldwide.Answer
  4. D
    On the other hand, streetcars remained the primary mode of transportation in New York City.

Answer

Today, variations of Anderson's basic design are standard safety features on vehicles worldwide.
The correct answer effectively concludes the paragraph by linking the historical origin of the windshield wiper to its universal presence on modern vehicles. This successfully fulfills the goal of highlighting the lasting impact of the invention.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the writer's goal, which is to select a concluding sentence that highlights the long-term, lasting impact of Anderson's invention.
The correct sentence must connect the 1903 invention of the windshield wiper to its modern significance or legacy.
Understanding the specific rhetorical goal is necessary to evaluate the suitability of each option.
2
Examine the choices for grammatical correctness and relevance to the goal.
The option about Anderson's travels introduces new off-topic details. The option about driver appreciation has a comma splice. The option about streetcars uses an incorrect transition.
Eliminating distractors based on grammatical errors and relevance leaves only the logically correct response.
3
Verify that the remaining choice fits the context and fulfills the goal.
The sentence explaining that variations of Anderson's design are standard on vehicles today effectively shows the lasting impact of her invention.
The correct answer must satisfy the writing prompt while remaining grammatically correct.

Key Concept

Selecting Concluding Sentences and Transitions
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Topics

Selecting Concluding Sentences and Transitions

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