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Question

Difficulty: MediumParagraph-Level Transitions

Paragraph 1

In the early nineteenth century, the proposal to build a 363-mile canal connecting the Hudson River to Lake Erie was widely mocked as an impossibility. Critics dubbed the project "Clinton's Folly," mocking New York Governor DeWitt Clinton's ambitious plan to cut through dense forests, swampy wilderness, and solid rock. Skeptics argued that the young nation lacked the engineering expertise and financial resources to complete such a monumental undertaking.

Paragraph 2

[1] _________ The canal reduced shipping costs by up to ninety percent and turned New York City into the nation's premier commercial port. Towns along the canal route grew into bustling cities almost overnight. The success of the project sparked a nationwide canal-building boom, proving that the daring engineering feat was not a folly at all, but a vital artery for a growing nation.

Which choice provides the most effective transition from the preceding paragraph to the paragraph that follows?

  1. A
    Consequently, the canal transformed the state's economy, reducing shipping costs.
  2. Once the canal opened in 1825, however, the doubts quickly evaporated.Answer
  3. C
    The canal was finally completed after years of difficult labor, it immediately changed the state's economy.
  4. D
    While critics had doubted the project, the completed canal will transform the economy.

Answer

Once the canal opened in 1825, however, the doubts quickly evaporated.
The correct choice, which begins 'Once the canal opened...', successfully bridges the skepticism described in the first paragraph with the economic success described in the second paragraph. The transition word 'however' signals a shift from the past doubts to the realization of success when the canal opened.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the relationship between the two paragraphs.
The first paragraph discusses skepticism and doubts about the building of the Erie Canal, while the second paragraph describes its immense success and economic benefits.
An effective paragraph transition must connect the primary ideas of both paragraphs, indicating a shift from doubt to success.
2
Evaluate the choices for logical flow and cohesion.
The option beginning with 'Once the canal opened...' uses the contrast word 'however' to bridge the doubts of the first paragraph with the success of the second.
This establishes a clear, logical link between the two paragraphs.
3
Check for grammatical errors in the remaining options.
The option with 'it immediately changed' has a comma splice, and the option with 'will transform' has an incorrect tense shift.
ACT questions require transitions to be both rhetorically effective and grammatically correct.

Key Concept

Paragraph-Level Transitions
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Paragraph-Level Transitions

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