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Difficulty: MediumEstablishing Introductions and Thesis Statements

In the late nineteenth century, bicycling was a privilege reserved primarily for athletic young men who could navigate the precarious "ordinary" bicycle—popularly known as the penny-farthing. With its massive front wheel and lack of brakes, the penny-farthing was notoriously difficult to mount and prone to sending riders headfirst over the handlebars.

[1] __________________________________________________. This new design featured two wheels of equal size, a steerable front wheel, and a chain drive connected to the rear wheel, making cycling accessible to the general public. As a result, millions of people, particularly women, gained a new sense of independence and mobility.

Given that all the choices are true, which one, if inserted at [1], provides the most effective introduction to the second paragraph and best establishes the focus of the remainder of the passage?

  1. However, the invention of the safety bicycle in 1885 transformed the activity from a hazardous sport into a mass phenomenon.Answer
  2. B
    Because the safety bicycle, which was invented in 1885, changed transportation for everyone.
  3. C
    Moreover, British manufacturers produced various steel goods during the late Victorian era.
  4. D
    Inventors in England designed new models of bicycles, they hoped to make riding safer.

Answer

However, the invention of the safety bicycle in 1885 transformed the activity from a hazardous sport into a mass phenomenon.
The correct option correctly uses the transition 'However' to contrast the dangerous penny-farthing described in the first paragraph with the safer design of the safety bicycle. It introduces the subject of the second paragraph and sets up the passage's thesis about how this design made cycling accessible to the public.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the surrounding context to determine the relationship between the first and second paragraphs.
The first paragraph describes the dangerous and exclusive nature of early penny-farthing bicycles. The second paragraph describes a new, safer design and its broad social accessibility.
This establishes that a contrasting transition is needed to link the two paragraphs logically.
2
Identify the primary topic of the second paragraph and the overall focus of the passage.
The second paragraph details the features of the safety bicycle, and the passage concludes with its impact on the general public. Thus, the introduction must establish the safety bicycle and its transformative impact.
This helps filter out choices that are off-topic or fail to establish the correct thesis.
3
Evaluate the choices for grammatical correctness and rhetorical fit.
The choice beginning with 'However' is grammatically correct and logically connects the paragraphs. The option starting with 'Because' is a fragment. The option discussing 'steel goods' is off-topic. The option starting with 'Inventors in England' is a comma splice.
This eliminates grammatically incorrect or rhetorically weak options, leaving the correct choice.

Key Concept

Establishing Introductions and Thesis Statements
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Topics

Establishing Introductions and Thesis Statements

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