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Question

Difficulty: MediumSentence Addition and Deletion Decisions

A writer is editing a draft of an essay about the history of timekeeping in the United States.

[1] In the mid-nineteenth century, the expansion of the American railroad network created an urgent need for standardized timekeeping. [2] Before this, towns set their clocks according to the sun's position at local noon, resulting in thousands of localized time zones across the country. [3] A passenger traveling from Boston to Washington, D.C., for example, had to adjust their watch dozens of times during the journey. [4] Standardized time zones were officially adopted in 1883, dividing the country into four distinct zones. [5] Railroad companies were privately owned and highly competitive during this era.

Which of the following represents the most logical decision regarding the proposed deletion of Sentence 5?

  1. A
    Kept, because it provides essential historical context explaining why the expansion of the railroad system occurred.
  2. B
    Kept, because it supports the paragraph's description of the complications faced by travelers during this era.
  3. Deleted, because it introduces a detail about the ownership and competitiveness of railroads that is tangential to the paragraph's focus on time standardization.Answer
  4. D
    Deleted, because it contradicts the assertion in the paragraph that railroad systems necessitated the standardization of time.

Answer

Deleted, because it introduces a detail about the ownership and competitiveness of railroads that is tangential to the paragraph's focus on time standardization.
The correct option is the one stating the sentence should be deleted because it introduces details about corporate ownership and competition that are tangential to the paragraph's core focus. The paragraph focuses strictly on the transition from localized solar time to standardized time zones due to railroad travel. Sentence 5 interrupts this progression with unrelated business history.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the primary topic and focus of the paragraph.
The paragraph describes the history of timekeeping in the United States, specifically the shift from local solar time to standardized time zones driven by the expansion of the railroad network.
Establishing the paragraph's main theme is necessary to evaluate the relevance of individual sentences.
2
Analyze the content and function of the sentence proposed for deletion.
Sentence 5 mentions that railroad companies were privately owned and highly competitive. This detail focuses on the business landscape of railroads rather than timekeeping.
Evaluating the specific contribution of the sentence helps determine if it supports the main topic or introduces a distraction.
3
Select the option that correctly recommends deleting the sentence and provides the accurate justification.
The decision to delete the sentence is correct because the sentence is tangential to the paragraph's main focus on time standardization, which aligns with the correct option's rationale.
Comparing the logical analysis with the given options ensures the choice with the correct decision and explanation is selected.

Key Concept

Evaluating the relevance of a sentence to the paragraph's main idea and deciding whether to retain or delete it based on passage unity.
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Topics

Sentence Addition and Deletion Decisions

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