5

Set 8: Text Structure

Explanation

Answer: D

PASSAGE

The steam engine changed how people lived. It allowed trains to travel long distances quickly. This made trade between cities much easier.

Which choice best describes the function of the second and third sentences?

A. They describe how to build a train.
B. They list the parts of a steam engine.
C. They argue that steam engines were dangerous.
D. They explain the specific effects of the steam engine.✓ Correct

Detailed Answer Explanation

This question tests your understanding of how the text is organized. Claim: Changed life. Effects: Fast travel, easier trade. Authors structure their writing purposefully to guide readers through their ideas. Identify the organizational pattern (cause-effect, compare-contrast, problem-solution) and how each part contributes to the whole. Authors choose organizational patterns deliberately to enhance their message. Recognizing whether a text uses chronological order, cause-effect, compare-contrast, or problem-solution helps you understand the author's purpose and follow the logic.

Key Evidence:

• "allowed trains to travel"

• "made trade ... easier"

Why others are wrong: A (No building instructions.), C (No danger mentioned.), B (No parts listed.).

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