16Hit1600
Craft and StructureEasy–MediumFunction of an opening sentence

Craft and Structure practice question

Most people assume the town's name means 'ford of the oxen'. It does not. The oldest spellings show it meant 'ford of the outlaws', a crossing point that respectable travellers avoided, and the oxen were added by a Victorian antiquary who found the truth unbecoming.

Which choice best describes the function of the first sentence?

  1. A. It states the common belief that the rest of the text corrects.Correct
  2. B. It gives the correct meaning of the name.
  3. C. It describes the ford.
  4. D. It praises the Victorian antiquary.

Answer: A. It states the common belief that the rest of the text corrects.

The assumption, then 'It does not'.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. It gives the correct meaning of the name.
The correct meaning comes later.
C. It describes the ford.
The ford is not described.
D. It praises the Victorian antiquary.
The antiquary is gently mocked.

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