Craft and StructureHardMain purpose of a cautionary argument
Craft and Structure practice question
Praise for the city's new bike-share scheme is premature. Ridership has indeed doubled since the launch — but the launch was in February. The doubling reflects the arrival of spring weather, not the scheme's design. A fair test will come when this winter's numbers are set against last winter's.
What is the main purpose of the text?
- A. To argue that a claimed success has not yet been properly measured.Correct
- B. To criticise the design of the bike-share scheme.
- C. To explain why people cycle more in warm weather.
- D. To predict that ridership will fall once winter arrives.
Answer: A. To argue that a claimed success has not yet been properly measured.
The text accepts the doubling but argues it doesn't show what its admirers think, and says what a real test would be. Its purpose is to question the measurement, not the scheme.
Why the other answers are wrong
- B. To criticise the design of the bike-share scheme.
- The author says nothing against the scheme's design — only that the numbers don't yet prove anything about it.
- C. To explain why people cycle more in warm weather.
- Spring weather is offered as an alternative explanation, not explained in itself.
- D. To predict that ridership will fall once winter arrives.
- The author calls for a winter comparison; no prediction about the result is made.
More Craft and Structure questions
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Which choice best describes the function of the underlined final sentence in the text as a whole? - Hard
Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text? - Hard
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word? - Hard
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word? - Hard
What is the main purpose of the text?
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