Question

Which choice best maintains the sentence pattern already established in line [1]?

• A. NO CHANGE
• B. Coordinating stoplight timing can help alleviate rush hour traffic jams in a congested downtown area
• C. Stoplight timing is coordinated to alleviate rush hour traffic jams in a congested downtown area
• D. In a congested downtown area, stoplight timing is coordinated to alleviate rush hour traffic jams

Answer 1

The correct option is C Stoplight timing is coordinated to alleviate rush hour traffic jams in a congested downtown area

Option C is the best answer because it most closely maintains the sentence pattern established by the two preceding sentences, which begin with a noun and passive verb phrases (“A subway system is expanded,” “A bike-sharing program is adopted”).

Option A is not the correct answer because it does not maintain the sentence pattern established by the two preceding sentences. Rather, it begins the sentence with an infinitive phrase. Hence making no change in the sentence is not correct.

Option B is incorrect because it does not maintain the sentence pattern established by the two preceding sentences. Rather, it begins the sentence with a gerund phrase.

Option D is incorrect because it does not maintain the sentence pattern established by the two preceding sentences. Rather, it places a prepositional phrase, “in a congested downtown area,” at the beginning of the sentence.