Difficulty: Medium

Average Score: 64%

(1) New York City has a long history with bicycle lanes, which are either painted on a street or constructed alongside a street and are used by bicycles rather than cars. (2) Its first bike lane - and the country's first - was built in 1894, along Brooklyn's Ocean Parkway. (3) Interest in bicycle lanes reappeared in the 1970s, and by 1980 Mayor Ed Koch saw to the construction of them on Sixth and Seventh Avenues in Midtown. (4) However, those lanes faced such fierce opposition they were immediately removed. (5) Things have recently changed: since 2006, the city has taken bike lanes to a whole new level. (6) They installed more than 250 miles around the city's five boroughs. (7) Many New Yorkers complained the new bike lanes slowed car traffic and reduced the number of parking spaces. (8) Others complained bicyclists were not following traffic rules in the lanes. (9) In Williamsburg, Brooklyn, religious leaders convinced the city to remove a new strip of freshly-painted bike lane in their neighborhood. (10) Elected officials and perturbed residents of Staten Island also pressured the city into removing its own 2.35-mile dedicated lane. (11) Most New Yorkers have gotten used to the idea: a recent poll of New York City residents show that two-thirds of them support the bike lanes. (12) They cite environmental reasons for their support, as well as the health and safety benefits the lanes provide bike riders. (13) Ultimately, the city can be happy knowing that statistics have shown its new bike lanes have already made the streets of New York safer for bikers and pedestrians.

In context, which sentence would be best to insert at the beginning of the second paragraph (sentences 7-10)?

Rationale

Acceptance of the city's new bike lanes did not come immediately.

The introduction of new bike lanes in New York City faced significant resistance from both residents and officials, indicating that acceptance was not instant. This context sets the stage for the subsequent discussion about the various complaints and opposition that arose following the implementation of these bike lanes.

A (Acceptance of the city's new bike lanes did not come immediately.) CORRECT

This choice effectively summarizes the resistance encountered after the bike lanes were installed, aligning perfectly with the content of sentences 7-10, which detail complaints from New Yorkers about the new lanes. It establishes a logical transition into the challenges faced by the city in gaining public support for the bike lanes.

B (The new bike lanes served numerous purposes for New Yorkers.) YOUR ANSWER

While this statement acknowledges the potential benefits of bike lanes, it does not capture the immediate reaction or resistance described in the following sentences. Instead of focusing on their purposes, the context requires a focus on the complaints and opposition, making this choice less appropriate for introduction.

C (In 2006, the majority of New York City residents did not own bicycles.) YOUR ANSWER

This assertion is irrelevant to the immediate context of public reaction to the bike lanes. It does not address the acceptance or opposition to the bike lanes, thus failing to provide a suitable lead-in to the subsequent sentences.

D (Many pedestrians and motorists supported bicycle riding on city streets.) YOUR ANSWER

Though some support for bike lanes exists, this statement overlooks the significant opposition and complaints that were prevalent at the time. It does not set the tone needed to follow the negative sentiments expressed in the subsequent sentences.

Conclusion

The best introductory sentence for the second paragraph is one that reflects the initial resistance to the bike lanes, as highlighted in choice A. It succinctly captures the essence of the public's reaction and prepares the reader for the specific complaints detailed in sentences 7-10, illustrating the complex dynamics surrounding New York City's evolving bicycle infrastructure.

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