America's Love for Streetcars systems as the second generation of

The history of the electric trolley car can be streetcars. Portland, Oregon, for example,
traced to 1887; during this era, electric motor boasts a successful light rail system serving
technology was perfected. The street railway the broad metropolitan area with an annual
industry immediately hailed the new mode of ridership of 39.12 million residents interested in
public transport as a solution to horse cars, car-free living.
which were horse-drawn vehicles that ran on From trolleys to light rail, the evolution of public
rails. Extremely popular, trolley lines had a transportation shows that if it is 11 reliable
large impact on cities such as San Francisco. frequent comfortable, and fast, it's on the right
A streetcar, or trolley, is an electric vehicle that track.
runs on rails; 1 they connect to form a system,
typically providing public access to urban
centers. Besides transportation, other benefits
of the new technology abounded—for
example, by World War I, streetcars had
become America's fifth largest industry,
employing over 100,000 workers nationwide.
2 During the summer, special open trolleys
called "breezers" allowed riders to enjoy cool
air on hot days, but the main attraction was
that electric cars 3 were faster, more speedy,
and arrived sooner than the previous
horsecars. The demand resulted in the
creation of larger and more powerful trolleys,
such as double-deckers.
The public's desire to travel between cities 1.
prompted a change in the late 1800s to
intercity trolleys, also known as "interurbans." A. NO CHANGE
These electric trolleys were economical and
thus were less expensive to ride than steam
railroads.4
B. these rails
[1] As more automobiles became available, the
competition caused trolley companies to cut C. it
back. [2] Henry Ford, however, changed the
world with the 1908 introduction of the Model D. which
T, a car the average worker could afford. [3]
Ultimately, this major factor led to the demise 2. Which choice most effectively establishes
of such lines. [4] The World War II years
the main topic of the paragraph?
ignited renewed interest in, and use of, some
interurban lines, since gasoline and
tire 5 rationalizing limited the use of A. People loved the trolleys.
automobiles. [5] This 6 resumption was short-
lived, though, because once new cars hit the B. Most people today have never seen a
post-war market, people again chose mobility trolley in person.
over scheduled public transportation.7
A modern resurgence in electric trolleys began
C. Trolleys remain popular outside America.
in 2009, when federal funding became
available for streetcar projects in key cities
such as Atlanta. 8 Critics argue that modern D. The popularity of trolleys did not last in the
streetcars aren't any faster than local buses. United States.
Critics argue that this is the reason modern
streetcars will never be cost-effective. They 3.
also point out that a lot of streetcar projects
start as economic development projects rather
A. NO CHANGE
than as transit projects.
Today, most commuters still get to work by
car; 9 in fact, very few Americans in any B. were faster and speedier
metropolitan area use public
transportation. Some communities C. were faster
are 10 embracing a revival, with light rail
D. were faster, speedier, and arrived sooner
4. Which choice adds supporting information
to the paragraph?
A. Trolley routes within cities nonetheless
continued to be common, however.
B. Decades later, long-distance buses would
become the transportation of choice.
C. Although some still viewed railroads
romantically, their time was coming to an end.
D. Farmers saved money by using interurbans
to get products to markets in large cities.
A. Critics argue that modern streetcars aren't
any faster than local buses and therefore will
never be cost-effective.
B. Critics argue that modern streetcars aren't
any faster than local buses and that they will
never be cost-effective.
C. Critics argue that modern streetcars aren't
any faster than local buses and critics argue
they will never be cost-effective.
D. Critics argue that modern streetcars aren't
any faster than local buses, so critics say they
will never be cost-effective.

5. 9. Which choice completes the sentence with

accurate data based on the chart?
A. NO CHANGE
A. NO CHANGE
B. rationing
B. however, public transportation is crucial to
C. reasoning some cities.

D. rating C. it is only in rural areas that public

transportation is still a valuable service.
6.
D. nonetheless, public transportation use is on
A. NO CHANGE
the rise in all metro areas.
B. reparation
10.
C. renaissance
A. NO CHANGE
D. renovation
B. accepting
7. To present ideas in a logical sequence,
C. tolerating
sentence 2 should be located
D. understanding
A. where it is now.
11.
B. before sentence 1.
A. NO CHANGE
C. after sentence 3.
B. reliable—frequent, comfortable, and fast,
D. after sentence 4.
C. reliable, frequent, comfortable and fast
8. Which sentence most effectively combines
the sentences to create more varied sentence D. reliable, frequent, comfortable, and fast,
structure?
Question Correct Answer Your Answer
Result Explanation

1 B Not attempted Wrong

Explanation

2 A Not attempted Wrong

Explanation

3 C Not attempted Wrong

Explanation

4 D Not attempted Wrong

Explanation

5 B Not attempted Wrong

Explanation

6 C Not attempted Wrong

Explanation

7 B Not attempted Wrong

Explanation

8 A Not attempted Wrong

Explanation

9 B Not attempted Wrong

Explanation

10 A Not attempted Wrong

Explanation

11 D Not attempted Wrong

Explanation