Question

claims and arguments
during the 20th century, widespread access to automobiles in the united states transformed society, opening up new possibilities for work, vacations, and cultural exchange. however, the proliferation of cars also came with significant costs - and not just environmental costs, but social costs as well. as social critic vance packard articulated in his 1972 book, a nation of strangers, cars have played a major role in increasing loneliness and social isolation in the u.s.
but how could a technology that connects us across vast distances increase isolation? after all, cars provide new ways of spending time with family, such as road trips or outings. but much of the time spent in cars is spent alone. for example, the average american adult spends almost an hour commuting to work each day. only 7% of those commuters carpool.
in addition, cars enabled families to relocate for work or to enjoy new areas, leading to the growth of suburbs. but the ability to relocate easily meant that families lived far apart from each other. in many cases, this physical distance has translated into a sense of social distance as well.
and while the automobile bridged great distances, it also created physical barriers to spontaneous social interactions. busy streets and highways often divide communities, making walking or cycling dangerous and discouraging friendly greetings and quick chats.
the author hopes to strengthen their argument by adding statistical information to the text. which of the following statistics, if added to the text, would most strengthen the author’s primary argument?
choose 1 answer:
a it is unclear how 1.2% of commuters get to work, suggesting that more research is needed to understand the effects of commuting.
b 76.6% of commuters drive alone to work, limiting their opportunities for spontaneous or planned social interactions.
c only 3.4% of commuters gain the health benefits of walking or biking to work, suggesting that cars have decreased workers’ overall health.
d 7% of commuters carpool to work, offering them important opportunities to socialize with colleagues.

Explanation:

The author's primary argument is that cars have increased loneliness and social isolation. We need to find a statistic that supports this.

• Option A: Talks about needing more research, not supporting the argument. Eliminate.
• Option B: 76.6% of commuters drive alone, limiting social interactions. This shows that most commuters are alone in cars, which supports the idea that cars increase isolation.
• Option C: Talks about health benefits, not social isolation. Eliminate.
• Option D: Says 9% carpool, which gives social opportunities, weakening the argument. Eliminate.

Answer:

B. 76.6% of commuters drive alone to work, limiting their opportunities for spontaneous or planned social interactions.