Smarter Cars for Clean Air

Select the statement that best explains how the author’s perspective on gas-powered cars was developed in the text.

• The author includes reasons and evidence to explain that gas-powered cars reduce pollution.

• The author includes reasons and evidence to explain that gas-powered cars should not be bought.

• The author includes reasons and evidence to explain that gas-powered cars create more pollution.

• The author includes reasons and evidence to explain that not many gas-powered cars are on the roads.

How is the author’s purpose developed in the text?

• The author provides their opinion on the price of gas and gives facts and information to explain why hybrid cars are less reliable than gas-powered cars.

• The author informs the reader about how hybrid cars are being seen less frequently on the road and gives facts and information to explain why.

• The author provides their opinion on gas-powered cars gives reasons and evidence to explain why hybrid cars should be used instead.

• The author informs the reader about the advantages of hybrid cars and gives reasons and evidence to explain why they are too expensive.

This question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B. Part A How is the author’s claim developed in the text?

• The claim is developed by including evidence to explain the negative effects of gas-powered cars and the benefits of hybrid cars.

• The claim is developed by including facts and information that show how hybrid cars are more expensive than gas-powered cars.

• The claim is developed by including details to explain how hybrid cars work with both gas and electricity.

• The claim is developed by including evidence to show how electric cars affect the environment.

Select a piece of evidence from the text that supports your answer in Part A.

• We rely on cars to get us to a wide variety of places ... and fast! (paragraph 1)

• These are cars that run on both gasoline and electricity. (paragraph 2)

• Hybrid cars just have one major difference: they greatly improve our environment. (paragraph 6)

• Of the 17 million vehicles sold in the United States in 2019, only about 400,000 of them were hybrids. (paragraph 5)

How does paragraph 6 help to develop the author’s argument that more people should drive hybrid cars?

• Paragraph 6 provides an explanation of how hybrid cars still rely on gas to work well.

• Paragraph 6 provides evidence to explain why legislation will encourage people to buy hybrid cars.

• Paragraph 6 provides reasons to support why electric cars are less reliable and more expensive than hybrid cars.

• Paragraph 6 provides an explanation of how hybrid cars have more benefits than just creating less pollution.

Select the best summary for the text, "Short Changed."

• Hybrid cars create less pollution than gas-powered cars. Studies show that as gas-powered vehicles burn fuel, they release pollutants into the air. Because hybrid cars do not rely on gas, they tend to create less pollution. This can improve the air quality and environment. For this reason, the author states that more people should drive hybrid cars.

• The automobile industry is in need of updates. More and more people are buying gas-powered cars even though research shows that it creates pollution. This could make it harder for people with asthma to breathe. To prevent this, the text suggests changing legislation to make people buying new cars pick out hybrid cars. This would create a better world for everyone.

• Even though they might be more expensive, everyone needs to own a hybrid car. They are much better than regular gas-powered cars because they make less pollution. In 2019, only 400,000 of the 17 million cars sold were hybrid. That’s way too little! Maybe if there were more of them on the road, the air quality would be improved. For this reason, the author thinks that hybrid cars should be more affordable.

• Hybrid cars create less pollution than other cars. For example, they will produce less than one-third of the air pollution that regular gas powered cars. Even so, hybrid cars aren’t as good as some people think. They tend to be more expensive than gas-powered cars making them more challenging for people to buy. If the laws change, people might be forced to get these cars. That would help the environment.

Select two details that would be included in a summary of the text.

• Unlike gas-powered cars, hybrid cars use both gas and electricity, which creates less waste.

• Most of the cars purchased in 2019 were gas-powered.

• People who drive hybrid cars care more about the earth than those with gas-powered cars.

• Hybrid cars produce significantly less air pollution than gas-powered vehicles.

• Because gas is getting so expensive, many people are switching to hybrid cars.