Question

Passage A
The city park should be expanded because green spaces improve community well‑being. When people have access to trees, open fields, and walking paths, they tend to spend more time outdoors and less time in traffic‑filled areas. Expanding the park would give residents a healthier, quieter place to gather.

Passage B
Expanding the city park sounds nice, but it’s an unnecessary expense. The city already struggles to maintain the green spaces it has, and adding more land will only stretch the budget thinner. Instead of chasing new projects, officials should focus on fixing what’s already broken.
How does each author organize their ideas?
What attitude or feeling does each author express?
What is each author trying to convince you of?

Answer 1

Passage A
- How the author organizes ideas: Opens with a clear claim (the park should be expanded) and then gives supporting reasons and expected effects (access to trees/fields/paths leads to more outdoor time and less time in traffic; expansion would provide a healthier, quieter gathering place).
- Attitude/feeling expressed: Positive and persuasive — optimistic about benefits, supportive of expansion, appeals to community well‑being.
- What the author is trying to convince you of: That the city should expand the park because increased green space improves residents’ health and quality of life.

Passage B
- How the author organizes ideas: Begins with a brief concession (“sounds nice”) then presents counterarguments and practical reasons against expansion (unnecessary expense, maintenance struggles, stretched budget) and offers an alternative (fix existing problems).
- Attitude/feeling expressed: Critical and cautious — skeptical of the proposal, focused on fiscal responsibility and practicality.
- What the author is trying to convince you of: That the city should not expand the park now; instead it should prioritize maintaining and repairing current green spaces to avoid wasting limited funds.