Question

A student is writing a letter to the editor and wants to revise the draft. Read the two paragraphs from the student’s letter and then answer the question that follows.

I’m writing to express my support for the recent changes to the school dress code. Basic guidelines for acceptable appearance have been in place for years. For example, super-short cutoffs were not allowed in the 1970s, and tight, shiny spandex was not allowed in the 1980s. I’m sure students back then complained, saying that their clothing was not inappropriate or distracting.

Before the new guidelines, it was not unusual to see more yoga pants and pajama pants than actual pants being worn. I often wondered, “Am I in school, or am I in a friend’s living room lounging around and watching TV”? School is a place where people come together to learn, so it is only reasonable for our appearance to match the expectations of our environment.

Which sentence would provide the BEST transition between the two paragraphs?

A.
I know that the administration has faced some opposition for this policy, but I think it will die down once students get used to the changes.

B.
Whether the purpose is to limit distractions or to encourage self-respect, the new policy is a good policy.

C.
Some workplaces are also starting to enact stricter expectations for what is considered a professional appearance.

D.
I can assure you that I, for one, am distracted by some of the things people wear now.

Answer 1

B

Option B provides a clear link from supporting the policy to the reasons for it (reducing distractions and encouraging appropriate appearance), which leads naturally into the second paragraph’s examples and argument. The other choices either shift focus (C), are overly personal or redundant (D), or acknowledge opposition without connecting to the paragraph that follows (A).