Question

Read the excerpt from Chapter 5 of Wheels of Change.

By the turn of the century, the bicycle's heyday was over and a new mechanical wonder promised to transport men and women faster and farther than ever before. Bicycle manufacturers retooled their factories to build them and bicycle repair shops installed gasoline tanks to service them. The era of the automobile had begun.

What is most likely the reason Sue Macy included this cause-and-effect relationship?

to inform readers that automobiles were invented to solve the problems that bicycles could not
to inform readers that automobiles were a more effective means of transportation than bicycles
to inform readers that the invention of the automobile was a direct result of the invention of the bicycle
to inform readers that the invention of the automobile would impact the popularity of the bicycle

Answer 1

to inform readers that the invention of the automobile would impact the popularity of the bicycle

The passage shows how the rise of automobiles caused bicycle factories and repair shops to switch over, indicating cars decreased bicycles' popularity.