Question 18

Two-thirds of New Yorkers support the new bike lanes because they provide environmental, health, and safety benefits.

The passage indicates that many New Yorkers support the bike lanes due to the environmental reasons along with health and safety benefits they offer to bike riders.

A) Because they reduce property taxes

This option is incorrect as the extract does not mention any relationship between bike lanes and property taxes. Instead, it focuses on the benefits of bike lanes related to the environment, health, and safety.

B) Because they provide environmental, health, and safety benefits

This option is correct as the passage directly states that supporters of the bike lanes cite environmental reasons, as well as health and safety benefits, to justify their support. This aligns perfectly with the reasoning provided in the extract.

C) Because they reduce subway crowding

This option is incorrect because the extract does not reference subway crowding as a reason for supporting bike lanes. The focus is primarily on the benefits that bike lanes offer to cyclists and the environment rather than public transportation issues.

D) Because they make cycling more fashionable

This option is incorrect since the passage does not discuss fashion or popularity as a reason for support. The reasons given for the support of bike lanes are rooted in practical benefits rather than trends.

Conclusion

The correct answer is definitively supported by the text, which highlights that two-thirds of New Yorkers back the bike lanes due to their environmental, health, and safety advantages. All other options fail to align with the passage’s content, as they either introduce unrelated concepts or lack any basis in the provided information.