Question 16

For years, urban planners had thought the opposite was true, they assumed.

The best way to revise and combine the underlined portion of sentences 5 and 6 is to use "was true, they assumed." This structure effectively maintains the original meaning while improving the flow of the sentences.

A) was true, they assumed

This option correctly uses a comma to connect the two independent clauses, allowing for a smooth transition between the thoughts of urban planners thinking something was true and their subsequent assumption. It maintains clarity and coherence in the statement.

B) was true, assuming

This option incorrectly uses "assuming" as a gerund, which changes the grammatical structure and meaning of the sentence. It implies a different relationship between the clauses that does not accurately reflect the original intent of the thoughts conveyed by urban planners.

C) was true and assuming

Using "and assuming" introduces a conjunction that creates an awkward sentence structure. It implies a simultaneous action rather than clearly delineating the planners' thoughts as separate yet related statements, which diminishes the clarity of the meaning.

D) was true they assumed

This option lacks proper punctuation between the two independent clauses. The absence of a comma creates a run-on sentence that complicates understanding, making it less effective than the correct option.

Conclusion

The option "was true, they assumed" is the most effective choice as it preserves clarity and proper sentence structure while accurately conveying the intended meaning. Other options either change the meaning, create awkward constructions, or lack necessary punctuation, making them less suitable for effectively communicating the urban planners' thoughts.