Writing Explanatory Text Unit Test

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Question
Maria's conclusion to her essay on the Federal Reserve System reads, "While the Fed is still controversial in some fringe groups, most Americans know that the Fed set the interest rate to 1.75% in October 2019." What is the best rewrite of her conclusion?(1 point)
Responses

Interest rates affect mortgages and retirement savings, so most Americans know that the Fed set the interest rate to 1.75% in October 2019.
Interest rates affect mortgages and retirement savings, so most Americans know that the Fed set the interest rate to 1.75% in October 2019.

President Woodrow Wilson established the Federal Reserve bank in 1913, yet it was not enough to prevent the Great Depression.
President Woodrow Wilson established the Federal Reserve bank in 1913, yet it was not enough to prevent the Great Depression.

No change is necessary.
No change is necessary.

While the Fed is still controversial in some fringe groups, most Americans appreciate the stability it brings to our financial system.

Interest rates affect mortgages and retirement savings, so most Americans know that the Fed set the interest rate to 1.75% in October 2019.

The best rewrite of Maria's conclusion would be:

"While the Fed is still controversial in some fringe groups, most Americans appreciate the stability it brings to our financial system."

To determine the best rewrite of Maria's conclusion, we need to consider the context and purpose of her essay. Since the question is asking for the best rewrite, we can eliminate the options that are irrelevant or do not improve the original conclusion.

Option 1: "Interest rates affect mortgages and retirement savings, so most Americans know that the Fed set the interest rate to 1.75% in October 2019."
This option adds relevant information about the impact of interest rates on mortgages and retirement savings. It strengthens the conclusion by explaining why most Americans would be aware of the Fed's interest rate decision.

Option 2: "President Woodrow Wilson established the Federal Reserve bank in 1913, yet it was not enough to prevent the Great Depression."
This option introduces a different historical fact about the Federal Reserve but does not directly address the topic of the essay, which is the knowledge and perception of the Fed among most Americans. Therefore, it is not a suitable rewrite for the given conclusion.

Option 3: "No change is necessary."
This option suggests that Maria's original conclusion is already acceptable and does not need any modification. However, we need to analyze if the original conclusion can be improved upon or clarified, so we can continue considering other options.

Option 4: "While the Fed is still controversial in some fringe groups, most Americans appreciate the stability it brings to our financial system."
This option offers an alternative perspective that emphasizes the stability provided by the Fed. It goes beyond the original conclusion to highlight a positive aspect of the Federal Reserve, rather than just stating a specific interest rate decision.

Based on these evaluations, the best rewrite of Maria's conclusion would be Option 1: "Interest rates affect mortgages and retirement savings, so most Americans know that the Fed set the interest rate to 1.75% in October 2019." This option maintains the focus on interest rates, adds relevant information, and strengthens the conclusion by explaining why most Americans would be aware of the Fed's interest rate decision.