Sentence insertion - TOEFL

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Adapted from “Greenhouses: Their Construction and Equipment” by W.J. Wright (1917)

“Generally speaking, there are only two satisfactory methods of greenhouse heating: Steam and hot water. Direct heating by stoves is not satisfactory even in small houses, and no satisfactory system has yet been devised for the use of hot-air furnaces. The only method aside from steam or hot water which deserves mention is heating by flues. (A)

(B) The principles pertaining to greenhouse heating are much the same as those involved in heating other buildings, except that the loss of heat is greater from glass than from wood or brick walls, and a higher and more constant night temperature is required than is necessary in dwellings. For this reason, relatively more radiating surface is required and boilers of larger capacity are needed.

In heating with flues the equipment consists simply of a furnace at one end of the house and a chimney at the other, the two being connected by a flue, carried underneath the bench or buried just underneath the soil, through which the heat and smoke are carried. (C) This may be made of brick, but large-size drain or sewer tile are more commonly used. These withstand the heat and are easily and cheaply put in place. It is best to have the flue slope upward slightly toward the chimney. As has already been stated, this method is wasteful of fuel. It is also difficult to regulate. (D) It is still employed to some extent by gardeners in cheap houses, used only in late winter or early spring for the starting of early vegetable plants, sweet potatoes, etc.”

The following sentence is missing from the passage:

"They are wasteful of fuel, and their use is not justified, except in cheaply constructed houses which are used only for a few months in the spring or fall."

Where would this sentence best fit?

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Answer

The sentence best fits at (A) because it starts with the word "they," meaning it has to be referring to something plural. The previous sentence ends with "flues," which is what the missing sentence is referring to.

Furthermore, the sentence would not fit anywhere else. (B) would not make sense because the paragraph would not begin by talking about an unknown subject (they). (C) would not make sense because it would interrupt the flow of the discussion of equipment. Finally, (D) is not correct because the previous sentence says that the idea of flues being wasteful has "already been stated." Therefore, it would not make sense for the missing sentence to come after that.

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