Popular culture in the United States has become Europeanized to an ex

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

When the author learns that an interstate system of bicycle routes is being planned, case after case of European customs becoming accepted in the United States comes to his or her mind. This mental association would be a natural one if the system of bicycle routes were itself yet another case of a European phenomenon being brought to the United States. This in turn presupposes that long-distance bicycle routes are indeed a European phenomenon, an idea expressed by A, which is thus the correct answer.

B is incorrect. The passage does not support any inference that the European practices in question are luxuries, let alone which of them are more or less of a luxury than the others. C is not the correct answer. The passage is completely neutral on whether “Europeanization” has been beneficial, detrimental, or neither. Although many people might regard activities such as the drinking of wine and mineral water as beneficial, the passage itself does not support the statement of benefit. D is also incorrect. The passage can be taken to suggest that bicycles are indeed used fairly widely in Europe, but nothing the passage supports the inference that the majority of Europeans are regular users of bicycles. The last answer choice is incorrect. The passage is concerned solely with the influence of Europe on popular culture in the United States and not at all with any influence going the other way, however strong that influence might in fact be.