After months of public hearings, the city installed bus-only lanes along the busiest corridor. Critics predicted gridlock and plummeting sales for nearby shops. Yet early data, collected across multiple weeks and time slots, present evidence: average commute times fell by nearly a fifth, and retail receipts remained steady relative to the same period last year. While longer-term monitoring is necessary, transportation officials argue the pilot has met its stated benchmarks without the collateral harms opponents forecast.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
- compelling (correct answer)
- perfunctory
- belligerent
- ornamental
Explanation: Because the data show clear improvements in commute times without retail losses, the evidence is compelling. The other choices describe attitudes or appearances (perfunctory, belligerent, ornamental) that do not logically modify evidence here.