How Street Numbers Find a Door

Written by Studio AM.

Street numbers are more than labels. On many streets, numbers rise as a person moves in one direction. Odd numbers appear on one side, while even numbers appear on the other.

Suppose Mira is looking for 148 Cedar Street. She passes 121, 125, and 131 on her left. Those odd numbers are increasing, so she is moving the right way. Because 148 is even, she should watch the other side. When she sees 142 and then 146, she knows the door is near.

Systems differ between cities, and some roads contain gaps or unusual numbering. Still, the pattern gives a useful estimate. A number can tell a visitor which side to scan and whether to continue forward or turn back.

Questions

Choose an answer. The explanation appears after you answer.

  1. Question 1 of 4

    What is the main idea of the passage?

  2. Question 2 of 4

    Why should Mira look across the street after seeing 131?

  3. Question 3 of 4

    What does “scan” mean in the final sentence?

  4. Question 4 of 4

    Which number does Mira see just before she expects her door?

Score: none answered yet.

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