- PowerScore Staff
- Posts: 8950
- Joined: Feb 02, 2011
- Tue May 17, 2016 3:04 pm
#24994
Complete Question Explanation
Resolve the Paradox. The correct answer choice is (D)
This short stimulus is surprisingly complex. As with most Resolve questions, it does not contain an argument, but a fact set. According to a study, the most heavily congested highways have the lowest rate of traffic accidents. This fact appears to be self-contradictory, but it is not: “congestion” is simply a numerical idea (we can count the cars to determine what highway has the most), whereas “fatal accident rate” is a percentage (usually the number of fatal accidents per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, although knowing the precise definition of “accident rate” is not required to answer this question correctly).
To explain the phenomenon described in the stimulus, ask yourself why the most heavily congested highways tend to have the lowest rates of fatal accidents. Perhaps there is a direct correlation between the speed of traffic and fatal accident rates: faster-moving traffic leads to higher rate of fatal accidents. This prephrase agrees with answer choice (D), which is correct.
Answer choice (A): This answer choice does not address the paradox in the stimulus, so it cannot be correct. Even though correct answer choices in Resolve the Paradox question can provide information from outside the stimulus, the information in the answer choice must directly respond to the paradox in the stimulus. The stimulus does not provide any information about distraction in drivers, and even if this answer choice were true, it is not clear how the amount of traffic on the road would impact driver distraction.
Answer choice (B): Though this answer choice connects traffic and rate of fatal accidents, it does not explain why the lowest rate of fatal accidents would be where there is the most traffic.
Answer choice (C): It is not clear why the reason for an individual driving would affect the rate of fatal accidents on the road. Commuting to and from work does not necessarily make someone more or less likely to have a fatal accident.
Answer choice (D): This is the correct answer choice. The answer choice directly connects the number of cars on the road and the rate of fatal accidents on the road. Since a more congested road is likely to be a slower moving road, this answer choice explains that it is not expected to have many serious accidents as serious accidents are more likely to occur with higher rates of speed.
Answer choice (E): This answer choice does not explain how the number of heavy trucks on the road would impact the rate of fatal accidents.
Resolve the Paradox. The correct answer choice is (D)
This short stimulus is surprisingly complex. As with most Resolve questions, it does not contain an argument, but a fact set. According to a study, the most heavily congested highways have the lowest rate of traffic accidents. This fact appears to be self-contradictory, but it is not: “congestion” is simply a numerical idea (we can count the cars to determine what highway has the most), whereas “fatal accident rate” is a percentage (usually the number of fatal accidents per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, although knowing the precise definition of “accident rate” is not required to answer this question correctly).
To explain the phenomenon described in the stimulus, ask yourself why the most heavily congested highways tend to have the lowest rates of fatal accidents. Perhaps there is a direct correlation between the speed of traffic and fatal accident rates: faster-moving traffic leads to higher rate of fatal accidents. This prephrase agrees with answer choice (D), which is correct.
Answer choice (A): This answer choice does not address the paradox in the stimulus, so it cannot be correct. Even though correct answer choices in Resolve the Paradox question can provide information from outside the stimulus, the information in the answer choice must directly respond to the paradox in the stimulus. The stimulus does not provide any information about distraction in drivers, and even if this answer choice were true, it is not clear how the amount of traffic on the road would impact driver distraction.
Answer choice (B): Though this answer choice connects traffic and rate of fatal accidents, it does not explain why the lowest rate of fatal accidents would be where there is the most traffic.
Answer choice (C): It is not clear why the reason for an individual driving would affect the rate of fatal accidents on the road. Commuting to and from work does not necessarily make someone more or less likely to have a fatal accident.
Answer choice (D): This is the correct answer choice. The answer choice directly connects the number of cars on the road and the rate of fatal accidents on the road. Since a more congested road is likely to be a slower moving road, this answer choice explains that it is not expected to have many serious accidents as serious accidents are more likely to occur with higher rates of speed.
Answer choice (E): This answer choice does not explain how the number of heavy trucks on the road would impact the rate of fatal accidents.