LR Problem Set #4, Q400

[smile22]

In the stimulus, it states that "prior to 1700, pilings were driven to "refusal"....". Furthermore, the pilings for Venice's Rialto Bridge, which was built in 1588, were also driven to refusal. Based on the sentence "prior to 1700, pilings were driven to "refusal"....", it is safe to infer that after 1700, pilings were driven beyond "refusal"? Is that why answer E is correct?

[David Boyle]

In the stimulus, it states that "prior to 1700, pilings were driven to "refusal"....". Furthermore, the pilings for Venice's Rialto Bridge, which was built in 1588, were also driven to refusal. Based on the sentence "prior to 1700, pilings were driven to "refusal"....", it is safe to infer that after 1700, pilings were driven beyond "refusal"? Is that why answer E is correct?

Hello smile22,

While "common sense" may tell us that the context indicates that "refusal" was not the standard after 1700, the passage doesn't say that, so we don't know. For all we know, maybe there's a more *lax* standard now, where pilings don't have to be driven in far at all!
Answer E is correct in that, e.g., for all we know, maybe twenty-five taps (one more than 24) could have driven the Rialto pilings in even deeper. Not to mention 100 taps! (That might splinter the piling itself into pieces!)

Hope this helps,
David

[smile22]

Thank you!!