- PowerScore Staff
- Posts: 8950
- Joined: Feb 02, 2011
- Sat Jun 03, 2017 11:30 am
#35656
Complete Question Explanation
Resolve the Paradox. The correct answer choice is (C)
This is a paradox question. Resolving a paradox almost always requires accounting for both sides
and typically involves explaining how they can logically coexist. The two sides are a lower speed
limit and shorter travel times after decreasing the speed limit. On the surface, imposing a lower
speed limit should result in longer travel times. Note, however, that the stimulus refers only to rushhour
travel times. This suggests that road congestion may play a role in explaining the paradox.
Answer choice (A): If (A) is true, why did the rush-hour travel times decrease by 15 percent? While
it is logically possibly for average speeds to be lower during rush hour than at other times and traffic
to still move faster after the decreased speed limit than before, this information does not help explain
why the decreased travel time occurred.
Answer choice (B): This answer suggests that during less congested travel times, the decreased
speed limit had no effect (which is counterintuitive, since you would expect that during low traffic
times, cars frequently travel at or above the speed limit). Regardless, knowing what happened when
the motorway was less congested does not explain the unexpected result during rush hour.
Answer choice (C): This is the correct answer choice. This describes a second change in
conditions before and after the speed limit was lowered. When the speed limit was 70, high-speed
driving during rush hour caused accidents and delays. With the speed limit at 50, it is plausible that
fewer such accidents occur and the absence of the resulting delays could explain the decreased travel
time.
Answer choice (D): Since enforcement of the speed limits remains unchanged and a lower speed
limit by itself ought to result in longer travel times, this answer cannot help resolve the paradox.
Answer choice (E): Knowing that the number of drivers did not increase is not the same as knowing
that the number of drivers decreased. Since this answer allows for the possibility that the same
number of drivers use the M25 since the speed limit was lowered, it cannot explain why travel times
decreased.
Resolve the Paradox. The correct answer choice is (C)
This is a paradox question. Resolving a paradox almost always requires accounting for both sides
and typically involves explaining how they can logically coexist. The two sides are a lower speed
limit and shorter travel times after decreasing the speed limit. On the surface, imposing a lower
speed limit should result in longer travel times. Note, however, that the stimulus refers only to rushhour
travel times. This suggests that road congestion may play a role in explaining the paradox.
Answer choice (A): If (A) is true, why did the rush-hour travel times decrease by 15 percent? While
it is logically possibly for average speeds to be lower during rush hour than at other times and traffic
to still move faster after the decreased speed limit than before, this information does not help explain
why the decreased travel time occurred.
Answer choice (B): This answer suggests that during less congested travel times, the decreased
speed limit had no effect (which is counterintuitive, since you would expect that during low traffic
times, cars frequently travel at or above the speed limit). Regardless, knowing what happened when
the motorway was less congested does not explain the unexpected result during rush hour.
Answer choice (C): This is the correct answer choice. This describes a second change in
conditions before and after the speed limit was lowered. When the speed limit was 70, high-speed
driving during rush hour caused accidents and delays. With the speed limit at 50, it is plausible that
fewer such accidents occur and the absence of the resulting delays could explain the decreased travel
time.
Answer choice (D): Since enforcement of the speed limits remains unchanged and a lower speed
limit by itself ought to result in longer travel times, this answer cannot help resolve the paradox.
Answer choice (E): Knowing that the number of drivers did not increase is not the same as knowing
that the number of drivers decreased. Since this answer allows for the possibility that the same
number of drivers use the M25 since the speed limit was lowered, it cannot explain why travel times
decreased.