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- Wed Jun 28, 2017 3:18 pm
#36507
Complete Question Explanation
Resolve the Paradox. The correct answer choice is (D)
This stimulus contains information regarding two commissioned erosion reports which concern the
suitability of a new bridge site at Wantastiquet Pass, with a focus on the prospect that erosion might
weaken the new bridge’s foundation. Both of the reports are accurate, but they come to different
conclusions about the degree of erosion at the site. One report holds that the area suffers relatively
little erosion, while the other report states that regional erosion is heavy enough to cause concern.
We are asked how to resolve this apparent paradox, so we should find the answer that explains what
might distinguish these two reports from one another (while still allowing for the fact that both
reports are accurate), and offers some explanation as to why the different conclusions were drawn.
Answer choice (A): Even if neither report presents an extensive chemical analysis, this does not
distinguish the two reports in any way, and thus provides no resolution to the discrepancy in the
findings regarding the impact of erosion, so this answer choice should be eliminated.
Answer choice (B): If both reports include enhanced satellite photos, then we would still expect that
the fi ndings would be similar. This answer choice provides no distinction between the two reports,
and no insight into a resolution of the reports’ disparate findings.
Answer choice (C): If one report came from a university and the other came from a private
consulting fi rm, this would provide one distinguishing characteristic between the two sets of
findings. However, the author of the stimulus asserts that the findings of both reports are accurate, so
we would still expect similar conclusions, and information regarding their respective sources doesn’t
help to resolve the discrepancy in the respective findings.
Answer choice (D): This is the correct answer choice. If the results of one report were based on
general findings concerning regional topsoil erosion, and the other focuses instead on flood-caused
riverbank erosion, then we wouldn’t necessarily have the expectation that the reports would arrive at
similar conclusions. It makes sense that both could be accurate, since one type of erosion can be light
while the other can be significant. This resolves the paradox and allows for the given fact that both
reports are accurate.
Answer choice (E): While this answer choice provides a point of distinction between the two reports,
the relative costs of the reports should not differentiate the results, especially considering that we
already know that both reports are confirmed accurate according to the stimulus.
Resolve the Paradox. The correct answer choice is (D)
This stimulus contains information regarding two commissioned erosion reports which concern the
suitability of a new bridge site at Wantastiquet Pass, with a focus on the prospect that erosion might
weaken the new bridge’s foundation. Both of the reports are accurate, but they come to different
conclusions about the degree of erosion at the site. One report holds that the area suffers relatively
little erosion, while the other report states that regional erosion is heavy enough to cause concern.
We are asked how to resolve this apparent paradox, so we should find the answer that explains what
might distinguish these two reports from one another (while still allowing for the fact that both
reports are accurate), and offers some explanation as to why the different conclusions were drawn.
Answer choice (A): Even if neither report presents an extensive chemical analysis, this does not
distinguish the two reports in any way, and thus provides no resolution to the discrepancy in the
findings regarding the impact of erosion, so this answer choice should be eliminated.
Answer choice (B): If both reports include enhanced satellite photos, then we would still expect that
the fi ndings would be similar. This answer choice provides no distinction between the two reports,
and no insight into a resolution of the reports’ disparate findings.
Answer choice (C): If one report came from a university and the other came from a private
consulting fi rm, this would provide one distinguishing characteristic between the two sets of
findings. However, the author of the stimulus asserts that the findings of both reports are accurate, so
we would still expect similar conclusions, and information regarding their respective sources doesn’t
help to resolve the discrepancy in the respective findings.
Answer choice (D): This is the correct answer choice. If the results of one report were based on
general findings concerning regional topsoil erosion, and the other focuses instead on flood-caused
riverbank erosion, then we wouldn’t necessarily have the expectation that the reports would arrive at
similar conclusions. It makes sense that both could be accurate, since one type of erosion can be light
while the other can be significant. This resolves the paradox and allows for the given fact that both
reports are accurate.
Answer choice (E): While this answer choice provides a point of distinction between the two reports,
the relative costs of the reports should not differentiate the results, especially considering that we
already know that both reports are confirmed accurate according to the stimulus.