Logical reasoning PrepTest 143 · Section 4 · Question 12

Incorrect. If the average speed was lower, then it should have taken people longer to get to their destinations. This answer makes the paradox worse.

Incorrect. The paradox just surrounds the speed limit and travel times during rush hour, and this answer doesn't talk about that time period so can't explain what's going on there.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Facts

Question Type:
Paradox

Stimulus Summary:
A road lowered its rush-hour speed limit by 20mph, and average travel times during rush hour decreased 15%.

Answer Anticipation:
Normally, driving slower means it'll take longer to get to your destination. However, on this British road, lowering the speed limit actually made people get to their destination faster. Lowering that speed limit, therefore, must have had an impact other than slowing people down in order to account for this decreased travel time. Any answer that highlights a relevant change that the lower speed limits had that could reduce travel times—e.g., fewer accidents slowing the roadways down—will resolve this paradox.

Answer Explanation:
This answer highlights an effect of the lowered speed limit that could increase average speed/decrease drive time. If high-speed drivers were causing accidents resulting in delays, then lowering the speed limit and getting some people to drive slower would decrease the number of these accidents, decreasing lengthy delays and allowing people to get to their destinations faster.

Key Takeaway:
Many paradox questions feature a change with an unexpected outcome. For these questions, an unexpected difference between before the change and after will generally explain that unexpected outcome.

Incorrect. This answer highlights a similarity between the two time periods, which wouldn't explain a change/decrease in drive times.

Incorrect. This answer highlights a similarity between the two time periods, which wouldn't explain a change/decrease in drive times.