Logical reasoning PrepTest 146 · Section 1 · Question 17

Incorrect. This would have been true before the new highway was opened, and it doesn't explain how commute times increased in the downtown area once it did.

Incorrect. These people would have still had to commute before the highway opened, so there's no indication what changed that led to higher commute times.

Incorrect. Be careful! While this answer does highlight a change that could increase commute times (traffic lights potentially slowing things down), these were installed in the suburban roads, and the paradox is that commute times increased for workers in the downtown area.

Incorrect. If the road work were still being done, then this answer might explain it, but the work is described as being done with the highway ("was being built") so there's no indication it would explain traffic after the highway opened.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Facts

Question Type:
Paradox

Stimulus Summary:
Goal Ð Relieve traffic congestion
Approach Ð Build a new highway between the suburbs and downtown area
Unexpected outcome Ð Average commute time for downtown commuters increased

Answer Anticipation:
Paradox questions frequently feature changes that had unexpected consequences. When the situation in the stimulus falls into this pattern, we should look for answers that bring up a change driven by the established change that could have led to the unexpected outcome.

Here, the change is a new highway connecting the suburbs and downtown areas. The unexpected outcome is increased commute times for downtown commuters. So the highway must have somehow driven a change that increased commute times. That could be a variety of things, so let's stay flexible as we consider answers.

Answer Explanation:
This answer highlights a change that could explain increased commute times. If the area surrounding the highway in downtown Gastner became more congested after it opened, then that would explain the increased commute times.

Key Takeaway:
Changes need to be explained by other changes. Here, since commute time in the downtown area went up, something must have changed for workers in that area, and so any answer that didn't highlight such a change could be immediately eliminated.