PrepTest 130

Incorrect. If the vast majority of people work in the same place outside the city, then more residents could be served with fewer bus routes, thus explaining how there could be a higher demand for public transportation serviced by a lower number of routes.

Incorrect. This answer explains how people could get around despite lower levels of public transportation. The people of Springfield generally drive around instead of taking buses.

Incorrect. If Springfield has more trains than Rorchester, then it could have a higher demand for public transportation (as expected) but fewer bus lines because most people are taking the trains instead!

Incorrect. If the buses are on longer routes and run more frequently, then more people could be served by fewer routes, thus explaining a higher demand but a lower number of routes.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Facts

Question Type:
Bizarro Paradox

Stimulus Summary:
Expectation: People who live closer to work would have a lower demand for public transportation than people who live farther away.
Paradox: Springfield—where people live farther from work than Rorchester—has fewer bus routes than Rorchester.

Answer Anticipation:
This argument is all about the comparison between Springfield and Rorchester. While one data point suggests Springfield should have a higher demand for public transportation than Rorchester, there could be other factors that suggest the opposite conclusion. Any answer that raises one of these factors comparing the two and suggesting a higher demand for public transportation in Rorchester would resolve the paradox (and thus can be eliminated in this Bizarro question).

Additionally, the stimulus jumps from discussing demand for public transportation to bus routes. Any answer that highlights how a smaller number of bus routes can actually align with a higher demand for public transportation would also resolve the paradox. Maybe the smaller number of bus routes are because of a significantly higher number of trains, or maybe most people live in a few places, thus requiring fewer bus routes with more buses per route.

Answer Explanation:
If anything, a larger population would require more public transportation, all else being equal—and we know all else isn't equal, with people living farther away from work. This answer makes the discrepancy worse!

Key Takeaway:
Comparisons frequently feature in Paradox questions. If you can clearly identify what is expected and what actually happened, then you can figure out what other comparisons will help to explain why the information presented didn't lead to the expected outcome.