For the last five years, the XYZ Courier Company has made regular delivery trips between Town A and Town B. The average time taken by the company’s drivers to drive the round trip between the two towns, excluding the time taken for loading, unloading, and delivery, over that period has been 80 minutes. John, a driver for XYZ, needs to make a personal trip between the two towns; he figures that he should allow approximately 80 minutes for the round trip.

Which of the following, if true, does not call John’s conclusion into question?
a)The route between Town A and Town B has been plagued by increasing congestion over the last five years, as the area's population has doubled during that time..
b) Most of XYZ’s courier vehicles are heavy trucks, for which speed limits are lower than for passenger vehicles.
c) Many of the packages carried by XYZ between Town A and Town B are large, high-security packages, for which the processes of loading, unloading, and delivery can take up to half the length of the trip itself..
d) John will make his personal trip at an hour when XYZ does not make delivery trips.
e) Before a freeway was built between Town A and Town B two years ago, the only routes between the two towns were state highways with multiple traffic lights and reduced-speed downtown zones.

OA
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HI Marcab

I think the answer is E we have to select an option that doesnt weaken the conclusion.

Conclusion: he figures that he should allow approximately 80 minutes for the round trip.
The issue whether john takes up state highway or freeway is not discussed anywhere in the argument. Neither any conclusion is drawn as to whether john will use freeway or state highway

The driver, John, estimated to make the trip in 80mins NOW.
To weaken, the actual time could be less than or more than 80mins.

A: the 80min estimate might nt be enough after all...weaken
B: If John is to travel via passenger vehicles (as opposed to courier vehicle), he is likely to spend less time...weaken
C: the amount of time for loading, unloading, and delivery has no bearing on the initial 80min estimate; also, since John
is embarking on a personal trip, this is not part of his consideration.
D: when XYZ does not make delivery trips, John's estimate is likely to be below the 80mins....weaken
E: The 80mins is based on a 5-yr estimate. Before that bridge, there were multiple traffic lights and reduced-speed
downtown zones. We expect that estimate to take longer than now after the construction of a freeway 2yrs ago..weaken
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Shouldn't the answer be D, as in the options it clearly states that the personal trip is completed in an hour.

Can we get the OA plz

For the last five years, the XYZ Courier Company has made regular delivery trips between Town A and Town B. The average time taken by the company’s drivers to drive the round trip between the two towns, excluding the time taken for loading, unloading, and delivery, over that period has been 80 minutes. John, a driver for XYZ, needs to make a personal trip between the two towns; he figures that he should allow approximately 80 minutes for the round trip.

I would have to go with C.

a)The route between Town A and Town B has been plagued by increasing congestion over the last five years, as the area's population has doubled during that time..

Its basicially saying it will take more time

b) Most of XYZ’s courier vehicles are heavy trucks, for which speed limits are lower than for passenger vehicles.
If the speedlimit is just below so basically he can travel faster and possibly complete before 80 mins

c) Many of the packages carried by XYZ between Town A and Town B are large, high-security packages, for which the processes of loading, unloading, and delivery can take up to half the length of the trip itself.. Correct Choice

d) John will make his personal trip at an hour when XYZ does not make delivery trips. weakens cos hes completing the trip faster.

e) Before a freeway was built between Town A and Town B two years ago, the only routes between the two towns were state highways with multiple traffic lights and reduced-speed downtown zones. This is saying for 3 years it was taking more time and now its lower cos the average time is 80 mins according to the passage
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I thought the answer was E. Because the question states which one does not call John's conclusion in question. IMO, it means what would not make his conclusion wrong. All other choices seem to point as to why it would take longer or has no bearing on the fact. While answer choice E presents a reason on why the commute time would now be shorter ( since there is highway now rather than hitting multiple traffic lights).

I see marcab posted the answer as C which means I understood the question wrong. How do you interpret the question and Why?