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A recent survey conducted in one North American city revealed widespread concern about the problems faced by teenagers today. Seventy percent of the adults surveyed said they would pay higher taxes for drug treatment programs, and 60 percent said they were willing to pay higher taxes to improve the city’s schools. Yet in a vote in that same city, a proposition to increase funding for schools by raising taxes failed by a narrow margin to win majority approval.
Which one of the following factors, if true, would LEAST contribute to an explanation of the discrepancy described above?
The premises we are given tell us:
A recent survey conducted in one North American city revealed widespread concern about the problems faced by teenagers today. (So, survey says that people are concerned about teenager issues.)
Seventy percent of the adults surveyed said they would pay higher taxes for drug treatment programs, and 60 percent said they were willing to pay higher taxes to improve the city’s schools. (We’re given some data points for two opinions about different programs for the city: 1) drug treatment and 2) city schools. No paradox yet!)
Yet in a vote in that same city, a proposition to increase funding for schools by raising taxes failed by a narrow margin to win majority approval. (Ah, here’s the “yet”. So apparently, despite the high percentage of survey responses indicating support for the city school program, that proposition didn’t even get majority approval.)
Why’s that? Hm, it’s interesting they didn’t tell us anything about the drug treatment program. So I guess the city program was the only one that was “odd” in that the survey didn’t match the result. Maybe the right answer choice will pinpoint something about city program survey responders and the actual voters? Let’s see.
Oh, wait! We’re looking for the LEAST likely explanation for the discrepancy. Almost got fooled there!
Quote:
(A) The survey sample was not representative of the voters who voted on the proposition.
OK, well that could be true!
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(B) Many of the people who were surveyed did not respond truthfully to all of the questions put to them.
OK, same as (A). Also, the same as we expected!
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(C) The proposition was only part of a more expensive community improvement program that voters had to accept or reject in total.
Ah, this explains why the program might have failed. People probably supported city school program as a whole idea BUT NOT the specificities of it.

Let's check other answers though!
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(D) A proposition for increasing funds for local drug treatment centers also failed to win approval.
This wouldn’t explain why the city programs didn’t win approval. This is a “opposing group” answer that would be wrong IF were were asked to explain the discrepancy. But since we’re looking for the LEAST HELPFUL explanation. This is good!Quote:
(E) The proposition to raise taxes for schools was couched in terminology that many of the voters found confusing.
Hm, this could also explain it. If the proposition was super confusing then most people might not vote for something they can’t understand.