AnirudhaS wrote:
Hi
SajjadAhmad, can we have the official explanations of all the questions please?
Official Explanation
1. The passage suggests that the author believes traffic jams to
Difficulty Level: 700
Explanation
The phrase the passage suggests indicates that this is an inference question. The task of the question is indicated by the word suggests. The subject of the question is traffic jams. In order to answer the question, determine what the passage states about the subject and evaluate the answer choices, eliminating any choice which cannot be supported by the text. In the second paragraph, the passage states that traffic jams [in Singapore] have virtually disappeared as the number of vehicles entering the congestion pricing area has declined by 76%. Since 2003 when London introduced its system, average commuting times have declined by 14%. At the same time, public transportation usage and bicycle ridership have increased sharply in both cities and air pollution has been dramatically reduced.
Choice A: No. This choice features the recycled language developing countries, North America and Europe, but there is no such comparison regarding the frequency of traffic jams relative to these regions.
Choice B: No. This choice features the recycled language urbanization and uses the extreme language unavoidable. In the first paragraph, the author states that one solution [to traffic congestion] is congestion pricing. If there is one possible solution, then the problem is not unavoidable.
Choice C: No. This choice is a reversal that features the recycled language induced demand. In the last paragraph, the author mentions that critics cite an economic principle known as “induced demand,” and contend that the congestion pricing could become a victim of its own success. However, the author counters the critics by stating, “there’s no such thing as a free lunch,” and that congestion pricing forces drivers to bear the true economic costs of their actions. Therefore, the author does not believe traffic jams to be the result of induced demand.
Choice D: Correct. If traffic jams [in Singapore] have virtually disappeared as the number of vehicles entering the congestion pricing area has declined by 76% and average commuting times have declined by 14% in London while at the same time public transportation usage and bicycle ridership have increased sharply in both cities, and air pollution has been dramatically reduced, then that demonstrates that traffic jams influence characteristics of a city besides transportation.
Choice E: No. This choice features the recycled language suburban middle class. The author states in the first paragraph that this expanding urbanization coincides with the rise of a suburban middle class made up of professionals who commute into the urban core each day, but there is no indication that traffic jams indicate that an urban area is developing a suburban middle class.
The correct answer is choice D.
2. Which of the following scenarios conforms most closely to the pattern described in the third paragraph?
Difficulty Level: 750
Explanation
The phrase conforms most closely to the pattern indicates that this is an application question. The task of the question is indicated by the word conforms. The subject of the question is the pattern described in the third paragraph. In order to answer the question, determine the pattern of the information described in the third paragraph. Then, find an answer choice that conforms to the pattern. The third paragraph of the passage states that congestion pricing advocates characterize what has happened in London and Singapore as a “virtuous cycle”—a positive feedback loop with beneficial externalities. When drivers are charged a fee, many of them will choose to take public transportation or to bicycle instead. This reduces the number of vehicles on the road. At the same time, those who decide that it is worth it to drive and pay the fee will spend less time in stop and go traffic. Car drivers and bus passengers experience the benefit of reduced commuting times and both cars and buses waste less fuel idling in stalled traffic. Meanwhile, the money raised can be used to fund the expansion of public transportation and improvement of infrastructure such as roads and bicycle paths. These improvements in turn reduce commuting times and make it more convenient to take public transportation. Evaluate the answer choices, eliminating any choice which does not match the pattern of defining a cause and effect phenomenon that results in a “virtuous cycle” before describing both direct consequences and extended benefits.
Choice A: No. This choice is a reversal. That a law designed to spur development of high-speed rail by limiting owner liability for accidents prompts companies to take fewer safety precautions, and results in more frequent accidents, which reduces overall demand for high-speed rail lists no benefits, only negatives. This does not match the pattern of defining a cause and effect phenomenon that results in a “virtuous cycle” before describing both direct consequences and extended benefits.
Choice B: No. This choice is a reversal. That an ordinance that prohibits cars from entering a park during the day causes more people to visit the park and reduces the number of accidents, provides no direct causation link between the parking ordinance and the outcome of more people visiting park. This does not match the pattern of defining a cause and effect phenomenon that results in a “virtuous cycle” before describing both direct consequences and extended benefits.
Choice C: No. This choice is a reversal. That a cell phone company increases its capacity in order to meet increased demand for data due to the rising popularity of smart phones, which improves data transmission speeds and reliability, which prompts more people to buy smart phones, provides no extended benefits beyond those enjoyed directly by the cell phone company. This does not match the pattern of defining a cause and effect phenomenon that results in a “virtuous cycle” before describing both direct consequences and extended benefits.
Choice D: Correct. That a county plan to create technology jobs by convincing a software company to locate there results in local schools teaching more math and science, creating a better educated workforce, which attracts other software companies to move there as well, matches the pattern by defining a cause and effect phenomenon that results in a “virtuous cycle” before describing both direct consequences and extended benefits.
Choice E: No. This choice is a reversal. That a bank plan to increase its cash reserves by charging a fee to any account that does not carry a minimum balance leads to customers withdrawing their money, closing their accounts, and switching to a different bank lists no benefits, only negatives. This does not match the pattern of defining a cause and effect phenomenon that results in a “virtuous cycle” before describing both direct consequences and extended benefits.
The correct answer is choice D.
3. The author most likely included the quotation "there's no such thing as a free lunch." (Highlighted) in order to
Difficulty Level: 700
Explanation
This is a purpose question, as indicated by the phrase in order to. The subject of the question is the quotation “there’s no such thing as a free lunch.” The task of the question is to determine why the author uses this phrase. To answer the question, determine why the author included the quotation, and then evaluate the answer choices eliminating any choice which does not match the author’s purpose. To begin the last paragraph, the author mentions critics, citing an economic principle known as “induced demand,” who contend that congestion pricing could become a victim of its own success and actually have the opposite effect of that intended. The author subsequently uses the phrase however, these critics forget that “there’s no such thing as a free lunch,” to contradict the position of these critics who say congestion pricing could ultimately lead to an increase in traffic.
Choice A: No. There is no such comparison regarding the critics and how they interact with congestion pricing themselves. The comparison at issue is whether congestion pricing will result in increased traffic.
Choice B: No. This is a memory trap answer. Although there is a previously mentioned economic principle, that principle is not in any way undermined by the author. The author merely contradicts the idea that “induced demand” as it relates to congestion pricing will result in an increase in traffic.
Choice C: Correct. Indicate that critics of congestion pricing may have based their conclusions on insufficient information reflects the idea in the passage that these critics forget that “there’s no such thing as a free lunch.” Following the quotation, the author provides the additional information that congestion pricing forces drivers to bear the true economic costs of their actions, and furthermore that choice now comes with a price tag to support his opposing view to contradict the critics.
Choice D: No. This is a reversal. The problem that the critics have outlined –the idea that as traffic eases, driving becomes a more desirable option, thus leading to the same traffic problems as before–isn’t a problem at all according to the author. It therefore needs no solution. According to the author, while some may choose to continue driving, that choice now comes with a price tag.
Choice E: This is a memory trap answer. Although there is an economic principle, the principle itself is not argued against by the author. The author merely contradicts the idea that “induced demand” as it relates to congestion pricing will result in an increase in traffic.
The correct answer is choice C.
4. The author would be most likely to agree with which of the following statements?
Difficulty Level: 750
Explanation
The phrase most likely agree with indicates that this is an inference question. The task of the question is indicated by the word agree. The subject of the question is the passage as a whole. To answer the question, evaluate the answer choices, eliminating any choice which cannot be supported by the text.
Choice A: No. This choice features the recycled language economic principle and induced demand. It is also a reversal. According to the passage, critics cite induced demand as being consistent with congestion pricing, not the author.
Choice B: Correct. That cities that have implemented congestion pricing have not done so in a uniform manner matches the author’s description of congestion pricing in the first paragraph as a scheme, implemented in various forms by cities such as London and Singapore, (that) charges drivers a fee to enter a given area during peak traffic times.
Choice C: No. This choice features the extreme language best solution. In the first paragraph the author says one solution is congestion pricing, but does not explicitly state that it is the best solution.
Choice D: No. This choice features the extreme language generally been successful. In the first paragraph, the author describes congestion pricing as a scheme, implemented in various forms by cities such as London and Singapore, (that) charges drivers a fee to enter a given area during peak traffic times, but never indicates if congestion pricing is generally successful beyond these two examples.
Choice E: No. This choice features the recycled language London and the extreme language frequent traffic jams. In the first paragraph, the author describes congestion pricing as a scheme, implemented in various forms by cities such as London and Singapore, (that) charges drivers a fee to enter a given area during peak traffic times, but never discusses the frequency of London traffic jams prior to congestion pricing.
The correct answer is choice B.
Hope it helps
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18 Apr 2020, 09:57
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(03:08) wrong 
