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605-655 (Medium)|   Logical Flaw|                        
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anish777
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Enforcement of local speed limits through police monitoring has proven 18 Dec 2023, 09:44
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I have a question. The assumption in this argument was that if the speed humps could reduce the traffic speed and enhance safety in nearby towns, it can do the same in the mentioned town. But here we are assuming that speed humps were the only reason because of which the traffic speed was reduced. What if there is a different angle to it ? What if the speed limits itself was far less than the speed limits of the Ardane town and that might be the reason there was lesser traffic speed and more safety.
Option C exactly states this. Then can you please tell me why option C is not the right answer choice ?
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Enforcement of local speed limits through police monitoring has proven 19 Dec 2023, 03:14
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I have a question. The assumption in this argument was that if the speed humps could reduce the traffic speed and enhance safety in nearby towns, it can do the same in the mentioned town. But here we are assuming that speed humps were the only reason because of which the traffic speed was reduced. What if there is a different angle to it ? What if the speed limits itself was far less than the speed limits of the Ardane town and that might be the reason there was lesser traffic speed and more safety.
Option C exactly states this. Then can you please tell me why option C is not the right answer choice ?
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In most CR questions there is a comparison - sometimes obvious but at other times subtle. The comparison could be between two people, objects, states, time frames etc.
Here, the argument talks about 'reduction in speed' which effectively means 'reduction in speed from before'. In the towns, the speed reduced by 20-25% (of their own previous levels) and hence safety increased (compared with their own previous safety levels).
In Ardane too, speed humps could be made to reduce speed (compared with the current avg speed in Ardane and hence increase safety (compared with the current safety levels in Ardane). Hence everyone is being compared with their own selves in the past. We are not comparing towns with each other.
That is why (C) is out of scope for us.

Once you understand this fine point of CR questions, most CR questions will become very easy.
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Enforcement of local speed limits through police monitoring has proven 07 Jan 2025, 07:03
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i got it right and i removed Option "D " because it just talks about those motorists who are not familiar and it would be a lower percent of those people in the town and ultimately the total that is net speed would be higher or lower we do not know. am i right KarishmaB? or anyone please correct my reasoning if wrong . PLEASE!
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Enforcement of local speed limits through police monitoring has proven unsuccessful in the town of Ardane. In many nearby towns, speed humps (raised areas of pavement placed across residential streets, about 300 feet apart) have reduced traffic speeds on residential streets by 20 to 25 percent. In order to reduce traffic speed and thereby enhance safety in residential neighborhoods, Ardane's transportation commission plans to install multiple speed humps in those neighborhoods.

Which of the following, if true, identifies a potentially serious drawback to the plan for installing speed humps in Ardane?

A. On residential streets without speed humps, many vehicles travel at speeds more than 25 percent above the posted speed limit.

B. Because of their high weight, emergency vehicles such as fire trucks and ambulances must slow almost to a stop at speed humps.

C. The residential speed limit in Ardane is higher than that of the nearby towns where speed humps were installed.

D. Motorists who are not familiar with the streets in Ardane's residential districts would be likely to encounter the speed humps unawares unless warned by signs and painted indicators.

E. Bicyclists generally prefer that speed humps be constructed so as to leave a space on the side of the road where bicycles can travel without going over the humps.


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Enforcement of local speed limits through police monitoring has proven 07 Jan 2025, 08:27
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i got it right and i removed Option "D " because it just talks about those motorists who are not familiar and it would be a lower percent of those people in the town and ultimately the total that is net speed would be higher or lower we do not know. am i right KarishmaB? or anyone please correct my reasoning if wrong . PLEASE!
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Enforcement of local speed limits through police monitoring has proven unsuccessful in the town of Ardane. In many nearby towns, speed humps (raised areas of pavement placed across residential streets, about 300 feet apart) have reduced traffic speeds on residential streets by 20 to 25 percent. In order to reduce traffic speed and thereby enhance safety in residential neighborhoods, Ardane's transportation commission plans to install multiple speed humps in those neighborhoods.

Which of the following, if true, identifies a potentially serious drawback to the plan for installing speed humps in Ardane?

A. On residential streets without speed humps, many vehicles travel at speeds more than 25 percent above the posted speed limit.

B. Because of their high weight, emergency vehicles such as fire trucks and ambulances must slow almost to a stop at speed humps.

C. The residential speed limit in Ardane is higher than that of the nearby towns where speed humps were installed.

D. Motorists who are not familiar with the streets in Ardane's residential districts would be likely to encounter the speed humps unawares unless warned by signs and painted indicators.

E. Bicyclists generally prefer that speed humps be constructed so as to leave a space on the side of the road where bicycles can travel without going over the humps.


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I wouldn't go with that logic. The aim is to improve safety of the town. If visitors could get injured because of these, it makes the town unsafe, even if there will be fewer visitors. The point is that option (D) is a serious drawback only if visitors are not warned by signs and painted indicators. We are not given that signs and painted indicators will not be there. May be they are a standard part of making a speed hump. We do not know. Due to lack of relevant information, this option is not a drawback.
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Enforcement of local speed limits through police monitoring has proven 10 Jan 2025, 02:33
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Goal of the plan : In order to reduce traffic speed and thereby enhance safety in residential neighborhoods
Plan: Install multiple speed humps in those neighborhoods.
Evidence 1: Enforcement of local speed limits through police monitoring has proven unsuccessful
Evidence 2: In many nearby towns, speed humps have reduced traffic speeds

Pls see option analysis
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Enforcement of local speed limits through police monitoring has proven unsuccessful in the town of Ardane. In many nearby towns, speed humps (raised areas of pavement placed across residential streets, about 300 feet apart) have reduced traffic speeds on residential streets by 20 to 25 percent. In order to reduce traffic speed and thereby enhance safety in residential neighborhoods, Ardane's transportation commission plans to install multiple speed humps in those neighborhoods.

Which of the following, if true, identifies a potentially serious drawback to the plan for installing speed humps in Ardane?

A. On residential streets without speed humps, many vehicles travel at speeds more than 25 percent above the posted speed limit.
This is strengthening the argument, I need drawback.

B. Because of their high weight, emergency vehicles such as fire trucks and ambulances must slow almost to a stop at speed humps.
This could impact safety in neighborhood due to a different factor than traffic speed - people inside the ambulance and people who need help of fire trucks could be at disadvanatge. Also if they stop on speed bumps, might cause issues on road for other vehicles.

C. The residential speed limit in Ardane is higher than that of the nearby towns where speed humps were installed.
Still the plan can help reduce the speed, no drawback.

D. Motorists who are not familiar with the streets in Ardane's residential districts would be likely to encounter the speed humps unawares unless warned by signs and painted indicators.
We are not told whether the signs and painted indicators will not be there. If they are in place this is not a drawback.

E. Bicyclists generally prefer that speed humps be constructed so as to leave a space on the side of the road where bicycles can travel without going over the humps.
This is strengthening the argument, I need drawback.


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Enforcement of local speed limits through police monitoring has proven 10 Jan 2025, 03:06
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1. Understanding the Structure of the Argument

Premise 1: Enforcement of local speed limits through police monitoring has been unsuccessful in Ardane.

Premise 2: Nearby towns have successfully reduced traffic speeds by 20-25% on residential streets by installing speed humps.

Conclusion: To enhance safety in residential neighbourhoods, Ardane plans to install multiple speed humps.

Overall Argument: Since police monitoring hasn’t worked and speed humps have been effective elsewhere, installing speed humps should improve safety in Ardane.

Let’s briefly evaluate each option to see how it interacts with the argument:
• A. Supports the need for speed humps by showing high speeds, but doesn’t present a drawback.
• B. Presents a drawback by highlighting that speed humps could impede emergency vehicles, thereby introducing a significant negative consequence.
• C. Indicates that Ardane has higher speed limits, which could complicate the effectiveness of speed humps but isn’t as direct a drawback as B.
• D. Suggests that unfamiliar drivers might be surprised by speed humps, which is a potential issue but not as severe as hindering emergency response.
• E. Addresses bicyclist preferences, which is a minor concern compared to emergency services.

Correct Answer: B. Because of their high weight, emergency vehicles such as fire trucks and ambulances must slow almost to a stop at speed humps.
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Enforcement of local speed limits through police monitoring has proven 13 Sep 2025, 23:27
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Absolutely agree. Generally we attack the plan and what it is aiming to do. Many may argue that we are just trying to figure out a drawback and not a drawback to the plan's intended outcome. But honestly speaking. C should have been the answer. Anyways, we do not questions OAs and just learn a new tyoe ad move on. :)
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Our ask is to find a flaw in the plan of installing humps. Why is there a need of installing humps --> To reduce speed & enhance safety.

How on earth does slowing down ambulances and emergency vehicles' indicates a flaw in the plan? Ok, I'll agree that the speed got reduced. What about enhancing safety?

What about bikers? They are failing both the objectives of the plan:
1. No speed is reduced as stated in the passage -- Unaware
2. Safety is at risk.

Even if we assume that the emergency vehicles have the potential to enhance safety. Aren't we assuming way too much?

GMATNinja or any experts, please help.
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Enforcement of local speed limits through police monitoring has proven 14 Sep 2025, 00:12
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The key here is that the plan and its goals are fairly open-ended. The end goal of the plan is to ensue public safety, and the question stem just asks us to find a drawback, not to weaken the idea that speeds will be reduced. We still want a drawback that relates to a stated goal, so we wouldn't be likely to see a correct answer that discussed something like cost or environmental impact, but as long as we see some reason that the plan may be incompatible with one of its goals, we're good to go. Stopping ambulances could definitely undermine the goal of public safety!

Meanwhile, I'm not sure what makes you say that C should have been the answer. Knowing how the speed limit here compares to other towns doesn't tell us anything about what the speed humps will do.
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Absolutely agree. Generally we attack the plan and what it is aiming to do. Many may argue that we are just trying to figure out a drawback and not a drawback to the plan's intended outcome. But honestly speaking. C should have been the answer. Anyways, we do not questions OAs and just learn a new tyoe ad move on. :)

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