In order to finance road repairs, the highway commission of : GMAT Critical Reasoning (CR)
Check GMAT Club Decision Tracker for the Latest School Decision Releases https://gmatclub.com/AppTrack

 It is currently 25 Feb 2017, 04:26

### GMAT Club Daily Prep

#### Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

# Events & Promotions

###### Events & Promotions in June
Open Detailed Calendar

# In order to finance road repairs, the highway commission of

Author Message
TAGS:

### Hide Tags

Manager
Joined: 06 Aug 2010
Posts: 224
Location: Boston
Followers: 3

Kudos [?]: 185 [3] , given: 5

### Show Tags

26 Sep 2010, 11:59
3
KUDOS
14
This post was
BOOKMARKED
00:00

Difficulty:

95% (hard)

Question Stats:

43% (02:30) correct 57% (01:42) wrong based on 532 sessions

### HideShow timer Statistics

In order to finance road repairs, the highway commission of a certain state is considering a 50 percent increase in the 10-centers-per-mile toll for vehicles using its toll highway. The highway commissioner claims that the toll increase will increase the annual revenue generated by the toll highway by at least 50 percent per year.

Which of the following is an assumption on which the highway commissioner's claim depends?

(A) The amount of money required annually for road repairs will not increase from its current level.
(B) The total number of trips made on the toll highway per year will not decrease from its current level.
(C) The average length of a trip made on the toll highway will not decrease from its current level.
(D) The number of drivers who consistently avoid the highway tolls by using secondary roads will not increase from its current level.
(E) The total distance traveled by vehicles on the toll highway per year will not decrease from its current level.

[Reveal] Spoiler:
Okay, so the commissioner is claiming that an increase in tolls will result in a proportionate increase in revenues. So the assumption must have something to do with the increase in tolls not somehow increasing costs or decreasing the amount of money that comes in (through a decrease in traffic, for example). For a 50% increase in tolls to result in a 50% increase in revenues, the amount of traffic would have to stay similar. But every single one of the answers makes this assumption!

A - If the amount of money for road repairs increased, more money would be spent, which would cut into that 50% figure.
B - If the total number of trips made on the highway decreased, due to the increase in tolls, then the highway would generate less money than expected. (Revenues would likely still go up, but how could they hit the 50% increase?)
C - If the average length of the trips made on the highway went down, then the tolls would generate less money, because they're paid by the mile.
D - If the toll increase causes more people to avoid using the highway, then revenues won't increase as much as hoped. I picked this answer.
E - If the total distance traveled by the vehicles went down, revenues won't increase as much as hoped. This is the OA.

The official explanation is:

"The toll is charged on a per-mile basis. A 50 percent increase in the toll will bring a 50 percent increase in revenue only if the total number of miles traveled on the toll highway per year does not decrease."

But all of the answers, except A, would result in a decrease in the total number of miles traveled on the highway.
[Reveal] Spoiler: OA
If you have any questions
New!
Ms. Big Fat Panda
Status: Three Down.
Joined: 09 Jun 2010
Posts: 1922
Concentration: General Management, Nonprofit
Followers: 452

Kudos [?]: 2001 [3] , given: 210

### Show Tags

26 Sep 2010, 17:41
3
KUDOS
1
This post was
BOOKMARKED
Okay, so the passage break down tells us that he plans to increase tolls by 50% and this will lead to 50% increase in revenue. This means that the distance traveled by people which is toll-worthy has remained unchanged.

TehJay wrote:
In order to finance road repairs, the highway commission of a certain state is considering a 50 percent increase in the 10-centers-per-mile toll for vehicles using its toll highway. The highway commissioner claims that the toll increase will increase the annual revenue generated by the toll highway by at least 50 percent per year.

Which of the following is an assumption on which the highway commissioner's claim depends?

(A) The amount of money required annually for road repairs will not increase from its current level. The revenue generated is different from profit margins. Revenue can be considered to be the amount they make through this road toll. Irrelevant answer, though it sounds perfect to be a shell game type thing too.
(B) The total number of trips made on the toll highway per year will not decrease from its current level. We don't care about the number of the trips. People might make more trips and travel shorter per trip, still keeping the total distance traveled on these toll roads the same. So incorrect.
(C) The average length of a trip made on the toll highway will not decrease from its current level. We don't care about average length either. What if the average length per trip remained the same and you had a 50% reduction in the NUMBER of trips? Then the total distance will go down. So incorrect.
(D) The number of drivers who consistently avoid the highway tolls by using secondary roads will not increase from its current level. This doesn't add to the revenue. Out of scope.
(E) The total distance traveled by vehicles on the toll highway per year will not decrease from its current level. This is the right answer.

Intern
Joined: 26 Sep 2010
Posts: 1
Followers: 0

Kudos [?]: 0 [0], given: 0

### Show Tags

26 Sep 2010, 19:06
(E) The total distance traveled by vehicles on the toll highway per year will not decrease from its current level.
Manager
Joined: 22 Aug 2008
Posts: 186
Followers: 5

Kudos [?]: 89 [1] , given: 11

### Show Tags

27 Sep 2010, 00:50
1
KUDOS
The stimulus says
he highway commission of a certain state is considering a 50 percent increase in the 10-centers-per-mile toll for vehicles using its toll highway.

Conclusion is
the toll increase will increase the annual revenue generated by the toll highway by at least 50 percent per year.

so the percentage of increase in toll = percentage of increase in revenue
i.e total distance traveled on the bridge is constant. its the total distance because the toll is calculated on per mile basis. not the number of trips or average length of the trips or the number of travelers on the bridge

So the ans is E
Manager
Joined: 06 Aug 2010
Posts: 224
Location: Boston
Followers: 3

Kudos [?]: 185 [0], given: 5

### Show Tags

27 Sep 2010, 01:55
whiplash2411 wrote:
Okay, so the passage break down tells us that he plans to increase tolls by 50% and this will lead to 50% increase in revenue. This means that the distance traveled by people which is toll-worthy has remained unchanged.

TehJay wrote:
In order to finance road repairs, the highway commission of a certain state is considering a 50 percent increase in the 10-centers-per-mile toll for vehicles using its toll highway. The highway commissioner claims that the toll increase will increase the annual revenue generated by the toll highway by at least 50 percent per year.

Which of the following is an assumption on which the highway commissioner's claim depends?

(A) The amount of money required annually for road repairs will not increase from its current level. The revenue generated is different from profit margins. Revenue can be considered to be the amount they make through this road toll. Irrelevant answer, though it sounds perfect to be a shell game type thing too.
(B) The total number of trips made on the toll highway per year will not decrease from its current level. We don't care about the number of the trips. People might make more trips and travel shorter per trip, still keeping the total distance traveled on these toll roads the same. So incorrect.
(C) The average length of a trip made on the toll highway will not decrease from its current level. We don't care about average length either. What if the average length per trip remained the same and you had a 50% reduction in the NUMBER of trips? Then the total distance will go down. So incorrect.
(D) The number of drivers who consistently avoid the highway tolls by using secondary roads will not increase from its current level. This doesn't add to the revenue. Out of scope.

(E) The total distance traveled by vehicles on the toll highway per year will not decrease from its current level. This is the right answer.

In (C) you said, "What if the number of trips goes down? Then the total distance will go down." Then in (D) you said that the number of trips is "out of scope." You contradicted yourself and helped explain why (D) is also correct.

Honestly, I guess I understand why (E) is the OA - because it's the only one that specifically mentions the total distance traveled - but B and D will also directly lead to a decrease in the total number of miles traveled. It seems really ambiguous to me.
Senior Manager
Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 276
Followers: 2

Kudos [?]: 184 [0], given: 2

### Show Tags

27 Sep 2010, 03:11
Total distance travelled needs to be constant inorder to 50% increase in revenue. So E.
_________________

Trying hard to achieve something unachievable now....

Manager
Status: Will Retake GMAT
Joined: 29 Jul 2010
Posts: 137
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Entrepreneurship
Schools: Stanford '13 (D)
GPA: 3.11
WE: Information Technology (Computer Software)
Followers: 3

Kudos [?]: 15 [0], given: 28

### Show Tags

27 Sep 2010, 06:36
This was a good question. I got confused between B & E.. And its obvious to get confused here either of the ways revenue will decrease. But as the answer states, the key here is 50% increase..
_________________

Re-taking GMAT. Hope the charm works this time..

Retired Moderator
Status: 2000 posts! I don't know whether I should feel great or sad about it! LOL
Joined: 04 Oct 2009
Posts: 1713
Location: Peru
Schools: Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, MIT & HKS (Government)
WE 1: Economic research
WE 2: Banking
WE 3: Government: Foreign Trade and SMEs
Followers: 101

Kudos [?]: 940 [0], given: 109

### Show Tags

27 Sep 2010, 07:19
+1 E
_________________

"Life’s battle doesn’t always go to stronger or faster men; but sooner or later the man who wins is the one who thinks he can."

My Integrated Reasoning Logbook / Diary: http://gmatclub.com/forum/my-ir-logbook-diary-133264.html

GMAT Club Premium Membership - big benefits and savings

Ms. Big Fat Panda
Status: Three Down.
Joined: 09 Jun 2010
Posts: 1922
Concentration: General Management, Nonprofit
Followers: 452

Kudos [?]: 2001 [0], given: 210

### Show Tags

27 Sep 2010, 08:30
This is not a DS question. In option C, by telling us about the average length of trip and not about the number of trips and in D, by telling us about the number of trips and not about the average length, we are left with incomplete information. I don't see any contradiction.
TehJay wrote:
whiplash2411 wrote:
Okay, so the passage break down tells us that he plans to increase tolls by 50% and this will lead to 50% increase in revenue. This means that the distance traveled by people which is toll-worthy has remained unchanged.

TehJay wrote:
In order to finance road repairs, the highway commission of a certain state is considering a 50 percent increase in the 10-centers-per-mile toll for vehicles using its toll highway. The highway commissioner claims that the toll increase will increase the annual revenue generated by the toll highway by at least 50 percent per year.

Which of the following is an assumption on which the highway commissioner's claim depends?

(A) The amount of money required annually for road repairs will not increase from its current level. The revenue generated is different from profit margins. Revenue can be considered to be the amount they make through this road toll. Irrelevant answer, though it sounds perfect to be a shell game type thing too.
(B) The total number of trips made on the toll highway per year will not decrease from its current level. We don't care about the number of the trips. People might make more trips and travel shorter per trip, still keeping the total distance traveled on these toll roads the same. So incorrect.
(C) The average length of a trip made on the toll highway will not decrease from its current level. We don't care about average length either. What if the average length per trip remained the same and you had a 50% reduction in the NUMBER of trips? Then the total distance will go down. So incorrect.
(D) The number of drivers who consistently avoid the highway tolls by using secondary roads will not increase from its current level. This doesn't add to the revenue. Out of scope.

(E) The total distance traveled by vehicles on the toll highway per year will not decrease from its current level. This is the right answer.

In (C) you said, "What if the number of trips goes down? Then the total distance will go down." Then in (D) you said that the number of trips is "out of scope." You contradicted yourself and helped explain why (D) is also correct.

Honestly, I guess I understand why (E) is the OA - because it's the only one that specifically mentions the total distance traveled - but B and D will also directly lead to a decrease in the total number of miles traveled. It seems really ambiguous to me.

Posted from my mobile device
Manager
Joined: 22 Jun 2010
Posts: 212
Followers: 1

Kudos [?]: 112 [0], given: 13

### Show Tags

27 Sep 2010, 08:52
I like this question +1
I did it right
Senior Manager
Status: Can't give up
Joined: 20 Dec 2009
Posts: 320
Followers: 2

Kudos [?]: 31 [0], given: 35

### Show Tags

24 Dec 2010, 15:58
Profit = revenue - cost.
So, in order for profit to increase, revenue will need to increase and, cost must decrease OR remain unchanged.
E, states that, the total distance traveled by the trucks should not decrease/unchanged....if it decreases then, the trucks may take a shorter route and not end-up paying toll. Therefore, the commissioner assumes that "total distance" will not change causing any effect on the profit.
Manager
Status: I am Midnight's Child !
Joined: 04 Dec 2009
Posts: 147
WE 1: Software Design and Development
Followers: 1

Kudos [?]: 70 [0], given: 11

### Show Tags

26 Dec 2010, 12:22
Awesome Question.
_________________

Argument : If you love long trips, you love the GMAT.
Conclusion : GMAT is long journey.

What does the author assume ?
Assumption : A long journey is a long trip.

GMAT Club Premium Membership - big benefits and savings

Verbal Forum Moderator
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 498
WE 1: 4 years Tech
Followers: 12

Kudos [?]: 142 [0], given: 149

### Show Tags

26 Dec 2010, 23:58
Friends we overlooke dthe purpose behind why this questions has been posted in the First Place.
The Guy who posted this question is confused because he finds all the options correct except A and i agree with Him.
I feel all the options except A make it appear that the Revenue will decrease if any of the options B to E are implemented.
Guys please correct me if we are wrong .
I suppose Teh Jay agrees on this view
_________________

My Post Invites Discussions not answers
Try to give back something to the Forum.I want your explanations, right now !

Ms. Big Fat Panda
Status: Three Down.
Joined: 09 Jun 2010
Posts: 1922
Concentration: General Management, Nonprofit
Followers: 452

Kudos [?]: 2001 [2] , given: 210

### Show Tags

27 Dec 2010, 00:12
2
KUDOS
mundasingh123 wrote:
Friends we overlooke dthe purpose behind why this questions has been posted in the First Place.
The Guy who posted this question is confused because he finds all the options correct except A and i agree with Him.
I feel all the options except A make it appear that the Revenue will decrease if any of the options B to E are implemented.
Guys please correct me if we are wrong .
I suppose Teh Jay agrees on this view

The question is fairly straightforward. A 50% increase in the per-mile toll is brought about. In order to increase the annual revenue, the mandated condition is: Number of miles remain same, or increases.

In order to finance road repairs, the highway commission of a certain state is considering a 50 percent increase in the 10-centers-per-mile toll for vehicles using its toll highway. The highway commissioner claims that the toll increase will increase the annual revenue generated by the toll highway by at least 50 percent per year.

Which of the following is an assumption on which the highway commissioner's claim depends?

(A) The amount of money required annually for road repairs will not increase from its current level. - Irrelevant. Why do we care about the road repairs? We are talking about revenue generated by tolls, not the "profit" or "breakeven" of the highway authorities.
(B) The total number of trips made on the toll highway per year will not decrease from its current level. - Information about number of trips without average mileage per trip is redundant.
(C) The average length of a trip made on the toll highway will not decrease from its current level. As stated above, information about mileage without the number of trips will not serve any purpose for what we are asked to find here.
(D) The number of drivers who consistently avoid the highway tolls by using secondary roads will not increase from its current level. This is a very indirect option, and we can probably hold on to see if there's a better answer.
(E) The total distance traveled by vehicles on the toll highway per year will not decrease from its current level. This is the correct answer. If you are looking a toll that is charged per mile, and you know the total distance traveled by the cars stays the same, in essence you're saying that there's a 50% increase in the revenues. Think about numerical figures:

Let's say total distance traveled before was 100 miles. This stays the same now. Let's assume the toll per mile was $1 initially and now it's$1.5. Original revenue was $100 and now revenue is$150, which is 50% more than the original revenue. This statement directly supplements the question and hence is the right choice.

TehJay's Question was:
Quote:
Honestly, I guess I understand why (E) is the OA - because it's the only one that specifically mentions the total distance traveled - but B and D will also directly lead to a decrease in the total number of miles traveled. It seems really ambiguous to me.

B and D give you one part of the information and fail to give you the rest. Knowledge about the number of trips without average distance traveled per trip or vice versa is not useful in evaluating this argument. Okay, as per B the number of trips has increased from say, 50 to 100. But the average length of the trip has gone down from 3 miles to 1 mile, this means, in effect, the toll collected has reduced. Similarly for the other situation. Let's say the average miles per trip has gone up, but it's in a way that the number of trips have gone down. So each piece by itself is insufficient to frame a conclusion. You can't afford to assume whatever you need to justify an answer or in this case, answers that seems right. Thinking objectively about all possible constraints will help resolve most issues on tricky questions like these. And in the end, sometimes, you just have to go with the best option, since it might feel like multiple options are correct sometimes.
Verbal Forum Moderator
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 498
WE 1: 4 years Tech
Followers: 12

Kudos [?]: 142 [0], given: 149

### Show Tags

27 Dec 2010, 00:15
whiplash2411 wrote:
mundasingh123 wrote:
Friends we overlooke dthe purpose behind why this questions has been posted in the First Place.
The Guy who posted this question is confused because he finds all the options correct except A and i agree with Him.
I feel all the options except A make it appear that the Revenue will decrease if any of the options B to E are implemented.
Guys please correct me if we are wrong .
I suppose Teh Jay agrees on this view

The question is fairly straightforward. A 50% increase in the per-mile toll is brought about. In order to increase the annual revenue, the mandated condition is: Number of miles remain same, or increases.

In order to finance road repairs, the highway commission of a certain state is considering a 50 percent increase in the 10-centers-per-mile toll for vehicles using its toll highway. The highway commissioner claims that the toll increase will increase the annual revenue generated by the toll highway by at least 50 percent per year.

Which of the following is an assumption on which the highway commissioner's claim depends?

(A) The amount of money required annually for road repairs will not increase from its current level. - Irrelevant. Why do we care about the road repairs? We are talking about revenue generated by tolls, not the "profit" or "breakeven" of the highway authorities.
(B) The total number of trips made on the toll highway per year will not decrease from its current level. - Information about number of trips without average mileage per trip is redundant.
(C) The average length of a trip made on the toll highway will not decrease from its current level. As stated above, information about mileage without the number of trips will not serve any purpose for what we are asked to find here.
(D) The number of drivers who consistently avoid the highway tolls by using secondary roads will not increase from its current level. This is a very indirect option, and we can probably hold on to see if there's a better answer.
(E) The total distance traveled by vehicles on the toll highway per year will not decrease from its current level. This is the correct answer. If you are looking a toll that is charged per mile, and you know the total distance traveled by the cars stays the same, in essence you're saying that there's a 50% increase in the revenues. Think about numerical figures:

Let's say total distance traveled before was 100 miles. This stays the same now. Let's assume the toll per mile was $1 initially and now it's$1.5. Original revenue was $100 and now revenue is$150, which is 50% more than the original revenue. This statement directly supplements the question and hence is the right choice.

TehJay's Question was:
Quote:
Honestly, I guess I understand why (E) is the OA - because it's the only one that specifically mentions the total distance traveled - but B and D will also directly lead to a decrease in the total number of miles traveled. It seems really ambiguous to me.

B and D give you one part of the information and fail to give you the rest. Knowledge about the number of trips without average distance traveled per trip or vice versa is not useful in evaluating this argument. Okay, as per B the number of trips has increased from say, 50 to 100. But the average length of the trip has gone down from 3 miles to 1 mile, this means, in effect, the toll collected has reduced. Similarly for the other situation. Let's say the average miles per trip has gone up, but it's in a way that the number of trips have gone down. So each piece by itself is insufficient to frame a conclusion. You can't afford to assume whatever you need to justify an answer or in this case, answers that seems right. Thinking objectively about all possible constraints will help resolve most issues on tricky questions like these. And in the end, sometimes, you just have to go with the best option, since it might feel like multiple options are correct sometimes.

Yea Thanks for the explanation.
_________________

My Post Invites Discussions not answers
Try to give back something to the Forum.I want your explanations, right now !

Director
Joined: 21 Dec 2010
Posts: 649
Followers: 17

Kudos [?]: 220 [0], given: 51

### Show Tags

28 Apr 2011, 02:34
'Thinking objectively about all possible constraints will help resolve most issues on tricky questions like these.'
thanks whiplash
that is a very good practice .all possible constraints have to be considered. this was definitely a tricky question,
_________________

What is of supreme importance in war is to attack the enemy's strategy.

Intern
Joined: 06 Jan 2015
Posts: 21
Followers: 0

Kudos [?]: 0 [0], given: 42

Re: In order to finance road repairs, the highway commission of [#permalink]

### Show Tags

29 Jan 2015, 00:43
Lol I couldn't understand what "centers per mile toll" meant until i read the answers.

When i first read that, i couldn't make any sense of the line that there will be a 50% increase in 10 centers-per-mile roll. I was picturing 10 toll centers every mile lol.
GMAT Club Legend
Joined: 01 Oct 2013
Posts: 10635
Followers: 940

Kudos [?]: 207 [0], given: 0

Re: In order to finance road repairs, the highway commission of [#permalink]

### Show Tags

28 May 2016, 05:35
Hello from the GMAT Club VerbalBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.
Re: In order to finance road repairs, the highway commission of   [#permalink] 28 May 2016, 05:35
Similar topics Replies Last post
Similar
Topics:
7 Ace Repairs: A significant number of complex repair jobs carried out 8 29 Dec 2015, 00:50
4 Repairing Hubble 4 07 Nov 2015, 05:22
Interstate Highways 5 13 May 2010, 04:41
CR question : DRIVERS ON MARYLAND HIGHWAYS 0 01 Jul 2007, 08:36
Public reports by national commissions, 8 26 Apr 2007, 07:00
Display posts from previous: Sort by