In order to relieve traffic congestion, the city of Gastner built

In order to relieve traffic congestion, the city of Gastner built a new highway linking several of the city's suburbs to the downtown area. However, the average commute time for workers in downtown Gastner increased after the new highway opened.

Type-paradox
Boil it down- the average commute time for workers in downtown Gastner increased after the new highway opened.
Pre-thinking- what if the opening of the highway led people to ditch public transport such as bus, metro etc and use their own vehicles, leading to more traffic on the roads


(A) Most people who work in the downtown area of Gastner commute from one of the city's suburbs.- Out of scope. What matters is whether there's a change in the number of drivers or the conditions they drive in that would increase commute times. The percentage of those who work in the downtown area commute in from the suburbs doesn't provide a stimulus for the increased commute times.

(B) The location of the new highway is most convenient for people who commute to and from Gastner's largest suburbs. - Incorrect - this does not explain the increase in average commute time

(C) Shortly after the new highway was opened, several suburban roads connecting to the new highway were upgraded with new stoplights. - Incorrect - this might just be replacement stoplights, in which case, there is no good reason they would make a difference to the commute. But even if these were brand new stoplights, on streets that had never had stoplights before, that still wouldn't explain the commute.

(D) At the same time the new highway was being built, road repair work was being done on important streets leading to downtown Gastner. - Incorrect - but the highway has been completed; so this information isn't useful

(E) In Gastner's downtown area, traffic on the roads near the new highway became more congested after the new highway was opened.- Correct - This would increase the number of drivers in the downtown area and could explain increased commute times.


Answer E

D is vert tempting trap. Even I clicked D. But argument already says that congestion problem get bigger after highways was opened. So we have t find solution which talk about what exactly happened after highway was opened to commute, eventually leading to increased commute time.

In order to relieve traffic congestion, the city of Gastner built a new highway linking several of the city's suburbs to the downtown area. However, the average commute time for workers in downtown Gastner increased after the new highway opened.

Which one of the following, if true, most helps to explain the increase in average commute time?

(A) Most people who work in the downtown area of Gastner commute from one of the city's suburbs.
>> Same situation like before.
>> new highways should not have any reduced commute time


(B) The location of the new highway is most convenient for people who commute to and from Gastner's largest suburbs.
>>this option only talks about largest suburbs but doesn’t explain the increase of average commute time.
>> this option could weakly explain that largest sub urbs bring highest traffic and thus increase commute time.
>>lets see other options as well.

(C) Shortly after the new highway was opened, several suburban roads connecting to the new highway were upgraded with new stoplights.
>> upgraded means not new red lights so it means that it should decrese the average commute time if the red lights are smarter than before.

(D) At the same time the new highway was being built, road repair work was being done on important streets leading to downtown Gastner.
>> the timing duration is not mentioned that how long time it may take to complete the repair.
In option it doesn’t mention average commute increase is temporary or permanent.
This option seems temporary.

(E) In Gastner's downtown area, traffic on the roads near the new highway became more congested after the new highway was opened.
>>so more traffic has appeared at new highways,this gives direct reason why the highway became more congested.
Answer E

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