Project RC Butler 2020 - Participate and win GMAT Club Tests. Passage # 57, Date: 29-Apr-2020 This post is a part of Project RC Butler 2020 . Click here for Details In the 1970s, the idea of building so-called “New Towns” to absorb growth was considered a potential cure-all for urban problems in the United States. It was erroneously assumed that by diverting residents from existing centers, current urban problems would at least get no worse. It was also wrongly assumed that, since European New Towns had been financially and socially successful, the same could be expected in the United States. However, the ill-considered projects not only failed to relieve pressures on existing cities, but also weakened those cities further by drawing away high income citizens. This increased the concentration of low-income groups—who were unable to provide the necessary tax base to support the cities. Taxpayers who remained were left to carry a greater burden, while industry and commerce sought to escape. As it turned out, the promoters of New Towns were the developers, builders, and financial institutions, all whose main interest was financial gain. Not surprisingly, development occurred in areas where land was cheap and construction profitable rather than where New Towns were genuinely needed. Moreover, poor planning and legislation produced not the sort of successful New Towns seen in Britain but rather nothing more than sprawling suburbs. Federal regulations designed to promote the New Town concept failed to consider social needs as the European plans did. In fact, the regulations specified virtually all of the ingredients of the typical suburban community. 1 D 1. The author’s primary concern in the passage is to (A) describe the characteristics of American New Towns that made them unsuccessful. (B) trace the development of the New Town concept in the United States. (C) list the differences between New Towns in the United States and those in Europe. (D) explain why New Towns in the United States failed to meet general expectations. (E) analyze the impact of New Towns on urban centers in the United States. 2 E 2. Based only on the information in the passage, with which of the following statements about New Towns in the United States would the author most likely agree? (A) They helped dissuade businesses in urban centers from relocating to other areas. (B) They provided a thriving social center away from the problems of the older city. (C) They helped reduce air pollution by relocating workplaces to suburbs, where most workers lived. (D) They thwarted economic redevelopment plans for decaying urban centers. (E) They provided affluent urban residents an escape from the city. 3 C 3. Which of the following phenomena is most closely analogous to the New Towns established in the United States? (A) A business that fails as a result of insufficient demand for its products or services (B) A new game that fails to attain widespread popularity because its rules are unfair (C) New utility software that solves one computer problem but creates another (D) A new drug whose side effects are severe enough to discourage people from using it (E) A scientific theory that lacks supporting empirical evidence

Last visit was: 19 Nov 2025, 10:54

It is currently 19 Nov 2025, 10:54

Toolkit

Reading Comprehension (RC)

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
Your Progress

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

Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.

Go to My Error Log Learn more

Request Expert Reply

Confirm Cancel

Nov 20
UCR MBA Impact - Live Q&A with UCR AdCom & Student
07:30 AM PST
-
08:30 AM PST
Learn what truly sets the UC Riverside MBA apart and how it helps in your professional growth
Nov 22
GMAT RC Masterclass
11:00 AM IST
-
01:00 PM IST
Do RC/MSR passages scare you? e-GMAT is conducting a masterclass to help you learn – Learn effective reading strategies Tackle difficult RC & MSR with confidence Excel in timed test environment
Nov 23
Conquer Algebra on the GMAT Focus Edition
11:00 AM IST
-
01:00 PM IST
Attend this free GMAT Algebra Webinar and learn how to master the most challenging Inequalities and Absolute Value problems with ease.
Nov 25
Try OnDemand GMAT Masterclass
10:00 AM EST
-
11:00 AM EST
Prefer video-based learning? The Target Test Prep OnDemand course is a one-of-a-kind video masterclass featuring 400 hours of lecture-style teaching by Scott Woodbury-Stewart, founder of Target Test Prep and one of the most accomplished GMAT instructors.

Back to Forum

Create Topic

In the 1970s, the idea of building so-called “New Towns” to absorb gro

1 2

abhik1502

Joined: 09 Oct 2016

Last visit: 18 Mar 2022

Posts: 129

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 154

GMAT 1: 730 Q51 V38 Verified score

GPA: 3.6

Products:

GMAT 1: 730 Q51 V38 Verified score

Posts: 129

Kudos: 47

29 May 2021, 23:54

Kudos

Bookmarks

Sajjad1994

Kratul412

In Question no 3 how c is right

Posted from my mobile device

Official Explanation

3. Which of the following phenomena is most closely analogous to the New Towns established in the United States?

Difficulty Level: 700

Explanation

According to the first sentence of the passage, New Towns were originally conceptualized as a way to absorb growth. Based on other information in the passage, it appears that U.S. New Towns achieved this objective—at least to some extent—since city residents who could afford to move away from urban centers did so. At the same time, however, the cities were left with new problems, such as an insufficient tax base to support themselves and to retain businesses. Thus, like the phenomenon that choice (C) describes, New Towns were an innovation that served to solve one problem but created another along the way.

The correct answer is (C).

Hope it helps

I really differ on C about its being the answer out here.

2nd paragraph says,

the ill-considered projects not only failed to relieve pressures --something main agenda of launching this project-- on existing cities, but also weakened those cities further by drawing away high income citizens.

So it didnt fullfill intial goal and weekend the system further.

kntombat

Retired Moderator

Joined: 28 Feb 2020

Last visit: 19 Jan 2023

Posts: 900

Own Kudos:

519

Given Kudos: 839

Location: India

WE:Other (Other)

Posts: 900

Kudos: 519

01 Jun 2021, 05:02

Kudos

Bookmarks

abhik1502

Sajjad1994

Kratul412

In Question no 3 how c is right

Posted from my mobile device

Official Explanation

Hope it helps

abhik1502, I think you should read dave13 's answer. It should solve all your questions regarding question 3. (https://gmatclub.com/forum/in-the-1970s ... 15966.html)

Pablopikachu

Joined: 05 Nov 2024

Last visit: 03 Sep 2025

Posts: 35

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 314

Posts: 35

Kudos: 12

09 Feb 2025, 11:01

Kudos

Bookmarks

I don't agree with the ans of Q3. Unlike C , which states that the software solved one problem (I.e, achieved its intended aim) but created another, New Towns never actually solved a problem or achieved their intended objective ( according to the passage) but only worsened the existing problems ( as even prominently mentioned by the author).

D is a better analogy since it mentions a drug (which, I'm assuming refers to a medical drug intended for health purpose, hence intended for a positive objective or solving a problem ) but doesn't actually achieve its aim due to the severe side effects associated with it thereby discouraging people from using it.

IMO C has an obvious flaw that is not being taken into account.

Quote:

3. Which of the following phenomena is most closely analogous to the New Towns established in the United States?

(A) A business that fails as a result of insufficient demand for its products or services
(B) A new game that fails to attain widespread popularity because its rules are unfair
(C) New utility software that solves one computer problem but creates another
(D) A new drug whose side effects are severe enough to discourage people from using it
(E) A scientific theory that lacks supporting empirical evidence [/box_in][/box_out]