Nalmed Province's plan is to reduce highway congestion by expanding

Question

Nalmed Province's plan is to reduce highway congestion by expanding the commuter rail system, so giving more people the option of travelling by train. When a recent opinion poll presented this plan to province residents, they overwhelmingly favored it, even though they knew that enacting the plan would mean substantial tax increases. Consequently, the plan, if enacted, is very likely to succeed, because if the people are prepared to pay, they expect to reap the benefit.

The inference made from the poll results is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that

(A) it overlooks the possibility that once the highways are consistently uncongested, some commuters might have no motivation to switch from using their car to using the rail system.

(B) the favorable responses collected are entirely consistent with every one of those respondents expecting that it would be others who, by using the rail system, would ease highway congestion.

(C) those respondents who opposed the plan might nevertheless become users of the rail system as a result of its expansion.

(D) those respondents who opposed the plan might oppose it for reasons other than the tax increase required to carry it out.

(E) residents responding to the poll are likely to overestimate the tax increase they themselves will experience if the proposed expansion occurs.

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VeritasPrepBrian · Accepted Answer

One thing I'd heavily caution against - and it seems like this mindset is picking up steam in the GMAT forums the same way it is in politics - is the "fake news" mentality when you get questions wrong. Not to call you out specifically but it just seems like more and more often when people get questions wrong their immediate reaction is to yell "flawed question!" instead of trying to reflect on what they can learn from the (probably not flawed) question. Every now and then you'll find that one of the really reputable companies (Veritas, Manhattan, Magoosh) has a little flaw in a question, but by and large I've found that the ratio of "hey they actually found a flaw" to "they made a pretty silly mistake but instead of learning from it they just sent an angry email trying to claim they were right" rounds to 0.

Which isn't to say "never question the question" but more to say that 1) if it's an official question you're probably not going to win and 2) if it's a question from a reputable company A) it's probably a pretty good question and you just made a mistake, but also B) even if there's a flaw or some ambiguity, the lesson that the solution is trying to teach you is probably still really valuable, so if your typical reaction is to reject the answer and campaign for yours, you're probably missing out on lots of helpful advice.

(end rant)

In this case, the big lesson you can learn here is that on Plan/Strategy questions, the goal of the plan is everything so you have to read it super carefully. Here the goal is "to reduce highway congestion."

And note: even if people end up paying less in taxes than they thought they would (E), if it's true that "if the people are prepared to pay, they expect to reap the benefit," then even if they're not paying *as much* they're still paying, so it's likely that at least some of them will still want to reap the benefit. And if any appreciable number of people take the train instead of driving the highway, then you'll get a REDUCTION (that's the goal) in congestion. You don't need to fully eliminate congestion - the goal is only a reduction, so even if the plan isn't as effective as they might have hoped, it can still accomplish the specifically-written goal.

On the other hand note that (B) shows a way in which you wouldn't get a reduction whatsoever. If everyone assumes that someone else will take advantage of rail, then you could end up with the same amount of congestion. So (B) shows that these survey results might not reflect a reduction at all, and *that* would undermine the specific conclusion of a reduction.

Note that this is super common in Plan/Strategy questions - the goal is something small (a reduction, an increase) but test-takers miss that specific wording and go after a bigger goal than was specified (the elimination of something as opposed to a reduction). So the huge lesson here is to pay very, very close attention to the specific goal outlined in Plan/Strategy questions.

Kurtosis · Answer

Expand commuter rail system --> Reduce highway congestion. 
To implement the plan, residents have to pay additional tax. --> Residents favored the plan --> Plan will succeed

Possible Weakener: If each resident thinks that others will use the commuter rail and favors to use the car, then the highway congestion will not reduce and the plan will fail.

A) it overlooks the possibility that once the highways are consistently uncongested, some commuters might have no motivation to switch from using their car to using the rail system. - Incorrect. This will reduce congestion on highways because some have motivation to use the rail system.

B) the favorable responses collected are entirely consistent with every one of those respondents expecting that it would be others who, by using the rail system, would ease highway congestion. - Correct

C) those respondents who opposed the plan might nevertheless become users of the rail system as a result of its expansion. - Incorrect - Strengthener

D) those respondents who opposed the plan might oppose it for reasons other than the tax increase required to carry it out. - Incorrect - Majority of Residents did not oppose the plan. So even if few residents oppose the plan, the plan will succeed. Not a weakener

E) residents responding to the poll are likely to overestimate the tax increase they themselves will experience if the proposed expansion occurs. - Incorrect - Out of context

Answer: B

ChiranjeevSingh · Answer

Understanding the Passage Nalmed Province's plan is to reduce highway congestion by expanding the commuter rail system, so giving more people the option of travelling by train. The plan: Expand the commuter rail system -> Give more people the option to travel by train The goal: Reduce highway congestion When a recent opinion poll presented this plan to province residents, they overwhelmingly favored it, even though they knew that enacting the plan would mean substantial tax increases. In the poll, the province residents strongly supported the plan, even though they were aware that they would need to pay substantially increased taxes. Consequently, the plan, if enacted, is very likely to succeed, because if the people are prepared to pay, they expect to reap the benefit. “Consequently” indicates that the author is making a conclusion here. Conclusion: If the plan is enacted, the plan is very likely to succeed. Support to the conclusion: If people are prepared to pay (from the above statement, we know that people are willing to pay substantially increased taxes), they expect to reap the benefits. The Gist If the plan (expand the rail system to give more people the option to travel by train) is enacted, the plan is likely to achieve its goal of reducing highway congestion. Why? 1. People, aware that they would have to pay for the plan through increased taxes, supported the plan. 2. If people are prepared to pay, they expect to reap the benefits The Gaps How can we not infer the conclusion from the given support? 1. The poll may not have been conducted properly. The conclusion rests on the poll results. However, if the poll results are not reliable, we cannot arrive at the conclusion. 2. The people who supported the plan may not be the ones who would get access because of the expansion of the rail system. It is possible that the train expansion is expected to take place in some part of the province (let’s say the east part), and other parts of the province (let’s say the west part) support the plan. Why would residents of the west part support the plan of expanding the rail system in the east part? Probably, because residents of the west part are aware that if residents of the east part travel by train, the province will have less pollution. There can, of course, be other gaps in the argument Understanding the Question Stem The question stem uses the word “Inference” to refer to the conclusion. We’re asked to find a reason for which the conclusion can be criticized most strongly. (To do so, we need to have EXACT understanding of the conclusion and the premises) The Evaluation (A) it overlooks the possibility that once the highways are consistently uncongested, some commuters might have no motivation to switch from using their car to using the rail system. Incorrect. Let’s understand the meaning of option A. I believe that many of us don’t even understand the exact meaning of this option; we’re so eager to evaluate it

The option says that the conclusion overlooks the possibility. Which possibility? The possibility that once the highways are consistently uncongested… (The possibility pertains to the situation in which highways are uncongested, i.e., the goal has been achieved. Did you realize that this option was talking about what would happen post the realization of the goal?) “some commuters might have no motivation to switch from using their car to using the rail system.” Do you realize that this is talking about commuters switching from using their car to using the rail system? Are these commuters currently using their car or using the rail system? They are using their cars. (That’s why we’re talking about switching from using their car) So, essentially, this part is saying that these commuters who are still using their car might have no motivation to switch to the rail system. *** Now, stichting the two parts together - the option talks about the possibility that once the highways are uncongested, some commuters who will still be using their cars might have no motivation to switch to the rail system. Thus, in a way, the possibility is that once the highways are consistently uncongested, there will be no more reduction in congestion. The million-dollar question is whether this possibility matters to the argument. It does not. The goal of reduction of congestion has been achieved. Now, whether there is more reduction or not doesn’t matter to the argument. **** Let me talk about the following version of option A: A1: it overlooks the possibility that once the highways are consistently uncongested, NO commuters WILL have the motivation to switch from using their car to using the rail system. This is an extreme variation of option A. While option A said that some might not have the motivation, A1 says that no one will have the motivation. Is this possibility relevant to the argument? The answer is, again, No. The reasons are also the same as given above. Once the highways are consistently uncongested, we’re not concerned whether there is even more reduction in congestion. Our goal (reduction in congestion) has been achieved. We have achieved salvation!

***** Let me talk about another version of option A: A2: it overlooks the possibility that some commuters might have no motivation to switch from using their car to using the rail system. A2 differs from option A in that A2 doesn’t have the condition “once the highways are consistently uncongested”. Is the possibility covered by A2 relevant to the argument? Yes. It’s not completely irrelevant. Can we weaken the argument by presenting this possibility, i.e., by saying that some commuters might have no motivation to switch from using their car to using the rail system? Not really. It’s important to be aware that “some” means at least one. So, the guaranteed information from saying this is simply that one commuter might have no motivation to switch from using their car to using the rail system. How much impact would knowing about one commuter make to the argument? Hardly any. Thus, even A2 will be an incorrect option. (B) the favorable responses collected are entirely consistent with every one of those respondents expecting that it would be others who, by using the rail system, would ease highway congestion. Correct. This option talks about the favorable responses, i.e., people who supported the plan even while being aware that they would have to pay more taxes. These favorable responses are entirely consistent with every one of these people expecting others to use the rail system and thus reduce highway congestion. If everyone is expecting others to use the rail system, then we have a reason to believe that “nobody” will use the rail system once it is expanded. Thus, it seems more likely to me now that there will be no reduction in highway congestion. Thus, it seems more likely that the plan will fail to achieve its goal. So, this option is correct. (Are you wondering, “if these people are not even using the rail system, why were they willing to pay for it? The argument talks about reaping the benefits. Isn’t this option going against this part of the argument? No need to worry. These people were indeed expecting to reap the benefits. They were expecting to reap the benefit of uncongested highways. They were thinking, “others will use the rail system, and I’ll enjoy the uncongested highways.”) *** Let me now create a variation of option B: B1: Some of the respondents who responded favorably to the poll expected that it would be others who, by using the rail system, would ease highway congestion. Would B1 also be correct? No. The goal is a reduction in congestion, not the elimination of congestion. Thus, even if some (at least one) respondents would not use the rail system, the argument would not be impacted. *** Perhaps, you can begin to appreciate how “some” can make an option incorrect. Does it mean that all options having “some” are incorrect? No. Here’s one question with “some” in the correct option. (C) those respondents who opposed the plan might nevertheless become users of the rail system as a result of its expansion. Incorrect. This option is in the opposite direction. We’re looking for an option with which we can criticize the conclusion. This option supports the conclusion. If these respondents also might become users of the rail system, then the goal (of reducing highway congestion) is even more likely to be achieved. (D) those respondents who opposed the plan might oppose it for reasons other than the tax increase required to carry it out. Incorrect. This option says that the opponents of the plan might have other reasons to oppose the plan. However, whether there are other reasons these opponents have to oppose the plan is NOT RELEVANT to the argument. Those people anyway oppose the plan. What their reasons are is irrelevant. (E) residents responding to the poll are likely to overestimate the tax increase they themselves will experience if the proposed expansion occurs. Incorrect. This option indicates that the residents who responded to the poll overestimated the tax increase, i.e., they thought they’d have to pay Rs 100 more as tax whereas they’d need to pay just Rs 50 more as tax. So what? They were willing to pay Rs 100, and the argument reasons that if the people are prepared to pay , they expect to reap the benefit. Given that the argument’s reasoning revolves around what people are prepared to pay and not what people end up paying, this option doesn’t impact the argument.

deep14 · Answer

B for me. If every person thinks that others will use the rail but not himself, then the plan will fail. A doesn't guarantee that the highway will remain congested after implementation of new rails, cause we don't know how large is the number of some commuters

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Madhavi1990 · Answer

B - the favorable responses collected are entirely consistent with every one of those respondents expecting that it would be others who, by using the rail system, would ease highway congestion. --  Thus if each one expects  the other  to use the train (and not themselves) ;they essentially negate each other's intentions, and hence no one uses the train.

neeleshravi · Answer

Very similar question: https://gmatclub.com/forum/a-recent-pol ... 47330.html

heartbanger97 · Answer

Dear expert,
I have serious doubts about the correct answer choice. To me, the reading contends that the plan is very likely to succeed because if people are prepared to pay, they expect to reap the benefit.
The question asks for possible ways of weakening this argument. We can attack the argument by using its underlying assumption (when people pay more for something, they will probably use it more). What if people have over estimated the amount of tax that they should pay? If people have over estimated the amount of tax, they will no longer have enough motivation to use the rail system (because they have paid just a few), so the main conclusion of the argument which is success of the plan won't be achieved.

taniad · Answer

A) it overlooks the possibility that once the highways are consistently uncongested, some commuters might have no motivation to switch from using their car to using the rail system.
 But it still means that people have started using the rail system enough that the roads are uncongested.

B) the favorable responses collected are entirely consistent with every one of those respondents expecting that it would be others who, by using the rail system, would ease highway congestion.
 Correct. If the survey responses are flawed then the entire argument gets questioned.

C) those respondents who opposed the plan might nevertheless become users of the rail system as a result of its expansion.
 Irrelevant.

D) those respondents who opposed the plan might oppose it for reasons other than the tax increase required to carry it out.
 Irrelevent

E) residents responding to the poll are likely to overestimate the tax increase they themselves will experience if the proposed expansion occurs.
 Irrelevant.

sagarsangani123 · Answer

Can someone please explain the meaning of answer choice (B). The words seem very confusing.

Thanks

AndrewN · Answer

Hello,  sagarsangani123 . Choice (B) is mealymouthed, so I understand why you found it difficult to sort out. How about we break it down?

Okay, what this is indicating is that everyone who favored the plan expected  other people  to use the rail system, not themselves. This would understandably present a problem with a plan that was designed  to reduce highway congestion . (Everyone would, apparently, still be driving their cars.) How do we tease out that (B) is saying this, though?

The first part :  the favorable responses collected are entirely consistent with 
Analysis: To be  consistent with  indicates that a certain logic holds. This particular logic pertains to  favorable responses . In light of the rest of the sentence, which gives us the details we need, this part could probably be set aside. All it tells us is that whatever information follows is what we would expect of the favorable responses that were given.

The latter part :  every one of those respondents expecting that it would be others who, by using the rail system, would ease highway congestion 
Analysis: I would start by jumping over the self-contained phrase to follow the main thread. Not just  some , but  every single one  of the residents who favored enacting the plan expected that others would reduce highway congestion. How? Now we can add that phrase back in. Those  others  would use the rail system.

Now it should all be coming together. I hope that helps. Good luck with your studies.

- Andrew

aarkay87 · Answer

Hi Experts

I am stuck between A & B, could you please help? Both options are weakener in my understanding.

mSKR · Answer

between A vs B:
Looks weakner from surface but actually have many problems:
 
1. overlooks the possibility: something that is not sure but a possibility --> may or may not be valid- reject reason 1
2. once the highgways are consistenly uncongested:--> If condition --> what if , no if condition that this option would strenghten. I need to look for a choice that always weakened but not weaken only on some if condition.--> reject reason2
3. Some --> Some can be 1 % or 99% , varying this quantity would vary our results ---> become irrelevant 
4. might have no motivation:--> again possibility --> what if have motivation? then again this option would not be valid

I hope you can understand why this option has so many problems
Let's see B:

favorable responses ---> valid for others---> no if condition but what they respond is not meant for others
every one of those--> all people ( no some no few)--> pretty straightforward shouting at us to pick this choice:)

now I hope you can see the difference and how B is easy winner:)

I hope it helps

nosaj · Answer

How I broke down the argument?
- Plan: Reduce congestion via expanding rail
- Poll: People liked the idea despite knowing there would be "substantial tax" increases - why would people do this?? (Would you be happy to pay more tax??)
- Conclusion: plan is VERY LIKELY to succeed because people are prepared to pay and expect benefit

A) it overlooks the possibility that once the highways are consistently uncongested, some commuters might have no motivation to switch from using their car to using the rail system.
 Plan doesn't need everyone to use the rail - if the highways are uncongested it is good - plan is achieved - we don't care about the last 5% of cars on the road

B) the favorable responses collected are entirely consistent with every one of those respondents expecting that it would be others who, by using the rail system, would ease highway congestion.
 This is the answer - the majority of respondents who "overwhelmingly favored it" believe THEY THEMSELVES won't be using the rail but "OTHERS" - the survey could be wrong and therefore inference could be wrong

C) those respondents who opposed the plan might nevertheless become users of the rail system as a result of its expansion.
 Perhaps a slight strengthener to the inference - therefore it is not CRITICISM to the conclusion at hand

D) those respondents who opposed the plan might oppose it for reasons other than the tax increase required to carry it out.
 There are other potential reasons for respondents to oppose the plan - I was considering this option BUT it does not specify WHAT those other reasons are?? For example if it said "those respondents who opposed the plan might be opposed to it because the rail system is likely to ruin homes, close roads" - it could of been more compelling

E) residents responding to the poll are likely to overestimate the tax increase they themselves will experience if the proposed expansion occurs.
 This could mean that the poll results are conservative - the tax increases they expect are actually lower - this does not ATTACK the reasoning/conclusion

egmat · Answer

I can see why this question might be tricky - "vulnerable to criticism" questions require you to spot the gap between what the argument claims and what the evidence actually supports. Let me walk you through how to approach this one.

Let's break down what's happening here:

Step 1: Identify the Conclusion

The argument concludes that the commuter rail expansion plan is "very likely to succeed" if enacted. Notice the strong confidence here - the author is making a prediction about future success.

Step 2: Understand the Reasoning

Why does the author think it'll succeed? Because:
 
 Poll respondents overwhelmingly favored the plan 
 They knew about the substantial tax increases 
 If people are willing to pay, they must expect benefits 
 Therefore, the plan will work

Here's what you need to see: The argument assumes that poll support directly translates to the plan actually working. But does it really?

Step 3: Spot the Critical Gap

Think about this carefully - what does "success" actually mean for this plan? The plan succeeds only if people actually  use  the expanded rail system, right? That's what reduces highway congestion.

But here's the key insight:  supporting a plan in a poll is very different from personally changing your behavior.

Let's think about what might be going on in each poll respondent's mind:
 
 "This rail expansion sounds great!" 
 "I'm willing to pay higher taxes for it" 
 "Because OTHER people will use the trains" 
 "And that will reduce traffic for ME when I'm driving"

See the problem? Everyone could be thinking this exact same way - supporting the plan while expecting others to change their behavior. If everyone thinks like this, nobody actually switches to trains, the highways stay congested, and the plan fails despite overwhelming poll support.

Step 4: Evaluate the Answer Choices

Choice B  directly addresses this flaw. It points out that favorable poll responses are "entirely consistent with every one of those respondents expecting that it would be others who, by using the rail system, would ease highway congestion."

This is a classic collective action problem - everyone supports the solution while expecting others to do the actual work.

Why the other choices don't work:

Choice A:  This talks about what happens  after  the plan succeeds (once highways are uncongested). But the flaw we're looking for is about whether the poll results predict success in the first place.

Choice C:  If opponents also end up using the rail system, that actually helps the plan succeed - this doesn't weaken the inference.

Choice D:  The reasons why opponents opposed the plan don't affect the argument's reasoning about why supporters' willingness to pay predicts success.

Choice E:  If people overestimate their tax burden, they'd be pleasantly surprised by the actual costs, which if anything would strengthen support.

The answer is B.

The key takeaway here is recognizing when an argument confuses poll support with actual behavioral change - a pattern you'll see in various forms on the GMAT.

Want to master these patterns systematically?  You can check out the  complete framework on Neuron by e-GMAT  to understand how to systematically identify gaps between stated intentions and actual behavior in CR questions. You can also explore detailed solutions for  other official GMAT questions here  with comprehensive explanations and practice analytics to target your specific weaknesses.

Hope this helps! Let me know if you have questions about the reasoning.

Nalmed Province's plan is to reduce highway congestion by expanding

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Nalmed Province's plan is to reduce highway congestion by expanding

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