Studies of fatal automobile accidents reveal that, in the majority of

Question

Studies of fatal automobile accidents reveal that, in the majority of cases in which one occupant of an automobile is killed while another survives, it is the passenger, not the driver, who is killed. It is ironic that the innocent passenger should suffer for the driver's carelessness, while the driver often suffers only minor injuries or none at all.

Which of the following is an assumption underlying the reasoning in the passage above?

(A) In most fatal automobile accidents, the driver of a car in which an occupant is killed is at fault.

(B) Drivers of automobiles are rarely killed in auto accidents.

(C) Most deaths in fatal automobile accidents are suffered by occupants of cars rather than by pedestrians.

(D) Auto safety experts should increase their efforts to provide protection for those in the passenger seats of automobiles.

(E) Automobile passengers sometimes play a contributing role in causing auto accidents.

dinesh86 · Accepted Answer

Conc.: Driver is at fault for co-passenger's death in fatal accident. (X -->Y)

In Assumption questions, right answer is one which strengthen or further validate the idea.

A) In most fatal automobile accidents, the driver of a car in which an occupant is killed is at fault – Right. Further reinforced the idea that Drivers are at fault.
B) Drivers of automobiles are rarely killed in auto accidents – Already stated in passage 
C) Most deaths in fatal automobile accidents are suffered by occupants of cars rather than by pedestrians – No mention of pedestrians
D) Auto safety experts should increase their efforts to provide protection for those in the passenger seats of automobiles - OFS
E) Automobile passengers sometimes play a contributing role in causing auto accidents – It is opposite to what is said in passage.

TGC · Answer

Premise says:In most of the accidents the passenger and not the driver was killed.
Conclusion: Hence, the driver is at fault in most of the cases.

Why?

GAP: There could be scenario wherein the accidents were caused by the poor traffic management and not the driver and coincidentally passengers were killed.We can give other reasons too.

So we need to assure that in most of the cases the drivers were at fault to conclude.

Hence (A)

ranga41 · Answer

IMO clearly A

B can be easily rejected because, though drivers are not killed in  majority  of the accident, whether it is a  rarity  is under question 51% is majority, what if in 49% of the cases drivers are also seriously injured, it is not a rarity at all.

chinarsalvi · Answer

If two cars (A & B) collide to each other. Car A having one passenger & car B didn't have any passenger.

The accident might have happened because of the mistake of Car driver of B. This negates the conclusion of statement.

Answer choice says that Accident happened due to the mistake of Car driver A, resulted in the death of the passenger in car A.

venkateshradiant · Answer

QUESTION TALKS ABOUT MAJORITY OF CASES, WHEREAS THE ANSWER CHOICE A TALKS ABOUT MOST OF THE CASES. HOW DO WE INTERPRET THIS SHIFT.

admin0311 · Answer

as u said for option B) that it is already stated in the passage, A is also stated in the passage. and to support A u said it is reinforcing the idea and so is B going that drivers are rarely killed in accidents so how come differentitate between a and b

SatvikVedala · Answer

For many assumption questions usually there are 2 types of assumptions
1. Internal Assumption
2. External Assumption

By Internal assumption, I imply inherent causes (such as it is assumed that driver's carelessness is solely responsible for accident)

External assumption states additional information. Since driver is buckled with seatbelt, which protects from fatal accidents usually, his chances of survival are better

External assumptions also negate conclusions provided they are given in options

CD008 · Answer

Elimination
A:True because it shows drivers are at fault
B:Already stated in passage so cannot be assumption
c:out of scope no mention of pedestrians
D:completely out of scope no mention of experts
E:it is completely opposite of what it is said in the passage because passage states that passengers are innocent

kkaryaa · Answer

most -  greatest in amount, quantity, or degree.

majority -  the greater number

most and majority in this context mean the same thing imo.

sanjitscorps18 · Answer

I'd disagree. The majority of the accidents is referring to the majority in the subset of the accidents that happen with the passenger dying and driver surviving.

Studies of fatal automobile accidents reveal that,  in the majority of cases in which one occupant of an automobile is killed while another survives , it is the passenger, not the driver, who is killed. It is ironic that the innocent passenger should suffer for the driver's carelessness, while the driver often suffers only minor injuries or none at all.

However, the choice seems to talk about all the accidents put together. In any case option (A) is the most suitable among the choices even if it not the best.

(A)  In most fatal automobile accidents , the driver of a car in which an occupant is killed is at fault.
  
I hope it is clear now.

Studies of fatal automobile accidents reveal that, in the majority of

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GMAT Critical Reasoning (CR) Questions

Studies of fatal automobile accidents reveal that, in the majority of

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