The number of tornadoes recorded annually in North America has more than tripled since 1953. Yet meteorologists insist that the climatic factors affecting the creation of tornadoes are unchanged.

Which one of the following, if true, most helps to resolve the apparent discrepancy described above?

(A) The factors affecting the creation of tornadoes were not well known to meteorologists before 1953.
(B) The intensity of the average tornado is greater now than it was in 1953.
(C) The number of tornadoes recorded annually has increased only slightly in the last five years.
(D) The amount of property damage done by tornadoes has grown substantially since 1953.
(E) Many more citizens are helping authorities detect tornadoes now than in 1953.
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PowerScore Complete Question Explanation

Resolve the Paradox. The correct answer choice is (E)

As in all Resolve the Paradox questions, this stimulus presents a surprising situation. While experts claim the climatic factors impacting the creation of tornadoes has remained constant, records show that the number of tornadoes recorded every year has more than tripled since 1953. To help resolve this conflict, we want to focus on the difference between the number of tornadoes that occur, and the number that are recorded. After all, if the climatic factors are constant, we would expect the number of tornadoes that occur annually to be constant. Therefore, in our answer choice, we want to find something that addresses why so many more tornadoes are recorded now than in 1953.

Answer choice (A): This answer choice addresses the meteorologist’s knowledge of the climatic factors that cause tornadoes. By saying that the meteorologists did not really understand what caused tornadoes prior to 1953, this answer choice attacks the experts providing data that supports the contention that tornado occurrences have remained constant. Remember though, that you cannot resolve a paradox by attacking the facts; you must take both parts of the paradox as true, and not attack either part. Since this answer choice does not explain how both parts of the paradox can be true, it is incorrect.

Answer choice (B): This answer choice is incorrect because the stimulus is about the number of tornadoes, not the strength of the tornadoes. Since this answer choice does not address the numerical discrepancy, it is incorrect.

Answer choice (C): In this answer choice, we only look at a small piece of the time between 1953 and the present. The stimulus focuses on the increase over the entire period, not just the past 5 years. There could have a technological advance 10 years ago that explains the increase in recorded tornadoes, or the increase could have occurred slowly but gradually over the past 50-60 years. This answer choice does not explain how the total number of tornadoes remained constant, while the reported number increased so drastically, it is incorrect.

Answer choice (D): Like answer choice (B), this answer choice addresses the strength of the tornadoes, this time by discussing the physical impact. However, this answer choice still does not address why the number of tornadoes reported would have gone up so much.

Answer choice (E): This is the correct answer choice. This is the only answer choice to explain why the number of tornadoes recorded increased. Notice how this answer choice is consistent with all the facts in the stimulus. If there are more people helping to identify and report tornadoes, it would make sense that the number of tornadoes recorded would increase as well. The overall number of tornadoes can be stable between 1953 and the present, but more are recorded as more people are tracking them.
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