AbdurRakib wrote:
The rate at which a road wears depends on various factors, including climate, amount of traffic, and the size and weight of the vehicles using it. The only land transportation to Rittland’s seaport is via a divided highway, one side carrying traffic to the seaport and one carrying traffic away from it. The side leading to the seaport has worn faster, even though each side has carried virtually the same amount of traffic, consisting mainly of large trucks.
Which of the following, if true, most helps to explain the difference in the rate of wear?
(A) The volume of traffic to and from Rittland’s seaport has increased beyond the intended capacity of the highway that serves it.
(B) Wear on the highway that serves Rittland’s seaport is considerably greater during the cold winter months.
(C) Wear on the side of the highway that leads to Rittland’s seaport has encouraged people to take buses to the seaport rather than driving there in their own automobiles.
(D) A greater tonnage of goods is exported from Rittland’s seaport than is imported through it.
(E) All of Rittland’s automobiles are imported by ship.
OG Verbal 2017 New Question(Book Question: 110)
OG Verbal 2019: CR02958
The rate at which a road wears depends on:
- climate
- amount of traffic
- size and weight of vehicles
Now, the road to seaport has a divided highway - one leading to it and one leading away from it (which means they are one way roads - One moves outgoing traffic towards the port to other places, the other moves inward traffic from the port to the city)
The side leading to the seaport (moving material from the city to port and then to other places) has worn faster, even though each side has carried virtually the same amount of traffic, consisting mainly of large trucks.
The roads face the same climate (since they are located next to each other, amount of traffic and size of traffic (large trucks).
Of the mentioned factors, just the comparative weight of the vehicles is unknown.
Which of the following will help explain the diff in the wear (the side leading to the port has worn faster)
(A) The volume of traffic to and from Rittland’s seaport has increased beyond the intended capacity of the highway that serves it.
This doesn't give a difference between the two roads.
(B) Wear on the highway that serves Rittland’s seaport is considerably greater during the cold winter months.
Same for both roads.
(C) Wear on the side of the highway that leads to Rittland’s seaport has encouraged people to take buses to the seaport rather than driving there in their own automobiles.
This is the effect of extra wear on the side leading to port. We need to look for the cause of extra wear.
(D) A greater tonnage of goods is exported from Rittland’s seaport than is imported through it.
This tells us that the weight carried by the trucks on the side leading up to the port is more and hence that road has seen more wear. This explains the difference.
Note that "export" tonnage is more means that more goods are sent from the city to the port to be sent to other places. Hence the road going towards the port has seen more wear.
(E) All of Rittland’s automobiles are imported by ship.
This doesn't give a difference between the two roads.
Answer (D)
Would Choice E be considered a weakener, if anything, because importing more cars coming in = heavier load on the side of the road carrying traffic away from the seaport to distribute the automobiles?