During the 1980s and 1990s, the annual number of people who

Question

During the 1980s and 1990s, the annual number of people who visited the Sordellian Mountains increased continually, and many new ski resorts were built. Over the same period, however, the number of visitors to ski resorts who were caught in avalanches decreased, even though there was no reduction in the annual number of avalanches in the Sordellian Mountains.

Which of the following, if true in the Sordellian Mountains during the 1980s and 1990s, most helps to explain the decrease?

(A) Avalanches were most likely to happen when a large new snowfall covered an older layer of snow.
(B) Avalanches destroyed at least some buildings in the Sordellian Mountains in every year.
(C) People planning new ski slopes and other resort facilities used increasingly accurate information about which locations are likely to be in the path of avalanches.
(D) The average length of stay for people visiting the Sordellian Mountains increased slightly.
(E) Construction of new ski resorts often led to the clearing of wooded areas that had helped to prevent avalanches.

ID: 100798

KarishmaB · Accepted Answer

In 80s and 90s, number of people visiting the Sordellian Mountains increased and many new resorts came up. 
Number of avalanches has remained same.
But number of visitors caught in avalanches in these resorts decreased.

What helps to explain this? Though more people visited and there were more resorts built, still fewer people got caught in avalanches.

(A) Avalanches were most likely to happen when a large new snowfall covered an older layer of snow.

Irrelevant. We know number of avalanches remained same.

(B) Avalanches destroyed at least some buildings in the Sordellian Mountains in every year.

Irrelevant.

(C) People planning new ski slopes and other resort facilities used increasingly accurate information about which locations are likely to be in the path of avalanches.

So people used science to make resorts where avalanches do not happen. This certainly explains why even though number of resorts has gone up, number of people stuck in avalanches has decreased.

(D) The average length of stay for people visiting the Sordellian Mountains increased slightly.

If length of stay increased, probability of getting stuck in avalanches increased too. Does not explain why fewer people got stuck.

(E) Construction of new ski resorts often led to the clearing of wooded areas that had helped to prevent avalanches.

Note the tense - the wooded areas HAD helped prevent avalanches. Now they will not prevent because they have been cleared. But this is irrelevant because we know that number of avalanches has been the same.

Answer (C)

Hientran48 · Answer

Premise 1: Number of visitors increased and many new ski resort were built
Premise 2: However, number of visitors who were caught in avalanches decrease, although no reduction in number of avalanches
--> What make visitors is less likely to be caught in avalanches ? -> This help explain the decrease.
A & B -> out of scope
D -> this could increase number of visitors who were caught in avalanches -> doesn't help explain the decrease
E -> BE CAREFUL,  "the clearing of wooded areas that had helped to prevent avalanches"  --> this could increase number of visitors who were caught in avalanches --> doesn't help explain the decrease
C -> yeah, the planning and the help of resort facilities could explain the decrease, because people could avoid the locations which are likely to be in the path of avalanches -> Correct answer

Prashant10692 · Answer

+C.

E is out because it is mentioned in the argument that number of avalanche is same in the area.

Hence its the prior weather knowledge that has saved people from the avalanche and hence reducing the number of people caught in such accidents. .

saby1410 · Answer

VeritasKarishma

Can u explain option E?
Is it incorrect because it's already mentioned in passage that there was no reduction no. of avalanches .

BenjaminS · Answer

Thank you  VeritasKarishma 
Although I use POE to eliminate choice B,D and E, I couldn't agree more about your explanation.

There is no mention in the argument about layer of snow. Out of scope.

A few buildings can generate more people. Out of scope.

Many people will go to some resorts in the way to avalanches. Interesting!!!

The length is not related in the argument. Out of scope.

The wooded areas are not related in the passage.

Answer C

Please suggest me if you have any ideas.

KarishmaB · Answer

I am assuming in the highlighted portion you mean "out of the way of avalanches".Using science, they know where avalanches are expected so obviously, they are building resorts at other places which are safe.

CEdward · Answer

During the 1980s and 1990s, the annual number of people who visited the Sordellian Mountains increased continually, and many new ski resorts were built. Over the same period, however, the number of visitors to ski resorts who were caught in avalanches decreased, even though there was no reduction in the annual number of avalanches in the Sordellian Mountains.

Which of the following, if true in the Sordellian Mountains during the 1980s and 1990s, most helps to explain the decrease?

(A) Avalanches were most likely to happen when a large new snowfall covered an older layer of snow. X
-needless supplemental information
(B) Avalanches destroyed at least some buildings in the Sordellian Mountains in every year. X
-surely this happened…but this doesn’t address why the number of visitors who were caught decreased
(C) People planning new ski slopes and other resort facilities used increasingly accurate information about which locations are likely to be in the path of avalanches. 
-Correct, despite the constant rate of occurrence of avalanches and increased foot traffic, we understand now that fewer people got into accidents because they were able to avoid the avalanches via planning
(D) The average length of stay for people visiting the Sordellian Mountains increased slightly. X
-arguably gives us reason to think more people would be caught in the snow
(E) Construction of new ski resorts often led to the clearing of wooded areas that had helped to prevent avalanches. X
-potentially attacks the premise…we know avalanches occurred at a constant rate

av722 · Answer

C is correct.

(A) Avalanches were  most likely to happen  when a large new snowfall covered an older layer of snow. 
 irrelevant info. the # avalanches is reported in the passage so we don't need to reconsider that info 
 
(B) Avalanches  destroyed at least some buildings  in the Sordellian Mountains in every year. 
 this doesn't explain any part of the surprising info 
 
 (C) People planning new ski slopes and other resort facilities used increasingly accurate information about which locations are likely to be in the path of avalanches.  
 if new ski resorts have more accurate info, people are less likely to be caught in avalanche's path. this does explain  
 
(D) The average  length of stay  for people visiting the Sordellian Mountains  increased slightly . 
 what effect does this choice have? it's unclear. one could argue those that are staying longer would know more about the terrain and are less likely to get caught in the avalanche's path. you could also argue that greater length of stay means a higher probability of getting caught. IDK! 
 
(E) Construction of new ski resorts often led to the clearing of wooded areas that had helped to  prevent avalanches . 
this makes it more confusing. that means more new ski resorts -> more avalanches

av722 · Answer

C is correct.

(A) Avalanches were  most likely to happen  when a large new snowfall covered an older layer of snow. 
 irrelevant info. the # avalanches is reported in the passage so we don't need to reconsider that info 
 
(B) Avalanches  destroyed at least some buildings  in the Sordellian Mountains in every year. 
 this doesn't explain any part of the surprising info 
 
 (C) People planning new ski slopes and other resort facilities used increasingly accurate information about which locations are likely to be in the path of avalanches.  
 if new ski resorts have more accurate info, people are less likely to be caught in avalanche's path. this does explain  
 
(D) The average  length of stay  for people visiting the Sordellian Mountains  increased slightly . 
 what effect does this choice have? it's unclear. one could argue those that are staying longer would know more about the terrain and are less likely to get caught in the avalanche's path. you could also argue that greater length of stay means a higher probability of getting caught. IDK! 
 
(E) Construction of new ski resorts often led to the clearing of wooded areas that had helped to  prevent avalanches . 
this makes it more confusing. that means more new ski resorts -> more avalanches

A_Nishith · Answer

Premise 1: Number of visitors increased and many new ski resort were built
Premise 2: However, number of visitors who were caught in avalanches decrease, although no reduction in number of avalanches
--> What make visitors is less likely to be caught in avalanches ? -> This help explain the decrease.
A & B -> out of scope
D -> this could increase number of visitors who were caught in avalanches -> doesn't help explain the decrease
E -> BE CAREFUL, "the clearing of wooded areas that had helped to prevent avalanches" --> this could increase number of visitors who were caught in avalanches --> doesn't help explain the decrease
C -> yeah, the planning and the help of resort facilities could explain the decrease, because people could avoid the locations which are likely to be in the path of avalanches -> Correct answer

Answer: C

During the 1980s and 1990s, the annual number of people who

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During the 1980s and 1990s, the annual number of people who

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