Engineer Hans Monderman (1945-2008) became well-known for

Question

Engineer Hans Monderman (1945-2008) became well-known for his 2001 project in the Dutch city of Drachten. At the town center, in a crowded four-way intersection, Monderman removed not only the traffic lights but almost every other traffic control. Instead of a space cluttered with poles, lights, “traffic islands,” and restrictive arrows, he installed a radical type of roundabout—vaguely resembling a town square—marked only by a central, raised circle of grass, several fountains, and discreet traffic indicators required by law. A year later, not only had congestion decreased—buses spent less time waiting to get through, for example—but there were half as many accidents, even though total car traffic was up by a third. Instead of a mechanistic stop-and-go process, the movement of traffic and pedestrians in the circle was more cooperative and smooth, and studies showed that both drivers and cyclists were signaling more often.

While Monderman conceded that such systems could only be installed after careful study of traffic volume, intersection geometry, and the mix of pedestrians, cyclists, and cars, he believed the best way to change people's driving behavior was to change their conception of time, and the best way to do that was to change context. In the mid-1980s, he was 
dispatched to the Dutch town of Oudehaske to check traffic speed through the small town's center, which had become extremely dangerous. Rather than installing traffic lights or traffic calming devices such as speed bumps, warning signs, or other highly visible interventions, Monderman suggested that Oudehaske center simply be made more villagelike.

The interventions were subtle. Signs were removed, curbs were torn out, and asphalt was replaced with red paving brick and gray gutters on either side that were slightly concave but usable by cars. The plan worked; drivers slowed. Rather than clarity and segregation, Monderman had created  confusion and ambiguity  Unsure what space belonged to them, drivers became more accommodating. Rather than give drivers a simple behavioral mandate, he had, through the new road design, subtly suggested the proper course of action. The main road now looked like a narrow lane in a village, not a trafficway through some anonymous town.   1 
 Q1. By stating that Monderman created “confusion and ambiguity” (see highlighted text), the author primarily seeks to

A. acknowledge a popular criticism of Monderman's design for the town
B. contrast the means by which Monderman accomplished his goals in Drachten and Oudehaske
C. sum up a major aspect of Monderman's approach in his roadway design for the town
D. identify a tendency of drivers that Monderman sought to overcome in his design for the town
E. explain why Monderman thought that changing people's “conception of time” was the best way to change people's driving behavior

2 
 Q2. The passage is primarily concerned with

A. arguing for particular changes to long-standing practices in traffic planning
B. examining the approach of a particular person to particular problems in traffic planning
C. illustrating how recent findings have influenced practices in traffic planning
D. describing how the work of a particular person radically changed the way traffic planning is conducted
E. acknowledging the shortcomings of current practices in traffic planning

3 
 Q3. The passage mentions that, while car traffic had increased significantly a year after Monderman redesigned the intersection in Drachten

A. drivers perceived the area surrounding the intersection to be more villagelike
B. fewer cyclists and pedestrians found the need to use the intersection
C. most people felt safer while negotiating the intersection
D. buses were able to get through the intersection more quickly
E. motorists drove more slowly while negotiating the intersection

4 
 Q4. The passage most strongly suggests that Monderman did which of the following?

A. Worked to have certain traffic laws changed to accommodate some of his projects
B. Tried to reduce the amount of total traffic at the sites of his projects
C. Carefully studied on-site traffic-flow dynamics prior to proceeding with any of his projects
D. Placed more emphasis on the concerns of cyclists and pedestrians than on motorists in the design of his projects
E. Took into account the stated preferences of users of the roads involved in his projects

thangvietname · Answer

the passage is not hard but the answer choices are close and it is hard to answer questions.

I see in question 2, B and D are close and can not get out. pls help.

often, I am stuck between 2 answer choices. How do I do here ?

plumber250 · Answer

Hi thangvietnam.

Let's see if I can help on Q2....

I think the answer is B, not D. Here is why.....

Answer D suggests that other people have taken Monderman's views and adopted them. This is not mentioned. Monderman could simply be a maveric, who has had no influence on the wider world.

Answer B is better. It simply says it discusses someone's view. This is true - it's is a narration of the style of Monderman.

I'd answer B - hope it helps

plumber250 · Answer

Hi Marcab,

I'd be tempted to go for D on Q3.

This phrase from the passage

A year later, not only had congestion decreased—buses spent less time waiting to get through, for example

is the same thing as

D. buses were able to get through the intersection more quickly

Others look good.

Cheers,

James

Marcab · Answer

Hii plumber.
Many thanks for the reply.
A year later, not only had congestion 
decreased—buses spent less time waiting to get through, for example—but there were half as many accidents, even 
though total car traffic was up by a third.

Since the question uses "while", so answer should be a simultaneous event rather than a consequence. The simultaneous event was "people felt much safer" and the consequence is that buses bla bla.
Don't you think so?

plumber250 · Answer

Hi Marcab,

I'm afraid I disagree.

In this instance in my opinion, you're overly analyzing a small point of grammar, but ignoring the question. The question asks for something actually to be said (the word used is 'mentions') in the passage. I can not see any specific reference to people  feeling  safer in the town (there is a reference to number of accidents, but nothing about how people feel), but I can see a reference to buses going through more quickly. So that is what I pick.

That said I may be wrong. OA time please....

gmatbull · Answer

@ Marcab,
The question says: "The passage mentions that,...."

C: most people felt safer while negotiating the intersection
No where is C mentioned; yes, agreed, we can safely assume that drivers are happy, but this statement is not mentioned
anywhere in the passage.

D: buses were able to get through the intersection more quickly
Engr Monderman did away with space cluttered with poles,...and installed a radical type of roundabout instead of 
having restrictive arrows. A year later, not only had   congestion decreased  —
 buses spent less time waiting to get through

On this, I would want to agree with Plumber.

OA's are  1C, 2B, 3D, 4C

micmic · Answer

Hello regarding Q3 I chose answer D.
The choice was between D and C, but look what my explanations are:

Q3:The passage mentions that, while car traffic had increased significantly a year after Monderman redesigned the intersection in Drachten,
A. drivers perceived the area surrounding the intersection to be more villagelike
B. fewer cyclists and pedestrians found the need to use the intersection
C. most people felt safer while negotiating the intersection  => well the text says the accidents decreased by half, but nothing about the people perception 
D. buses were able to get through the intersection more quickly  => this is a paraphrase of the paragraph sentence and I find it's correct 
E. motorists drove more slowly while negotiating the intersection

rahulvv · Answer

BBDC...11 mins..4 mins for initial reading..Can some one explain why B is not correct for question 1?

Moreover,i normally take 4 minutes for initial reading and taking notes for passages of such complexity and more or less that is my average.How can i reduce it to under 3 mins?Can any one suggest better note making strategy?

plumber250 · Answer

Hi Rahul,

Regarding choice B in Q1.

The key word in B is 'contrast'. This should there fore compare one thing with another. There is no sense of that in 'confusion and ambiguity' - it's more of a simple statement of fact about one city.

That this 'confusion and ambiguity' may only exist in one of the 2 cities is not enough - you're only looking at the highlighted text, and in that there is no 'contrast'

James

jaituteja · Answer

The confusion and ambiguity is mentioned only for Oudehaske's project . However, option B of question 1 mentions both the city projects.

Hope it helps..!!!!!

Makhabbat · Answer

What about 4th Q, please help:)

bM22 · Answer

Hi  Makhabbat ,

Q4:The passage most strongly suggests that Monderman did which of the following?

C can be directly inferred from the lines: "While Monderman conceded that such  systems could only be installed after careful study of traffic volume, intersection geometry, and the mix of pedestrians, cyclists, and cars,  he believed the best way to change people's driving behavior was to change their conception of time", implying that Monderman studied on-site traffic-flow dynamics prior to proceeding with any of his projects.

Hope This Helps.
Thanks.

Kjshameem · Answer

Can anyone explain why Q1 has C as answer,as according to me E can also be correct.

Posted from my mobile device

bM22 · Answer

Hi  Kjshameem ,

Lines of concern: "Rather than clarity and segregation,  Monderman had created confusion and ambiguity  Unsure what space belonged to them, drivers became more accommodating."

Option E is present in the passage but just not as a conclusion of what author talks about in the 2nd and 3rd para. When author mentions that Monderman created confusion and ambiguity,  the author is summarizing how  Monderman changed people's conception of time to change their driving behavior.

Thus, through the above lines of the passage, the author is not trying to explain anything, instead summarizing what has been explained in the preceding lines. Thus C is the correct answer.

Hope This Helps.
Thanks.

Engineer Hans Monderman (1945-2008) became well-known for

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Engineer Hans Monderman (1945-2008) became well-known for

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