Comprehension
Although the development of new infrastructure (such public facilities as power plants, schools, and bridges) is usually determined by governmental planning, sometimes this development can be planned more flexibly and realistically by private investors who anticipate profit from the collection of user fees. Such profits can contribute to the financing of more infrastructure if demand proves great enough, whereas the reluctance of developers to invest in such projects can signal that additional infrastructure is not needed. During the economic boom of the 1980's, for example, the state of Virginia authorized private developers to build a \$300 million toll road. These developers obtained the needed right-of-way from property owners, but by 1993 they still had not raised the necessary financing. The unwillingness of investors to finance this project does not negate the viability of privately financed roads; rather, it illustrates a virtue of private financing. If a road appears unlikely to attract enough future traffic to pay for the road, then it should not be built.
Question: 1
The primary purpose of the passage is to
The primary purpose of the passage is to
Show Hint
For "primary purpose" questions, don't get sidetracked by the specific examples. The example (the failed toll road) is there to serve the main argument. Ask yourself, "What is the author trying to convince me of by telling me this story?"
Updated On: Oct 4, 2025
- build a case for increasing the development of new infrastructure
- advocate an alternative to government financing of infrastructure
- explain the failure of a privately financed venture
- suggest the types of infrastructure most appropriate for private financing
- argue against government restrictions on developing new infrastructure
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The Correct Option is B
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This question asks for the main idea or primary purpose of the passage. We need to determine the author's overall goal.
Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:
Analyze the structure and tone of the passage. The author introduces a topic ("development of new infrastructure"), contrasts two approaches (governmental vs. private), and then uses an example to argue in favor of one of them. The purpose is to persuade the reader of the value of this preferred approach.
Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
- The passage opens by contrasting "governmental planning" with planning by "private investors."
- It describes private financing as potentially "more flexibly and realistically" planned.
- It uses the example of the Virginia toll road to illustrate a "virtue of private financing."
- The overall tone is positive towards private financing and critical of the potential inflexibility of government planning.
- (B) This option accurately captures this goal. The author is making a case for private financing as a viable and effective "alternative to government financing."
- (A) The author is not arguing for more infrastructure in general, but for a specific way of deciding whether to build it.
- (C) Explaining the failure of the venture is part of the passage, but it's used as an example to support a larger point. It is not the primary purpose.
- (D) The passage uses roads as an example but does not generalize to suggest which types are most appropriate.
- (E) The passage doesn't discuss government restrictions, but rather the initial planning and financing process.
Step 4: Final Answer:
The author's main purpose is to advocate for private financing as a method for developing new infrastructure, presenting it as a more realistic alternative to traditional government planning.
This question asks for the main idea or primary purpose of the passage. We need to determine the author's overall goal.
Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:
Analyze the structure and tone of the passage. The author introduces a topic ("development of new infrastructure"), contrasts two approaches (governmental vs. private), and then uses an example to argue in favor of one of them. The purpose is to persuade the reader of the value of this preferred approach.
Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
- The passage opens by contrasting "governmental planning" with planning by "private investors."
- It describes private financing as potentially "more flexibly and realistically" planned.
- It uses the example of the Virginia toll road to illustrate a "virtue of private financing."
- The overall tone is positive towards private financing and critical of the potential inflexibility of government planning.
- (B) This option accurately captures this goal. The author is making a case for private financing as a viable and effective "alternative to government financing."
- (A) The author is not arguing for more infrastructure in general, but for a specific way of deciding whether to build it.
- (C) Explaining the failure of the venture is part of the passage, but it's used as an example to support a larger point. It is not the primary purpose.
- (D) The passage uses roads as an example but does not generalize to suggest which types are most appropriate.
- (E) The passage doesn't discuss government restrictions, but rather the initial planning and financing process.
Step 4: Final Answer:
The author's main purpose is to advocate for private financing as a method for developing new infrastructure, presenting it as a more realistic alternative to traditional government planning.
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Question: 2
The passage implies that the "governmental planning" mentioned in line 3 may lead to which of the following problems?
The passage implies that the "governmental planning" mentioned in line 3 may lead to which of the following problems?
Show Hint
To find an author's implied criticism, look at what they praise. The opposite of the praised quality is often the implied flaw in the alternative. Here, praise for "realistic" private planning implies criticism of "unrealistic" government planning.
Updated On: Oct 4, 2025
- Improper use of profits derived from user fees
- Unduly slow development of necessary new infrastructure
- Unrealistic decisions about developing new infrastructure
(D) Incorrect predictions about profits to be gained from user fees
(E) Obstruction of private financing for the development of new infrastructure - Incorrect predictions about profits to be gained from user fees
- Obstruction of private financing for the development of new infrastructure
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The Correct Option is C
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This is an inference question. The passage promotes private financing by highlighting its virtues. By implication, the problems that private financing avoids are the problems that the alternative, "governmental planning," is prone to.
Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:
Identify the main virtue of private financing according to the author. The opposite of this virtue will be the implied problem with government planning.
Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
- The author praises private financing because it provides a market test. The final sentence sums up this virtue: "If a road appears unlikely to attract enough future traffic to pay for the road, then it should not be built." This implies that private financing prevents the construction of unnecessary or unviable projects.
- The passage also states that private development can be planned "more flexibly and realistically."
- If the virtue of private financing is that it is "realistic" and stops unneeded projects from being built, then the implied problem with governmental planning is that it can lead to unrealistic decisions and the construction of unneeded projects.
- (C) "Unrealistic decisions about developing new infrastructure" is a perfect summary of this implied flaw. A government might decide to build a road for political reasons, even if the traffic demand isn't there, a mistake a private investor would not make.
- (A), (D), and (E) relate to user fees and private financing, not directly to the problems of governmental planning.
- (B) The passage does not suggest that government planning is necessarily slow. In fact, the private venture in the example was very slow to get financing.
Step 4: Final Answer:
The author's praise for the "realistic" nature of private market tests implies that the alternative, governmental planning, is susceptible to making unrealistic decisions to build infrastructure that is not actually needed.
This is an inference question. The passage promotes private financing by highlighting its virtues. By implication, the problems that private financing avoids are the problems that the alternative, "governmental planning," is prone to.
Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:
Identify the main virtue of private financing according to the author. The opposite of this virtue will be the implied problem with government planning.
Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
- The author praises private financing because it provides a market test. The final sentence sums up this virtue: "If a road appears unlikely to attract enough future traffic to pay for the road, then it should not be built." This implies that private financing prevents the construction of unnecessary or unviable projects.
- The passage also states that private development can be planned "more flexibly and realistically."
- If the virtue of private financing is that it is "realistic" and stops unneeded projects from being built, then the implied problem with governmental planning is that it can lead to unrealistic decisions and the construction of unneeded projects.
- (C) "Unrealistic decisions about developing new infrastructure" is a perfect summary of this implied flaw. A government might decide to build a road for political reasons, even if the traffic demand isn't there, a mistake a private investor would not make.
- (A), (D), and (E) relate to user fees and private financing, not directly to the problems of governmental planning.
- (B) The passage does not suggest that government planning is necessarily slow. In fact, the private venture in the example was very slow to get financing.
Step 4: Final Answer:
The author's praise for the "realistic" nature of private market tests implies that the alternative, governmental planning, is susceptible to making unrealistic decisions to build infrastructure that is not actually needed.
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