Despite a dramatic increase in the number of people riding bicycles for recreation in Parkville, a recent report by the Parkville Department of Transportation shows that the number of accidents involving bicycles has decreased for the third consecutive year.
Which of the following, if true during the last three years, best reconciles the apparent discrepancy in the facts above?
Which of the following, if true during the last three years, best reconciles the apparent discrepancy in the facts above?
Show Hint
- The Parkville Department of Recreation confiscated abandoned bicycles and sold them at auction to any interested Parkville residents.
- Increased automobile and bus traffic in Parkville has been the leading cause of the most recent increase in automobile accidents.
- Because of the local increase in the number of people bicycling for recreation, many out-of-town bicyclists ride in the Parkville area.
- The Parkville Police Department enforced traffic rules for bicycle riders much more vigorously and began requiring recreational riders to pass a bicycle safety course.
- The Parkville Department of Transportation canceled a program that required all bicycles to be inspected and registered each year.
The Correct Option is D
Solution and Explanation
This question presents a paradox and asks for a resolution. A paradox is a seemingly contradictory situation. Here, the number of cyclists is increasing, but the number of cycling accidents is decreasing. We need to find an explanation that accounts for both facts. How can more cycling lead to fewer accidents?
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The core of the paradox is that an increase in an activity is accompanied by a decrease in the negative outcomes of that activity. A good resolution will introduce a new factor that has made the activity safer.
- (A) This is irrelevant. The sale of abandoned bicycles might contribute to the number of riders, but it doesn't explain why accidents have decreased.
- (B) This discusses automobile accidents, not bicycle accidents. It's irrelevant to the discrepancy.
- (C) This would likely worsen the paradox. An influx of out-of-town riders, who might be unfamiliar with the area, would be expected to lead to more accidents, not fewer.
- (D) This provides a perfect explanation. The increased enforcement of traffic rules and a mandatory safety course would logically lead to safer cycling behavior. Safer behavior, in turn, would cause a decrease in the number of accidents, even if the total number of cyclists increased. This new safety measure reconciles the two seemingly contradictory facts.
- (E) Canceling a safety program (inspections) would be expected to lead to more accidents, not fewer. This would deepen the mystery rather than resolve it.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The introduction of new, vigorously enforced safety measures provides a logical reason for the decrease in accidents despite the increase in riders.
Top Questions on Logical Reasoning
Disregard commonly known facts. Which conclusion would follow on the basis of given statements only?
Statement (I): Some bottles are car. Some cars are cycle.
Conclusion: \[\begin{array}{rl} \bullet & \text{[(I)] Some bottles are cycle is a possibility.} \\ \bullet & \text{[(II)] All bottles are cycle.} \\ \end{array}\]
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- If a group comprises of five persons A, B, C, D and E, then how many persons are taller than E?
Statement (I): A is taller than B and B is shorter than A and E only.
Statement (II): C is shorter than A and A is shorter than E.- CUET (PG) - 2025
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Statement (I): Only three boxes are kept above D and only one box is kept between D and Q. Q is kept lower than D and is immediately below P.
Statement (II): Only one box is kept between A and C. C is kept three boxes above Q. As many boxes are kept above B as are kept below R.- CUET (PG) - 2025
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- P, Q, R, S, T, A and B are consecutive integers (not necessarily in that order), such that the smallest of these is greater than 60 and the greatest is less than 70. It is known that:
(I) A and B both are prime numbers.
(II) T is a multiple of 9.
(III) Both the digits of P are same.
(IV) The average of R and S is 63 and the difference between R and S is 2.
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Questions Asked in GRE exam
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- GRE - 2024
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- GRE - 2024
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- GRE - 2024
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