Special Delivery - MGMAT CR 700+

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Special Delivery - MGMAT CR 700+

by hja379 » Wed Jan 26, 2011 3:31 pm
For the last five years, the XYZ Courier Company has made regular delivery trips between Town A and Town B. The average time taken by the company's drivers to drive the round trip between the two towns, excluding the time taken for loading, unloading, and delivery, over that period has been 80 minutes. John, a driver for XYZ, needs to make a personal trip between the two towns; he figures that he should allow approximately 80 minutes for the round trip.

Which of the following, if true, does not call John's conclusion into question?


A) The route between Town A and Town B has been plagued by increasing congestion over the last five years, as the area's population has doubled during that time.
B) Most of XYZ's courier vehicles are heavy trucks, for which speed limits are lower than for passenger vehicles.
C) Many of the packages carried by XYZ between Town A and Town B are large, high-security packages, for which the processes of loading, unloading, and delivery can take up to half the length of the trip itself.
D) John will make his personal trip at an hour when XYZ does not make delivery trips.
E) Before a freeway was built between Town A and Town B two years ago, the only routes between the two towns were state highways with multiple traffic lights and reduced-speed downtown zones.

OA C

The question stem asks for an answer choice that does NOT call the conclusion into question. How is OA the right answer? Please explain.

Thanks.
Source: — Critical Reasoning |

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by VivianKerr » Wed Jan 26, 2011 5:21 pm
Conclusion: John should allow 80 min. for round trip.

Evidence: XYZ drivers average 80 min round trip (not including loading, unloading, or delivery)

Assumptions: There is no difference in the time in John's car versus an XYX car. John won't be loading, unloading or making deliveries.

Question Rephrase: What does NOT hurt the conclusion?

Prediction: Eliminating choices that WOULD hurt the conclusion - show that 80 min. would not be a good estimate.

A - Incorrect. If there is increasing traffic, it could slow John down.
B - Incorrect. This would mean John would probably be able to go faster.
C - Correct. While this fact seems irrelevant to John's trip, it does NOT call into question the idea that John should allot 80 min. for his trip.
D - Incorrect. If there are fewer cars on the road, he'd probably be able to go faster.
E - Incorrect. If the 80 min. average was for all 5 years, but 2 years ago a highway was built, then John could probably go faster than the 80 min.

All of the choices except C would affect the time it takes John to travel; therefore (C) is correct.
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by Night reader » Thu Jan 27, 2011 2:03 am
Don't know if my reply will fit in...

For the last five years, the XYZ Courier Company has made regular delivery trips between Town A and Town B. - this action is continuous... The average time taken by the company's drivers to drive the round trip between the two towns, ...conditional statement --> excluding the time taken for loading, unloading, and delivery, over that period has been 80 minutes. John, a driver for XYZ, needs to make a ...conditional statement--> personal trip between the two towns; he figures that he should allow approximately 80 minutes for the round trip <-- conclusion based on conditional setting above Personal trip Not Business trip.


Which of the following, if true, does not call John's conclusion into question? <-- Which answer at least not weakens but may strengthen John's conclusion


LSAT killer note --> speed processing of answer choices to find the clue (one-two words) satisfying conditional setting and action in the process

A) The route between Town A and Town B has been plagued by increasing congestion over the last five years, as the area's population has doubled during that time. <-- Kill
B) Most of XYZ's courier vehicles are heavy trucks, for which speed limits are lower than for passenger vehicles. <-- Kill
C) Many of the packages carried by XYZ between Town A and Town B are large, high-security packages, for which the processes of loading, unloading, and delivery can take up to half the length of the trip itself. ..<-- if business trip purpose is set -- time reduction in traveling time for personal (non-business) trip with no conditions observed: time taken for loading, unloading, and delivery <-- Live/Correct
D) John will make his personal trip at an hour when XYZ does not make delivery trips. <-- Kill
E) Before a freeway was built between Town A and Town B two years ago, the only routes between the two towns were state highways with multiple traffic lights and reduced-speed downtown zones. <-- Kill