Critical Reasoning

In the nation of Partoria,large trucks currently have much higher rate of traffic accidents per mile driven than other vehicles do.However, the very largest trucks- those with three trailers- had less than a third of the accident rate of single and double trailer trucks.clearly, therefore,one way for Partoria to reduce the number of traffic accidents would be to require shippers to increase their use of triple trailer trucks.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?

a.Partorian trucking companies currently use triple trailer trucks only for long trips using highways,which is the safest kind of trip for large trucks.

b.No matter what changes Partoria makes in the regulation of trucking, it will have to keep some smaller roads off-limits to all large trucks.

c.Increased use of triple trailer trucks would mean that large trucks would account for smaller proportion of all miles driven on Partoria's road than they currently do.

d.In Partoria, the safety record of the trucking industry as a whole has improved slightly over the past ten years.

e.The volume of truck traffic in Partoria's highways could be reduced by encouraging shippers to use rail transport whenever possible.

Can anyone provide explanation for this question???

I came across this problem in GMAT prep but the answer choice was quiet different. As far as I remember the correct option addresses the issue of the "experienced drivers".

Here I couldn't find it in the answer choice.

Anyway I think the best option is A here.

What is the OA ?

OA is A

Can you provide explanation for this?

karthikpandian19 wrote:OA is A

Can you provide explanation for this?

Premise
1. Large trucks higher accident rate per mile.
2. 3 trailer trucks had less than 1/3 of the accident rate of single and double trailer trucks.

Conclusion: Increase use of 3 trailer trucks to reduce number of accidents.

Assumption: The conclusion that the shipping companies use more 3 trailer trucks, assumes that 3 trailer trucks are inherently safer than 2 or 1 trailer trucks. One easy way to weaken is to find another reason for why 3 trailer trucks have a lower accident rate.

(A) does that. (A) points out that 3 trailer trucks are involved in fewer accidents because they use a safer route compared to 2 and 1 trailer trucks. Attacks the assumption.

Hope that helps.

karthikpandian19 wrote:OA is A

Can you provide explanation for this?

This is the problem I was talking about : https://www.manhattangmat.com/forums/par ... 13451.html

In the nation of Partoria,large trucks currently have much higher rate of traffic accidents per mile driven than other vehicles do. - facts, premise
However, the very largest trucks- those with three trailers- had less than a third of the accident rate of single and double trailer trucks. - facts, counter premise
clearly, therefore,one way for Partoria to reduce the number of traffic accidents would be to require shippers to increase their use of triple trailer trucks. - conclusion

Here, the argument states a causality.
increase is use of triple trailer trucks ( cause) ------------> reduce the number of traffic accidents (effect).


To support this causality, the author present a statistics -- > the very largest trucks- those with three trailers- had less than a third of the accident rate of single and double trailer trucks

So if the validity of the statistics is weakened, then we are at the same time weakening the causality ( here it is the conclusion).

A exactly does that. It is questioning the validity of the statistics from which we are drawing the causality. It is not proving that the statistics are wrong, but it shows the root cause that is not going to solve the issue at hand.

I don't think there is any other option that is as close as to this one.

Hope this helps !!

The Reasoning behind (A)

The CR argues that triple large trucks increase will bring down the number of accidents


(A) refutes that.. The highway is the safest and the triple large trucks plies there where as not all large trucks do. Now if the triple trucks go to smaller roads it can cause more accidents than other large trucks do

Would like to understand the implication of Choice C. Is it irrelevant here?

Thanks.