Critical Reasoning

Hi gmatmachoman,

At any rate, choice D resolves the paradox: if a whole bunch of companies were exempt from measures that were supposed to stop them from polluting, it explains why pollutant levels were high up until and including 1988. Then, in 1989, after the scandal was exposed, these industries were no longer exempt from these measures, and so they had to abide by them--and that explains why the number of smog alerts declined.

Choice B does not resolve because increased accuracy could mean detecting previously undetectable ozone and carbon monoxide particles OR it could mean a reduced rate of mistakenly identifying particles as ozone and carbon monoxide even though they are not ozone and carbon monoxide. On the former interpretation, the paradox is deepened while on the latter interpretation, the paradox is resolved.

Mani_mba wrote:A question from 1000 CR.

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(D) In 1988 the mayor of Los Diablos was found to have accepted large campaign donations from local industries and to have exempted those same industries from air pollution control measures.
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IN D it accounts only for year 1988.SO what about 1987.Why does the pollution levels are on higher side in 1987?
IMO D partial accounts for the increased levels.

@Testluv ,I accept B has no role to play..But D also partial fulfills its job.

Am i missing anything here?

@Testluv...

Yeah 1000CR really hurts our prep on some cases....

Hi gmatmachoman,

In paradox questions, an answer choice resolves the moment it opens up the possibility of a logical explanation of the phenomenon.

In choice D, we learn that 1988 was the year that industries were found to be enjoying exemptions. This clearly allows for them to have been enjoying exemptions in years prior to 1988 as well. So choice D does provide an explanation. That is why it is wrong (remember is an EXCEPT question.)