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Crowding on Mooreville’s subway

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by maihuna » Thu Dec 24, 2009 12:51 pm
Crowding on Mooreville's subway frequently leads to delays, because it is difficult for passengers to exit from the trains. Subway ridership is projected to increase by 20 percent over the next 10 years. The Metroville Transit Authority plans to increase the number of daily train trips by only 5 percent over the same period. Officials predict that this increase is sufficient to ensure that the incidence of delays due to crowding does not increase.
Which of the following, if true, provides the strongest grounds for the officials' prediction?

A. By changing maintenance schedules, the Transit Authority can achieve the 5 percent increase in train trips without purchasing any new subway cars.
B. The Transit Authority also plans a 5 percent increase in the number of bus trips on routes that connect to subways.
C. For most commuters who use the subway system, there is no practical alternative public transportation available.
D. Most of the projected increase in ridership is expected to occur in off-peak hours when trains are now sparsely used.
E. The 5 percent increase in the number of train trips can be achieved without an equal increase in Transit Authority operational costs.
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Source: — Critical Reasoning |

by Testluv » Thu Dec 24, 2009 1:58 pm
The correct answer is choice D. If choice D is true, then it is more likely than not that the 5% increase in daily trips will be able to accommodate the projected increase in ridership.
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by aa2kash » Thu Dec 24, 2009 3:13 pm
@Testluv: Can you explain me why B is wrong?
I am thinking if there are other transportation modes(buses etc..) then it can reduce the crowd at the subways.

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by mehravikas » Thu Dec 24, 2009 5:34 pm
You are the CR guru :-)
Testluv wrote:The correct answer is choice D. If choice D is true, then it is more likely than not that the 5% increase in daily trips will be able to accommodate the projected increase in ridership.
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by pandeyvineet24 » Thu Dec 24, 2009 5:49 pm
IMO D.
B i think if any weakens the plan, since it may increase the more number of riders on the subway.
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by ProGMAT » Thu Jul 31, 2014 8:33 am
I thought of this as: If any one of the option is true, it will support the prediction of the officials. So I'd selected C.

Experts, can you please throw some light on this question regarding what is being asked and options explanation!!
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by theCodeToGMAT » Thu Jul 31, 2014 9:09 am
A. By changing maintenance schedules, the Transit Authority can achieve the 5 percent increase in train trips without purchasing any new subway cars.
--> This option is rather focusing on alternative solution to proposed solution.. but we are seeking the justification of prediction. INCORRECT

B. The Transit Authority also plans a 5 percent increase in the number of bus trips on routes that connect to subways. ]
--> What is the guarantee that people will use road trips? INCORRECT


C. For most commuters who use the subway system, there is no practical alternative public transportation available.
--> This shows that people will use subways... so doesnt explain the prediction. INCORRECT


D. Most of the projected increase in ridership is expected to occur in off-peak hours when trains are now sparsely used.
--> This shows that the increase will effect that time frame which has very less occupancy. KEEP


E. The 5 percent increase in the number of train trips can be achieved without an equal increase in Transit Authority operational costs.
--> This option is rather focusing on alternative solution to proposed solution.. but we are seeking the justification of prediction. INCORRECT

Only {D}
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