It is widely known that the rescue squads serving high mountain areas with treacherous weather save the lives of many...

MikeM on June 13, 2021

Hello. I am not an instructor but I can explain why I picked the right answer (E).

So the conclusion of the argument is that the only way to significantly reduce the number of fatalities on these mountains is to abolish the rescue squad. The paradox: Why would abolishing a rescue squad that saves lives result in a DECREASE in deaths?

Answer E states: "The lower the risk of climbing a particular mountain is perceived to be, the greater the number of less competent climbers who attempt to climb it." The way I interpreted this answer choice was by asking myself how people would see mountain climbing if they heard that they would no longer be rescued if they had any problems up there? This would definitely increase the perceived risk of the activity, and the answer choice states that if this were the case, then LESS incompetent climbers would attempt the mountain - resulting in a decrease of deaths caused from inexperienced climbers (which would logically make up a significant number of deaths).

In this way, this answer makes it more clear how abolishing a rescue squad would result in less mountain deaths.

FS101 on July 3, 2021

Thank you!