Methods of Reasoning Questions - - Question 7

The Transit Authority's proposal to increase fares by 40 percent must be implemented. Admittedly, this fare increase ...

July 10, 2024

Got the Answer Right, Need Help Wither Another Answer

Sometimes I don't understand all the answer choices. I got the question right, I picked C. But I did not understand the answer D. This is a problem sometimes when the only answer choice I don't understand happens to be the correct answer. The question was: The Transit Authority's proposal to increase fares by 40 percent must be implemented. Admittedly, this fare increase will impose a hardship on some bus and subway riders. But if the fare is not increased, service will have to be cut severely and that would result in an unacceptably large loss of ridership. Answer D: It explains why the recommended course of action would not be subject to the objections raised against the alternative. Answer D looks like a word salad. What are the possible objections against the alternative, the alternative being the service cuts and the decrease in ridership if I understand correctly? And then these objections would not be raised against raising the fare? Please help.

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Emil-Kunkin July 15, 2024

You would benefit from trying to tie each phrase into a part of the passage, if possible. Note that in a wrong answer, it's entirely possible if not probably that the thing described in an answer choice will simply not be in the passage.

I would start by trying to imagine what each phrase would mean.

A recommended course of action is something that one has suggested be done. Here the author is suggesting that we do raise fares.

The alternative is just another option. There is another option raised in the passage: reducing service.

So what D is saying is that it explains why raising fares would not be subject to the objections raised against cutting service.

The objections against cutting service is that it would lead to an unacceptable loss of ridership. Since the author never explains why raising fares would not lead to loss of ridership, d is incorrect.

I think this method of going clause by clause and tying to the passage really can help with the terribly abstract answer choices like D.

July 15, 2024

Thank you :)