The Harinagar municipal council claims that the speed breakers put up on Mill Road have made it safer, since accidents on the road fell from 30 last year to 12 this year.
Which of the following, if true, most weakens the council's claim?

The speed breakers on Mill Road are painted with white stripes.Correct answerYour answerAccidents also happen on other roads in Harinagar.Correct answerYour answerSome drivers complain that the speed breakers slow them down.Correct answerYour answerMill Road was closed to traffic for six months this year for pipeline work.Correct answerYour answer

Show the answer and explanation

CorrectNot quiteAnswer D

Correct answer: D

The claim credits the speed breakers with the fall in accidents.
If the road was closed for half the year, there was far less traffic, which by itself would cut accidents. That weakens the claim.
The paint, accidents elsewhere and drivers' complaints do not bear on why accidents on Mill Road fell.

Worth noting

Slowing drivers down is in fact what speed breakers are meant to do, so that complaint does not weaken the safety claim.

Concept: An alternative explanation for a fall in numbers
Typical timeTypical: 70 s
Your timeYours: —

The rule this testsArguments: strengthen and weaken

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Ten questions from Statements, Conclusions and Assumptions, at your own pace.

The Harinagar municipal council claims that the speed breakers put up on Mill Road have made it safer, since accidents on the road fell from 30 last year to 12 this year.Which of the following, if true, most weakens the council's claim?

Explanation

The Harinagar municipal council claims that the speed breakers put up on Mill Road have made it safer, since accidents on the road fell from 30 last year to 12 this year.
Which of the following, if true, most weakens the council's claim?