PrepTest 152, Section 1, Question 11
As part of a project to enhance the(85 more words not shown)
Which one of the following(13 more words not shown)
- AThe transit authority(12 more words not shown)
- BThe transit authority(17 more words not shown)
- CIn the enhancement(14 more words not shown)
- DUnless a subway(29 more words not shown)
- EThe new subway(17 more words not shown)
Reading the argument
A grand new station sounds attractive, but is that the best use of the money? The city might also need parks or street improvements. As the argument develops, though, the decision becomes narrower: what kind of station should we build?
My next question is why the connection has to be a tunnel. Could some other connection fit the budget? Perhaps not, but we haven't been told. More directly, why should connecting the lines take priority over the majestic design?
What we’re looking for
We're granted that the tunnel would make the station much more convenient. We don't need to deny that benefit. The missing step is that the benefit is worth giving up some grandeur to obtain. For a principle supporting the recommendation, I'd look for a reason to put commuter convenience first.
Working the answers
- A
Spending less than the available budget doesn't explain why we should trade majestic design for a tunnel. A cheaper station without the tunnel might also meet A's rule. And the argument doesn't require spending less than the budget rather than using the full budget on a different design. The needed principle concerns what to prioritize within the limit.
- B
Considering a convenient addition isn't the same as choosing it. The authority could consider the tunnel, recognize its benefit, and still decide that the majestic design matters more. B doesn't tell us why convenience should win that tradeoff.
- CCorrect
The tunnel improves commuter convenience, while a more modest station sacrifices some majestic design. C tells us to favor the former over the latter. Given that the budget cannot increase, that priority directly supports redesigning the station so the connection can be included.
- D
This points toward abandoning the project if the authority cannot satisfy both demands within budget. The author recommends a compromise: keep the station and connection, but use a more modest design. A rule for giving up doesn't justify that choice.
- E
This addresses my broad initial question about the best use of the city's money. But the argument we're supporting concerns one station design versus another. Showing that a station should beat other similarly priced projects doesn't establish whether that station should be majestic without a tunnel or modest with one.
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