On Most Side Streets in the United States, the Speed Limit

Question: On most side streets in the United States, the speed limit is 25 miles per hour unless otherwise posted. Traffic studies demonstrate that automobile drivers will go faster on side streets for which a speed limit of 25 miles per hour is posted than drivers will go on side streets for which no speed limit signs are posted. Psychologists believe that this is the case because simply seeing a speed limit sign makes drivers go faster because they feel less personally responsible for operating their vehicles at speeds appropriate to the conditions of the road.

Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the psychologists' explanation of the above mentioned studies?

1. The studies included both younger and older drivers, ranging from 16 to 89 years of age.
2. Drivers who feel personally responsible for operating their vehicles at speeds appropriate to the conditions of the road tend to drive faster when no pedestrians are present than they do when pedestrians are present.
3. In the vast majority of the cases in the traffic studies, those who drove slower did not feel personally responsible for operating their vehicles at speeds appropriate to the conditions of the road.
4. For the most part, drivers who feel personally responsible for operating their vehicles at speeds appropriate to the conditions of the road drive slower than those who do not feel personally responsible for operating their vehicles at speeds appropriate to the conditions of the road.
5. Generally, drivers will go faster on roads with higher posted speed limits than they will on roads with lower posted speed limits.

On Most Side Streets in the United States, the Speed Limit –  is a GMAT Critical question. This particular GMAT Critical Reasoning topic has been taken from the book ‘Manhattan prep GMAT Critical Reasoning 6th Edition’. This is an weaken the argument question where we need to first break down the argument. In this particular topic, candidates need to choose the option that best suits the passage. GMAT critical reasoning tests the logical and analytical skills of the candidates. This topic requires candidates to find the strengths and weaknesses of the argument, or find the logical flaw in the argument. The GMAT CR section contains 10 -13 GMAT critical reasoning questions out of 36 GMAT verbal questions.

Answer: B
Explanation: This is a GMAT critical reasoning question of the group strengthen the argument. Candidates need to look for option that strengthens the argument in the passage. In case it is wrong or maybe disable the argument.
Let us analyse the assumptions to get the correct one that fits the argument.

1. The studies included both younger and older drivers, ranging from 16 to 89 years of age.
   There are no such age limits mentioned in the passage. Thus, this option is incorrect.
2. Drivers who feel personally responsible for operating their vehicles at speeds appropriate to the conditions of the road tend to drive faster when no pedestrians are present than they do when pedestrians are present.
   This is the correct answer, as the passage concludes by saying that drivers who were personally responsible for the operating vehicle will drive faster when there is no pedestrian and will drive slowly when there is a pedestrian.
3. In the vast majority of the cases in the traffic studies, those who drove slower did not feel personally responsible for operating their vehicles at speeds appropriate to the conditions of the road.
   This is totally wrong as we can see what is happening from the passage itself.
4. For the most part, drivers who feel personally responsible for operating their vehicles at speeds appropriate to the conditions of the road drive slower than those who do not feel personally responsible for operating their vehicles at speeds appropriate to the conditions of the road.
   It is said that drivers who see the speed limit tend to drive fast because they feel personally less responsible. So this option is wrong.
5. Generally, drivers will go faster on roads with higher posted speed limits than they will on roads with lower posted speed limits.
   There isn’t any such thing, making it incorrect.

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