Urban designer Mia Chen advocates for narrower streets in residential areas. She argues that narrower streets naturally slow traffic, making neighborhoods safer for pedestrians and cyclists without requiring expensive traffic-calming infrastructure.
Which data would most directly support Chen's argument?
Residents prefer living on quieter streets
Building wider streets costs more per mile
Many European cities have narrow streets
Neighborhoods with streets under 28 feet wide had 30% fewer pedestrian injuries and average vehicle speeds 15 mph lower than neighborhoods with 40-foot-wide streets
Correct Answer: D
Choice D is the best answer. Direct measurement shows both slower traffic and improved safety on narrow streets.
- Context clues: Chen claims narrower streets "slow traffic" and are "safer."
- Evidence evaluation: 15 mph slower (traffic claim) + 30% fewer injuries (safety claim).
- Verify: Real neighborhood data proves both claims simultaneously.
💡 Strategy: Claims with multiple effects need evidence confirming all components.
Choice A is incorrect because preference doesn't prove safety outcomes. Choice B is incorrect because construction cost is separate from safety claims. Choice C is incorrect because European street existence doesn't prove safety benefits.