4
Answer: BSet 4: Inferences (Intermediate)
Explanation
PASSAGE
Urban planners have observed that cities designed around cars—with wide highways and sprawling suburbs—often struggle with longer commute times than older cities with dense, walkable cores. Counter-intuitively, adding more highway lanes frequently fails to reduce congestion, as improved roads attract additional drivers.
What can be inferred about urban transportation planning?
A. Adding highways always reduces commute times.
B. Infrastructure decisions can create feedback loops that counteract intended benefits.✓ Correct
C. Dense cities always have worse traffic.
D. All drivers prefer suburban commutes.
Detailed Explanation
More lanes attract more drivers = counterproductive feedback loop. Intended benefit is negated.
Key Evidence:
• "fails to reduce congestion"
• "improved roads attract additional drivers"
Why others are wrong: A (Adding lanes often 'fails to reduce congestion.'), C (Dense cities have shorter commutes.), D (Preferences aren't discussed.).