- PowerScore Staff
- Posts: 8916
- Joined: Feb 02, 2011
- Tue Jan 28, 2020 4:06 pm
#73608
Complete Question Explanation
Resolve the Paradox - EX. The correct answer choice is (A).
The stimulus presents an odd fact pattern - after Jimmy got a new, energy efficient gas water heater, his gas bills went up instead of going down. It's no surprise that the stem is about resolving this apparent paradox, but read carefully so you don't miss that this is actually a Resolve-EXCEPT question. That means the four wrong answers will help to resolve the paradox, and the correct answer will not help. So anything that explains the increased gas bills is a loser and should be crossed out.
Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer choice. Rather than resolving the paradox, if this answer does anything it is to make the situation even more confusing. We would probably expect the new heater to use a lower percentage of the total gas used than the old one did, because it is energy efficient. As this answer does nothing the help, it is the correct answer.
Answer choice (B): More people in the house could explain higher bills, as Jimmy's Uncle will likely take hot showers, cook on the gas stove if they have one, etc. This helps explain why the bills went up and is, therefore, a loser.
Answer choice (C): While Jimmy's hot water costs likely went down, a new gas dryer could explain greater overall gas usage in the house and thus higher bills.
Answer choice (D): Higher rates can certainly explain higher bills, even if Jimmy is using less gas than he was before thanks to his spiffy new water heater.
Answer choice (E): Higher gas usage due to the cold weather could explain higher bills, notwithstanding that the water heater is more efficient. This helps, so it is a loser.
Resolve the Paradox - EX. The correct answer choice is (A).
The stimulus presents an odd fact pattern - after Jimmy got a new, energy efficient gas water heater, his gas bills went up instead of going down. It's no surprise that the stem is about resolving this apparent paradox, but read carefully so you don't miss that this is actually a Resolve-EXCEPT question. That means the four wrong answers will help to resolve the paradox, and the correct answer will not help. So anything that explains the increased gas bills is a loser and should be crossed out.
Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer choice. Rather than resolving the paradox, if this answer does anything it is to make the situation even more confusing. We would probably expect the new heater to use a lower percentage of the total gas used than the old one did, because it is energy efficient. As this answer does nothing the help, it is the correct answer.
Answer choice (B): More people in the house could explain higher bills, as Jimmy's Uncle will likely take hot showers, cook on the gas stove if they have one, etc. This helps explain why the bills went up and is, therefore, a loser.
Answer choice (C): While Jimmy's hot water costs likely went down, a new gas dryer could explain greater overall gas usage in the house and thus higher bills.
Answer choice (D): Higher rates can certainly explain higher bills, even if Jimmy is using less gas than he was before thanks to his spiffy new water heater.
Answer choice (E): Higher gas usage due to the cold weather could explain higher bills, notwithstanding that the water heater is more efficient. This helps, so it is a loser.