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Information and IdeasVery hardRecognising which comparison a claim requires

Information and Ideas practice question

Complaints received by two bus routes last year: Route 1: 60 complaints, 1,200,000 passengers Route 2: 45 complaints, 600,000 passengers

A transport official claims that Route 1 gave passengers less cause for complaint than Route 2. Which choice most effectively uses data from the table to support the claim?

  1. A. Route 1 received 5 complaints per 100,000 passengers, compared with 7.5 for Route 2.Correct
  2. B. Route 1 received more complaints than Route 2.
  3. C. Route 1 carried twice as many passengers as Route 2.
  4. D. Route 2 received 45 complaints.

Answer: A. Route 1 received 5 complaints per 100,000 passengers, compared with 7.5 for Route 2.

Per-passenger rates: 60/12 = 5 and 45/6 = 7.5 per 100,000.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. Route 1 received more complaints than Route 2.
Raw counts point the wrong way and ignore passenger numbers.
C. Route 1 carried twice as many passengers as Route 2.
Passenger numbers alone say nothing about complaints.
D. Route 2 received 45 complaints.
One figure, no comparison.

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