Single correct option
The best summary of the following paragraph:
Urban planners have long assumed that wider roads reduce traffic congestion by increasing capacity. Longitudinal studies across dozens of cities complicate this assumption: when road capacity expands, total vehicle-miles travelled tends to rise roughly in proportion, a phenomenon researchers call induced demand, because drivers who previously avoided a route, travelled at off-peak times, or used alternative transport now find driving on the widened road attractive enough to switch. The net effect, several years out, is often congestion levels similar to those before the expansion, achieved with substantially more traffic than before.
Urban planners have long assumed that wider roads reduce traffic congestion by increasing capacity. Longitudinal studies across dozens of cities complicate this assumption: when road capacity expands, total vehicle-miles travelled tends to rise roughly in proportion, a phenomenon researchers call induced demand, because drivers who previously avoided a route, travelled at off-peak times, or used alternative transport now find driving on the widened road attractive enough to switch. The net effect, several years out, is often congestion levels similar to those before the expansion, achieved with substantially more traffic than before.
- A. Widening roads permanently solves traffic congestion in most cities studied.
- B. Road expansions increase congestion because construction work slows traffic during the building phase.
- C. Expanding road capacity tends to induce enough additional driving that congestion returns to similar levels, just with more total traffic than before.
- D. Cities should build fewer roads because driving is inherently harmful to the environment.
Show answer and solution
Answer: (C) Expanding road capacity tends to induce enough additional driving that congestion returns to similar levels, just with more total traffic than before.
The paragraph describes 'induced demand': added capacity draws more driving until congestion returns to similar levels but with more traffic overall. Option A is contradicted directly. Option B introduces a cause (construction delays) not mentioned. Option D draws an environmental conclusion the paragraph never makes.
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