hard · Gre Verbal

A city transit authority notes that on the days its buses run most punctually, ridership is highest, while on days plagued by delays, ridership drops. The authority concludes that improving punctuality will, by itself, increase overall ridership. Which of the following, if true, most seriously WEAKENS the authority's reasoning? Options: A. Riders who abandon the bus on a delayed day frequently return to it on the next punctual day. B. Buses tend to run most punctually on clear, mild days, which are precisely the days on which more residents choose to travel for any reason. C. Some residents who never ride the bus report that they would consider doing so if service were more reliable. D. The transit authority has recently secured funding earmarked specifically for punctuality improvements. E. On days with severe delays, the authority receives a sharp increase in written complaints from riders.

1. Riders who abandon the bus on a delayed day quite frequently return to riding it again on the very next punctual day.
2. Buses tend to run most punctually on clear, mild days, which are precisely the days on which more residents choose to travel for any reason.
3. Some residents who currently never ride the bus at all report that they would seriously consider doing so if the service were more reliable.
4. The transit authority has recently secured a dedicated pool of funding earmarked specifically for on-time punctuality improvements across its routes.
5. On days marred by severe delays, the authority reliably receives a sharp increase in the volume of written complaints filed by frustrated riders.

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