GRE General TestVerbal ReasoningMedium
A recent study on urban planning indicated that while extensive public transportation networks are crucial for city sustainability, they are not a ______ for thoughtful land-use policies; without the latter, even the most robust transit system can become underutilized.
- Aculmination
- Bpanacea
- Ccorollary
- Dprecursor
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. panacea
The sentence states that public transportation networks are 'not a ______ for thoughtful land-use policies' and that 'without the latter, even the most robust transit system can become underutilized.' This implies that public transportation alone cannot solve all urban sustainability issues. A 'panacea' is a solution or remedy for all difficulties or diseases. Therefore, public transportation is not a complete cure-all without proper land-use policies.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. A culmination is the highest or climactic point of something; this doesn't make sense in the context.
- C. A corollary is a direct consequence or result; this doesn't fit the context of one thing not being a complete solution for another.
- D. A precursor is something that comes before; this doesn't fit the 'not a… for' structure implying a complete solution.
Cause and Effect Negation
This concept tests understanding of how a negative phrasing ('not a...') combined with a conditional clause ('without the latter...') impacts the cause-and-effect relationship between ideas.
- Look for explicit negation (e.g., 'not a', 'no').
- Identify the conditional clause (e.g., 'without X', 'if not for Y').
- Determine what effect is being stated as absent or insufficient, implying a complete solution is lacking.
Memory trick: No X, No Y, means X isn't the only way.