Which sentence is the most precise public problem statement?

• Buses on Route 4 are 15 minutes late every morning.
• Town riders dislike several bus routes.
• Buses across the town have problems, and passengers want better service.

A city council says, 'People are frustrated about downtown.' Is this a precise public problem statement?

• Yes; the place and feeling tell us the problem and its timing.
• No; it names a place but leaves the cause of frustration and timing unclear.
• No; a public problem statement must name a preferred solution as well as a place.

A policy can create a side effect that its own supporters did not intend.

In this made-up estimate, a bus lane costs $2,000 a year and a car ban costs $5,000 a year. The chart uses thousands of dollars. How many thousand dollars less does the bus lane cost?

In a made-up library estimate, early closing costs $800 a month and ends evening access. Later closing costs $1,200 a month and keeps evening access. Which comparison uses both benefits and costs?

• Later closing costs less and keeps evening access, so it provides evening visits for less money.
• Later closing keeps evening access, but early closing costs less.
• Both plans keep evening access, so early closing provides evening visits at a lower monthly cost.

A town limits parking near a library to 20 minutes so more visitors can find spaces. Some drivers need longer stays. Which possible side effect should the town check?

• Those drivers may park on nearby streets instead.
• All visitors will find open parking spaces whenever they arrive.
• Every visit to the library will end within the parking limit.

A town wants to address frequent car accidents near the park at 3pm. Which next step best follows the compare-alternatives approach?

• Ban cars across town now, then check costs and effects afterward.
• Build a fence near the park now, then compare it with other plans after the fence is finished.
• Compare possible plans for benefits, burdens, costs and side effects.

Amir compares two plans for park litter. Moving bins costs less than adding bins. He says, 'Moving bins must be better because it costs less.' What is missing from his reasoning?

• He should choose the more expensive plan because higher cost proves it will remove more litter.
• He should count only the money saved because costs reveal all effects on people using the park.
• He needs evidence about litter reduction and burdens as well as the money cost.