Answer:
Explanation:
To determine which hypotheses are plausible for explaining the traffic jam, let's evaluate each one:
1. **You were in a hurry this morning, and you forgot to bring your lucky rabbit's foot with you. That's why you are now stuck in traffic.**
- This is not a plausible hypothesis as it relies on superstition and personal belief rather than logical reasoning.
2. **Road repairs are being made today, and you didn't know about it.**
- This is a plausible hypothesis. Road repairs can lead to lane closures or reduced speed limits, causing traffic congestion.
3. **There is an accident ahead, which often causes traffic to slow.**
- This is a plausible hypothesis. Accidents are a common cause of traffic congestion as they can block lanes and slow down traffic flow.
4. **It is Friday the 13th, and you think that because this is considered a day for bad luck, that must be why there is a traffic jam.**
- This is not a plausible hypothesis as it relies on superstition and lacks a logical connection to the traffic jam.
5. **There is a sale at the mall near an exit up ahead, and everyone on the road is going to the sale.**
- This is a plausible hypothesis. Sales or events at shopping malls can attract large numbers of people, leading to increased traffic near the mall and potentially causing congestion on nearby roads.
Plausible hypotheses:
- Road repairs are being made today, and you didn't know about it.
- There is an accident ahead, which often causes traffic to slow.
- There is a sale at the mall near an exit up ahead, and everyone on the road is going to the sale.
These factors are commonly associated with traffic jams and provide reasonable explanations for the situation.