following afternoon...

[Eric0936]

Tomorrow, bus service on XYZ Road will be changed between the hours of 9 A.M. and 12:30 P.M. The Chingay Parade will take place from 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M.

In the event of rain, the diversion will take place at 3:00 P.M. and the parade shortly after.

Question:
When will the parade take place if it rains?

A. In the afternoon
B. The following afternoon Answer: A

1.I wonder what the diversion means in this paragraph.
2.What does The following afternoon mean?
3.What does the parade shortly after mean?

Thanks in advance.

[Mordant]

I tend to think "diversion" refers to the temporary change in the bus route. To divert traffic means to place it on a different route. So, the bus service change will be pushed back to 3 p.m. if it rains earlier in the day.

"The following afternoon" means the next day in the afternoon.

"The parade shortly after" means the parade will take place soon after 3 p.m., when the bus route will be changed if rain affects the event.

[Eric0936]

Hi Mordant,
In the beginning, I thought following afternoon meant following the event(3 o'clock), so I chose this option.
Basicly, following morning, noon, afternoo...etc., mean the next day's time, dont' they?

Thanks for kindly reply.