C it is.

The argument:

Electric car: cost of manufacturing and Operate is cheaper
The Price different of gas per gallon between Electric car and Gas car still the same.

Basically, since electric car now cheaper to operate we expect the different in gas price to be reduced. But what if Gas car also cheaper to operate? Then ofcourse both are better, both are cheaper by the same amount then there is no reason for the different in gas price to change.

A is incorrect because the premise said: "Nevertheless, the cost per gallon of gasoline at which it would become more economical to operate an electric car than a regular gas-powered car has remained unchanged."

The cost of gasoline remained unchanged. If according to A, the price of gas dropped, surely this cost should have dropped as well. A contradicts the premise.

Hi Folks,

Let's apply the Kaplan method here.

Step 1: Identify the Question Type. The word 'explain' gives it away--this is an Explain question. That means that we are not dealing with an argument--there is no evidence, assumption, or conclusion. Rather, we have two facts that appear to contradict--and that's what we'll look for.

Step 2: Untangle the Stimulus. This is a tricky prompt, and there seems to be some trouble understanding it. The prompt references "the cost per gallon of gasoline at which it would become more economical to operate an electric car than a regular gas-powered". And this point has nothing do do with the actual price of gas!

Although picking numbers is usually a math strategy, it can also be useful in situations like this to illustrate a complex stimulus. In this case, let's imagine that an electric car costs $5000 more than a gas car. And let's imagine that the electric burns 1000 gallons less fuel over its lifetime.

If gas costs $5/gallon, then these to cars are a financial wash. The $5000 you spent on the electric car is exactly canceled by the $5 * 1000 dollars you save on gasoline. On the other hand, gas at $4 means you lose money on an electric car, and gas at $6 means you save money with an electric car. In other words, the actual value of gas is completely irrelevant to the prompt itself--we're talking about a hypothetical price that tells us which car is more efficient!

So now that we've decoded the prompt, we can paraphrase it--or, specifically, paraphrase the contradiction. In this case, we know two things: that electric cars have improved in an absolute sense, but that price point remains the same. Thus, our paraphrase is

"The efficiency of electric cars has improved in absolute terms, but it hasn't improved relative to gas-powered cars."

Step 3: Predict an Answer

Once we've boiled it down to these terms, the answer should jump out at us. How could electric cars improve in efficiency, but still not be better than gas cars? The gas cars must be getting better too!

Step 4: Evaluate the answer choices.

So now we know what we're looking for: something that shows how gas-powered cars are becoming more efficient. With that prediction in mind, (C) stands out as the best match and the correct answer.
_________________

Eli Meyer
Kaplan Teacher
http://www.kaptest.com/GMAT

Prepare with Kaplan and save $150 on a course!



Kaplan Reviews

KapTeacherEli

Good explanation thank you!

My was C before reading the great explanation

Good explanation by Kaplan Teacher Eli. Kudos to you !!

I choose C, but I went the other way. Let me know, If I am incorrect.
We are looking for Cost per gallon of Gasoline. If everything is compared taking base as Gasoline, then change in Gasoline price will affect the cost of both equally. So , its ONLY the efficiency of cars that is going to creat a difference.

Moreover, I just got a catch of Manhattan SC Guide, that Economical : Thrifty, Efficient. Had it been Economic, the scenario would have been different. (Dont know how far this fact helps to solve the problem )
_________________

Regards,
Invincible...
"The way to succeed is to double your error rate."
"Most people who succeed in the face of seemingly impossible conditions are people who simply don't know how to quit."

we are comapring two cars here:
electric cars and regular fuel cars....
question : cost to run and maintain electric cars has gone down == but breakeven has point has not changed ..
it can only happen if regualr fuel cars have improved .... hence c

I would go with C.

Over the last five years, technological improvements have significantly reduced the cost of manufacturing and operating electric-powered cars. Nevertheless, the cost per gallon of gasoline at which it would become more economical to operate an electric car than a regular gas-powered car has remained unchanged.

Which of the following, if true, would do the most to explain why electric cars have become cheaper to operate but break-even point between electric and gas cars has not changed?

A) The price per gallon of gasoline has dropped by 25% over the last five years.
B) Electric-car manufacturers have managed to reduce production costs despite an increase in some raw material prices.
C) Improvements in aerodynamics have made regular gas-powered cars more efficient to operate.
D) Relative to the number of gas-powered cars, there are very few electric cars on the road today.
E)When the price of gasoline rises, more people are willing to take public transportation to work.

MY answer is C.....
OPTION A is wrong because from the paragraph it says gasoline cars are economical ,from that we cannot say gasoline price is cheap...ambiguity of the price is there
OPTION B is also wrong because only production cost is reduced but to what extent,it is not mentioned that the price is comparable to gasoline cars
OPTION D cannot be the answer because question is different
OPTION E cannot be the answer because question is different

I posted an explanation earlier in the thread; take a look, and let me know if you have any specific questions!
_________________

Eli Meyer
Kaplan Teacher
http://www.kaptest.com/GMAT

Prepare with Kaplan and save $150 on a course!



Kaplan Reviews

Hi kapilhede,

Can you explain what you mean by "intertwined?"
_________________

Eli Meyer
Kaplan Teacher
http://www.kaptest.com/GMAT

Prepare with Kaplan and save $150 on a course!



Kaplan Reviews