Group 4 Question 19: The RP-12 telecommunication satellite...

1: reason
2: states that the first may not a reason.
=> E

The RP-12 telecommunication satellite has veered substantially from its intended orbit. The reason for this is a glancing collision with a piece of debris from another satellite that malfunctioned two weeks ago. Telescope images reveal that the RP-12 has a precisely circular dent 3 inches in diameter; this shape could not have been the result of contact with a meteoroid or other naturally occurring space object.

In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

(A) The first is a premise that is used to support an unstated conclusion; the second is another premise used to support the same conclusion.
(B) The first is a premise used to support the argument’s conclusion; the second is that conclusion.
(C) The first is the argument’s conclusion; the second is a premise used to support that conclusion.
(D) The first is the argument’s conclusion; the second is another conclusion that can be inferred from the first one.
(E) The first is the argument’s conclusion; the second is a piece of information used to confirm the possibility of alternate conclusions.

first is conclusion and second is a claim

A & B - eliminate

D - second is not a conclusion and its a claim, cant be inferred from first

E - second is not support alternate conclusion

answer should be - C
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IMO: C - the first boldface is the argument's main conclusion (reason for the veered orbit) and the second boldface rules out alternate explanation, accordinly supports the main conclusion.

(A) The first is not a premise but conclusion; the second is another premise used to support the same conclusion. not true.
(B) The first is not a premise but conclusion; not true.
(C) The first is the argument’s conclusion; the second is a premise used to support that conclusion. This is true.
(D) The first is the argument’s conclusion; the second is not another conclusion. Not true.
(E) The first is the argument’s conclusion; the second is a piece of information used to confirm the possibility of alternate conclusions. There is no alternate solution. Not true.

Ans. C

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How come the first is conclusion?

The reason for this = because

Can you put 'therefore' test?

Official Explanation:

The RP-12 telecommunication satellite has veered substantially from its intended orbit. The reason for this is a glancing collision with a piece of debris from another satellite that malfunctioned two weeks ago. Telescope images reveal that the RP-12 has a precisely circular dent 3 inches in diameter; this shape could not have been the result of contact with a meteoroid or other naturally occurring space object.

In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

(A) The first is a premise that is used to support an unstated conclusion; the second is another premise used to support the same conclusion.
(B) The first is a premise used to support the argument’s conclusion; the second is that conclusion.
(C) The first is the argument’s conclusion; the second is a premise used to support that conclusion.
(D) The first is the argument’s conclusion; the second is another conclusion that can be inferred from the first one.
(E) The first is the argument’s conclusion; the second is a piece of information used to confirm the possibility of alternate conclusions.

Question Type: Bold Face CR
Boil It Down: The RP-12 satellite veered off course because it ran into debris from another satellite. We know this because it has a dent that could only be caused by another satellite, and not a meteoroid or space object.
Goal: Find the option that best shows the purpose of each bold face section.

Analysis:

This question asks us to explain the function of the boldfaced portions.

Conclusion: The RP-12 is off its orbit because it collided with debris from another satellite.

Premise: The shape of a dent on the RP-12 could not have been caused by other space objects.

The analysis above points to the correct choice. Because of the shape of the dent (premise), we know that the RP-12 was hit by debris from another satellite (conclusion). As choice C states, the conclusion is the first boldfaced portion, and this is supported by the second portion, which is the premise.

(A) The first is a premise that is used to support an unstated conclusion; the second is another premise used to support the same conclusion.
The first part is not a premise; it is a conclusion. There is no unstated conclusion.

(B) The first is a premise used to support the argument’s conclusion; the second is that conclusion.
This reverses the function of the two portions.

(C) The first is the argument’s conclusion; the second is a premise used to support that conclusion.
This is the correct choice. As described in the analysis above, the first portion is a conclusion – it concludes that the satellite veered off-course because of a collision with parts of another satellite.

(D) The first is the argument’s conclusion; the second is another conclusion that can be inferred from the first one.
The second portion is not a conclusion – it is a premise (evidence).

(E) The first is the argument’s conclusion; the second is a piece of information used to confirm the possibility of alternate conclusions.
The second portion does not confirm alternates; it rules them out.


Don’t study for the GMAT. Train for it.
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Mo2men

First is a position taken by authors and later all sentences or statement intended to support that position. so First bold face can be a conclusion.
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Dear GMATGuruNY,

Can you please shed light on the role of first sentence in the question above?

Thanks

Boldface 1:
The reason for this -- the fact that the RP-12 telecommunication satellite has veered substantially from its intended orbit -- is a glancing collision with a piece of debris from another satellite that malfunctioned two weeks ago.

WHY does the argument contend that DEBRIS caused the RP-12 to veer from its intended orbit?

Boldface 2:
This shape -- a circular dent 3 inches in diameter -- could not have been the result of contact with a meteoroid or other naturally occurring space object.

Boldface 2 explains why Boldface 1 is believed to be true.
Thus:
BF1 = conclusion
BF2 = premise
The correct answer is C:
The first is the argument’s conclusion; the second is a premise used to support that conclusion.


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I still dont understand why the sentences starting with " the reason for this, since, because,"without any ambiguity can be the conclusion. We often see sentences starting "Thus, since........,..." or " therefore , since.......,....". But this is not like that.
Furthermore , why is this sentence converging the conclusion and the premise in BF1 and taking it as a conclusion?

Experts, please help me!!!

Thanks GMATGuruNY for youe keen reply and support.

I still have unclear question about BF1. If I try to apply 'therefore' test between the BF1 and the previous sentence, then I do es not give senscial meaning. How come is BF1 a conclusion? Can you elaborate or do I miss something?

Thanks in advance

In everyday writing, this may serve to stand in for not a specific noun but for an IDEA or FACT expressed in a preceding sentence.
Mary was a good student. This pleased her mother.
Here, this = the fact expressed in the preceding blue sentence.
The sentence in green conveys the following meaning.
THE FACT THAT MARY WAS A GOOD STUDENT pleased her mother.
Note:
Generally, this sort of usage is not permissible in a Sentence Correction.




The RP-12 telecommunication satellite has veered substantially from its intended orbit. The reason for this is a glancing collision with a piece of debris from another satellite that malfunctioned two weeks ago.
In BF1, this = the fact expressed in the preceding blue sentence.
As a result, BF1 conveys the following meaning:
The reason for the fact that the RP-12 telecommunication satellite has veered substantially from its intended orbit is a glancing collision with a piece of debris from another satellite that malfunctioned two weeks ago.
Essentially, the blue sentence serves as an ANTECEDENT for this.
As a result, it constitutes not a premise separate from BF1 but PART OF THE MEANING expressed by BF1.
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To confirm whether you have correctly identified the conclusion, apply the WHY TEST:
1. Ask why the apparent conclusion is true
2. The rest of the argument should provide an answer

In my earlier post, I explain that the first sentence in this CR serves as an ANTECEDENT for the usage of this in BF1.
As a result, BF1 expresses the following meaning:
The reason for the fact that the RP-12 telecommunication satellite has veered substantially from its intended orbit is a glancing collision with a piece of debris from another satellite that malfunctioned two weeks ago.

Applying the WHY TEST to BF1, we get:
WHY is it true that a glancing collision with a piece of debris must be responsible for the fact that the RP-12 telecommunication satellite has veered substantially from its intended orbit?

The rest of the argument provides an answer:
Telescope images reveal that the RP-12 has a precisely circular dent 3 inches in diameter; this shape could not have been the result of contact with a meteoroid or other naturally occurring space object.

BF1 passes the WHY TEST and thus constitutes the conclusion.
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