Find all School-related info fast with the new School-Specific MBA Forum

 It is currently 24 Jun 2016, 20:40

### GMAT Club Daily Prep

#### Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

# Events & Promotions

###### Events & Promotions in June
Open Detailed Calendar

# Photovoltaic power plants produce electricity from sunlight.

Author Message
TAGS:

### Hide Tags

Director
Joined: 24 Oct 2005
Posts: 659
Location: London
Followers: 1

Kudos [?]: 12 [0], given: 0

Photovoltaic power plants produce electricity from sunlight. [#permalink]

### Show Tags

18 May 2006, 08:02
00:00

Difficulty:

(N/A)

Question Stats:

0% (00:00) correct 0% (00:00) wrong based on 1 sessions

### HideShow timer Statistics

Photovoltaic power plants produce electricity from sunlight. As a result of astonishing recent technological advances, the cost of producing electric power at photovoltaic power plants, allowing for both construction and operating costs, is one-tenth of what it was 20 years ago, whereas the corresponding cost for traditional plants, which burn fossil fuels, has increased. Thus, photovoltaic power plants offer a less expensive approach to meeting demand for electricity than do traditional power plants.
The conclusion of the argument is properly drawn if which one of the following is assumed?
(A) The cost of producing electric power at traditional plants has increased over the past 20 years.
(B) Twenty years ago, traditional power plants were producing 10 times more electric power than were photovoltaic plants.
(C) None of the recent technological advances in producing electric power at photovoltaic plants can be applied to producing power at traditional plants.
(D) Twenty years ago, the cost of producing electric power at photovoltaic plants was less than 20 times the cost of producing power at traditional plants.
(E) The cost of producing electric power at photovoltaic plants is expected to decrease further, while the cost of producing power at traditional plants is not expected to decrease.

Other than by POE, can anybody explain why you chose your answer?
Intern
Joined: 04 May 2006
Posts: 15
Location: Indiana
Followers: 0

Kudos [?]: 0 [0], given: 0

### Show Tags

18 May 2006, 09:01
remgeo wrote:
Photovoltaic power plants produce electricity from sunlight. As a result of astonishing recent technological advances, the cost of producing electric power at photovoltaic power plants, allowing for both construction and operating costs, is one-tenth of what it was 20 years ago, whereas the corresponding cost for traditional plants, which burn fossil fuels, has increased. Thus, photovoltaic power plants offer a less expensive approach to meeting demand for electricity than do traditional power plants.
The conclusion of the argument is properly drawn if which one of the following is assumed?
(A) The cost of producing electric power at traditional plants has increased over the past 20 years.
(B) Twenty years ago, traditional power plants were producing 10 times more electric power than were photovoltaic plants.
(C) None of the recent technological advances in producing electric power at photovoltaic plants can be applied to producing power at traditional plants.
(D) Twenty years ago, the cost of producing electric power at photovoltaic plants was less than 20 times the cost of producing power at traditional plants.
(E) The cost of producing electric power at photovoltaic plants is expected to decrease further, while the cost of producing power at traditional plants is not expected to decrease.

Other than by POE, can anybody explain why you chose your answer?

Well, from the conclusion "photovoltaic power plants offer a less expensive approach to meeting demand for electricity than do traditional power plants" we can infer that photovoltaic power plants were NOT as expensive or cheaper than trad. plants 20 years ago. The only way we can justify that photo. power plants will be cheaper than trad. ones is if the cost of trad. plants keep increasing or remain the same AND if the cost of photo power plants keep decreasing. Hence, E.
Senior Manager
Joined: 09 Mar 2006
Posts: 445
Followers: 1

Kudos [?]: 8 [0], given: 0

### Show Tags

18 May 2006, 09:13
The only one that can be considered is B, however it is dubious and highly disputable.

What is OA and where is this question taken from?
Intern
Joined: 04 May 2006
Posts: 15
Location: Indiana
Followers: 0

Kudos [?]: 0 [0], given: 0

### Show Tags

18 May 2006, 09:52
remgeo wrote:
Photovoltaic power plants produce electricity from sunlight. As a result of astonishing recent technological advances, the cost of producing electric power at photovoltaic power plants, allowing for both construction and operating costs, is one-tenth of what it was 20 years ago, whereas the corresponding cost for traditional plants, which burn fossil fuels, has increased. Thus, photovoltaic power plants offer a less expensive approach to meeting demand for electricity than do traditional power plants.
The conclusion of the argument is properly drawn if which one of the following is assumed?
(A) The cost of producing electric power at traditional plants has increased over the past 20 years.
(B) Twenty years ago, traditional power plants were producing 10 times more electric power than were photovoltaic plants.
(C) None of the recent technological advances in producing electric power at photovoltaic plants can be applied to producing power at traditional plants.
(D) Twenty years ago, the cost of producing electric power at photovoltaic plants was less than 20 times the cost of producing power at traditional plants.
(E) The cost of producing electric power at photovoltaic plants is expected to decrease further, while the cost of producing power at traditional plants is not expected to decrease.

Other than by POE, can anybody explain why you chose your answer?

OA pls??
Senior Manager
Joined: 15 Mar 2005
Posts: 419
Location: Phoenix
Followers: 2

Kudos [?]: 21 [0], given: 0

### Show Tags

18 May 2006, 09:57
The assertion in the para is
Photovoltaic electricity is 1/10th of what it was 20 years ago. Traditional plants cost more now, compared to 20 years ago. Thus photovoltaic cells offer a less expensive approach to electricity (now).

It has not been mentioned how much more expensive the traditional plants have become.

The assertion would be possible if the photovoltaic electricity was less than 10 times (or even exactly 10 times) the traditional sources, 20 years ago.

A) Doesn't add any value - it exists in the para already.
B) Irrelevant - we're talking about the cost of electricity, and not the amount.
C) Relevant. If the tech advances, that have led to the price drop of photo electricity, can be applied to traditional plants, photo electricity might not seem less expensive. Appears to be a good answer.
D) Very relevant. However, photoelectricity was 20 times more expensive, and has dropped in cost to 1/10, and that still makes it twice as expensive as traditional plants, on 20-yr-old prices. If the traditional plants have doubled costs, this would hold true, but since we're not given that info, we would have to drop this.
E) Irrelevant - we're not concerned with future trends.

Thus I'd go with C.
_________________

Who says elephants can't dance?

Manager
Joined: 10 May 2006
Posts: 126
Followers: 3

Kudos [?]: 15 [0], given: 0

### Show Tags

18 May 2006, 10:02
remgeo wrote:
Photovoltaic power plants produce electricity from sunlight. As a result of astonishing recent technological advances, the cost of producing electric power at photovoltaic power plants, allowing for both construction and operating costs, is one-tenth of what it was 20 years ago, whereas the corresponding cost for traditional plants, which burn fossil fuels, has increased. Thus, photovoltaic power plants offer a less expensive approach to meeting demand for electricity than do traditional power plants.
The conclusion of the argument is properly drawn if which one of the following is assumed?
(A) The cost of producing electric power at traditional plants has increased over the past 20 years.
(B) Twenty years ago, traditional power plants were producing 10 times more electric power than were photovoltaic plants.
(C) None of the recent technological advances in producing electric power at photovoltaic plants can be applied to producing power at traditional plants.
(D) Twenty years ago, the cost of producing electric power at photovoltaic plants was less than 20 times the cost of producing power at traditional plants.
(E) The cost of producing electric power at photovoltaic plants is expected to decrease further, while the cost of producing power at traditional plants is not expected to decrease.

Other than by POE, can anybody explain why you chose your answer?

"E". The author's conclusion is that "photovoltaic lectricity" will be more economical than "traditional electricity". This conclusion can only hold good if the cost of "photovoltaic electricity" continues to drop as compared with that of "traditional electricity".

"C" can also be the correct choice but it goes beyond the scope of the passage because the author doesn't state how expensive it will be to replace "traditional plants" with "photovoltaic plants".

"A", "B" and "D" talk about the past, which has no bearing on the future.
Senior Manager
Joined: 09 Mar 2006
Posts: 445
Followers: 1

Kudos [?]: 8 [0], given: 0

### Show Tags

18 May 2006, 11:14
I think I have to explain my previous post

A) Simply restates the fact already given in the passage, so it cannot be an assumption that lies behind it. Eliminated

B) If B is true, than this implies that photovoltaic plants were 10 times more expensive than traditional ones so today they should be cheaper than traditional. Lesser evil.

C) Obviously out of scope Eliminated

D) Simple math will help us to eliminate this one

E) Imagine that the cost of traditional plant is $X while the cost of the photovoltaic one is$10000X. I can hardly see how the expectation that
in the future the cost will decrease in $5 will make this option preferable. In other words you don't know their cost ratio, nor how significant the decrese will be , nor even whether it will be a one time decrease or a continued process. Eliminated Manager Joined: 10 May 2006 Posts: 126 Followers: 3 Kudos [?]: 15 [0], given: 0 [#permalink] ### Show Tags 18 May 2006, 14:02 deowl wrote: I think I have to explain my previous post A) Simply restates the fact already given in the passage, so it cannot be an assumption that lies behind it. Eliminated B) If B is true, than this implies that photovoltaic plants were 10 times more expensive than traditional ones so today they should be cheaper than traditional. Lesser evil. C) Obviously out of scope Eliminated D) Simple math will help us to eliminate this one E) Imagine that the cost of traditional plant is$X while the cost of the photovoltaic one is $10000X. I can hardly see how the expectation that in the future the cost will decrease in$5 will make this option preferable.
In other words you don't know their cost ratio, nor how significant the decrese will be , nor even whether it will be a one time decrease or a continued process. Eliminated

It doesn't imply anywhere that "Twenty years ago, traditional power plants were producing 10 times more electric power than were photovoltaic plants". No relation between "cost" and "production/usage" of electricity. "B" doesn't anywhere close to the argument and hence doesn't look like the correct answer.
Senior Manager
Joined: 07 Mar 2006
Posts: 352
Followers: 1

Kudos [?]: 26 [0], given: 1

### Show Tags

18 May 2006, 20:40
I'll go with C.
SVP
Joined: 30 Mar 2006
Posts: 1737
Followers: 1

Kudos [?]: 64 [0], given: 0

### Show Tags

18 May 2006, 23:13
Will go with C.
None of the answers choices are satisfactory,hence used POE with some logic. Let me elaborate.

The conclusion is "photovoltaic power plants offer a less expensive approach to meeting demand for electricity than do traditional power plants."

Mark the bold words....... DEMAND.
Other than cost we are talking about demand here.

The question asks us to assume something that will strengthen the conclusion.
A/D/E only talk about the cost not whether photovoltaic meets the demand.
B does talk about amount of power produced but only in traditional power plants.
Lets say using C we assume that the same technology cannot be copied by traditional power plants, hence traditional power plants cannot reduce their cost to produce.

Hope this makes sense.......(I know i did not complete the last sentence properly)
Manager
Joined: 03 May 2006
Posts: 52
Followers: 0

Kudos [?]: 2 [0], given: 0

### Show Tags

18 May 2006, 23:50
I go with C.

"As a result of astonishing recent technological advances"
Director
Joined: 13 Nov 2003
Posts: 790
Location: BULGARIA
Followers: 1

Kudos [?]: 42 [0], given: 0

### Show Tags

19 May 2006, 00:07
Also think it is C)
A) the cost of TPP has increased in the last 20 years but no reference is given to the initial level of cost so A can not help
B) 20 years ago TPP were producing 10 times more energy than PVP but we do not know at what cost so no evaluation of their effectiveness can be made
D) 20 years ago the cost of PVP <20 times cost of TPP. It can be 2 times it can be 19 times so D is out
E) The cost of PVP is expected to decrease further, but the cost of TPP is not. Again no reference is given about the initial costs so that a comparison of the effectivenes of both types of PP can be made.

SO C is best
VP
Joined: 21 Mar 2006
Posts: 1134
Location: Bangalore
Followers: 2

Kudos [?]: 33 [0], given: 0

### Show Tags

19 May 2006, 01:09
jaynayak wrote:
Will go with C.
None of the answers choices are satisfactory,hence used POE with some logic. Let me elaborate.

The conclusion is "photovoltaic power plants offer a less expensive approach to meeting demand for electricity than do traditional power plants."

Mark the bold words....... DEMAND.
Other than cost we are talking about demand here.

The question asks us to assume something that will strengthen the conclusion.
A/D/E only talk about the cost not whether photovoltaic meets the demand.
B does talk about amount of power produced but only in traditional power plants.
Lets say using C we assume that the same technology cannot be copied by traditional power plants, hence traditional power plants cannot reduce their cost to produce.

Hope this makes sense.......(I know i did not complete the last sentence properly)

one more for C
Director
Joined: 24 Oct 2005
Posts: 659
Location: London
Followers: 1

Kudos [?]: 12 [0], given: 0

### Show Tags

19 May 2006, 02:21
I got this question from the CR1000 doc.
The OA is given as D, and I do not have the OE.
Manager
Joined: 10 May 2006
Posts: 126
Followers: 3

Kudos [?]: 15 [0], given: 0

### Show Tags

20 May 2006, 10:42
remgeo wrote:
I got this question from the CR1000 doc.
The OA is given as D, and I do not have the OE.

How can "D" be correct? You can't explain the cost in the past justify a future trend. Who knows, maybe 6 months from now a feasible option to reduce the cost of "photovoltaic plants" may well be invented.

Don't rely on OA of CR, SC and RC 1000 questions as some of them are incorrect and nobody knows how the questions and answers were compiled in the first place.
VP
Joined: 29 Dec 2005
Posts: 1348
Followers: 8

Kudos [?]: 52 [0], given: 0

### Show Tags

20 May 2006, 21:59
remgeo wrote:
Photovoltaic power plants produce electricity from sunlight. As a result of astonishing recent technological advances, the cost of producing electric power at photovoltaic power plants, allowing for both construction and operating costs, is one-tenth of what it was 20 years ago, whereas the corresponding cost for traditional plants, which burn fossil fuels, has increased. Thus, photovoltaic power plants offer a less expensive approach to meeting demand for electricity than do traditional power plants.

The conclusion of the argument is properly drawn if which one of the following is assumed?

(A) The cost of producing electric power at traditional plants has increased over the past 20 years.
(B) Twenty years ago, traditional power plants were producing 10 times more electric power than were photovoltaic plants.
(C) None of the recent technological advances in producing electric power at photovoltaic plants can be applied to producing power at traditional plants.
(D) Twenty years ago, the cost of producing electric power at photovoltaic plants was less than 20 times the cost of producing power at traditional plants.
(E) The cost of producing electric power at photovoltaic plants is expected to decrease further, while the cost of producing power at traditional plants is not expected to decrease.

I donot see anything wrong with D.

Conclusion: Photovoltaic power plants are less expensive than traditional power plants.

Premise: the cost of producing electric power at photovoltaic power plants, allowing for both construction and operating costs, is 1/10th of what it was 20 years ago, whereas the corresponding cost for traditional plants, which burn fossil fuels, has increased.
suppose:

cost at P (20 yrs ago) = 1000
cost at P (now) = 100
cost at T (now) = 101

cost at T (20 yrs ago) = more than 50 but less than 101.

if "cost at T (20 yrs ago) = more than 50 but less than 101" holds, then only the conclusion is valid.

so D is the assumption...
Director
Joined: 26 Sep 2005
Posts: 576
Location: Munich,Germany
Followers: 1

Kudos [?]: 16 [0], given: 0

### Show Tags

29 May 2006, 04:48
totally agree with D
Intern
Joined: 17 Apr 2006
Posts: 1
Followers: 0

Kudos [?]: 0 [0], given: 0

### Show Tags

29 May 2006, 07:32
D is not correct as simple math can eliminate D.

C is the only relevane choice. I will go with C.
Director
Joined: 16 Aug 2005
Posts: 945
Location: France
Followers: 1

Kudos [?]: 17 [0], given: 0

### Show Tags

29 May 2006, 07:42
Answer is D ... used by Gmat quantitative skills

photovoltaic plants - Cost 20 years ago = 10x
photovoltaic plants - Cost today = x

cost at traditional plant 20 years ago = y
Today, cost > y

Now, if 10x < 20y
Then x < 2y
Similar topics Replies Last post
Similar
Topics:
Photovoltaic power plants produce electricity from sunlight. 4 25 Jun 2008, 11:28
1 Photovoltaic power plants produce electricity from sunlight. 3 14 Mar 2008, 07:06
Photovoltaic power plants produce electricity from sunlight. 6 27 Jan 2007, 02:09
Photovoltaic power plants produce electricity from sunlight. 12 08 Dec 2006, 23:15
Photovoltaic power plants produce electricity from sunlight. 11 17 Nov 2006, 04:30
Display posts from previous: Sort by