tracyyahoo wrote:
Several industries have recently switched at least partly from older technologies powered by fossil fuels to new technology powered by electricity. It is thus evident that less fossil fuel is being used as a result of the operations of these industries than would have been used if these industries had retained their older technologies.
Which of the following, if true, most strengthen the argument above?
(A) Many of the industries that have switched to at least partly to new technologies have increased their output.
(B) Less fossil fuel was used to manufacture the machinery employed in the new technologies than was originally used to manufacture the machinery employed in the older technologies.
(C) More electricity is used to by those industries that have switched at least partly to the new technologies than by those industries that have not switched.
(D) Some of the industries that have switched at least partly to the new technologies still use primarily technologies that are powered by fossil fuel.
(E) The amount of fossil fuel used to generate the electricity needed to power the new technologies is less than amount that would have been used to power the older technologies.
ARGUMENT CONSTRUCTION:
Shift in technology happens from Older to Newer but not in all of the factory rather in phases.
This **** is quite intresting because , there is also shift of power source for the new technology.
So in all less fossil fuel is burned compared to situation when the technology was old.
Conclusion, precisely is that
Hey u know because of advancement in technology powered by alternate source of energy , Comp are burning less fossil fuel
When can we say somegting is less than the other thing. Only if we can know their quantities. So
Assumption: The amt of fossil fuel
burnt before the new tech was introduced is
more than the amt of fossil fuel burnt
after the new tech was introduced.
Answer Choice Analysis:
(A) Many of the industries that have switched to at least partly to new technologies have increased their output.
If the O/p is increased then net effect of saving fossil fuel is vanished,
So , Incorrect(B) Less fossil fuel was used to manufacture the machinery employed in the new technologies than was originally used to manufacture the machinery employed in the older technologies.
First, the argument is concerned with industries that have switched their technology and amount of fossil fuel burnt by them before and after the switch.
This option talks about new tech machinery vs old tech machine employed in such industries( where change took place). All we know is the fossil fuel used to manufacture was less. But does it give us any idea of how much fossil fuel is saved or burnt to run this machine where this machine is installed. No
It could be that to power new tech we many need to burn more or same fossil fuel.
So incorrect(C) More electricity is used to by those industries that have switched at least partly to the new technologies than by those industries that have not switched.
Its in line of the argument because new tech employed is powered by electricity so obviously we would see such increase in electricity consumption, but again do we know amount of Fossil Fuel burnt to meet the increased demand of electricity. It could be more or less .
So Incorrect(D) Some of the industries that have switched at least partly to the new technologies still use primarily technologies that are powered by fossil fuel.
If this were inference question , it would be nearly close answer. Since we are looking for a strengthener, we want some
new information that would strengthen the argument..
So Incorrect. (E) The amount of fossil fuel used to generate the electricity needed to power the new technologies is less than amount that would have been used to power the older technologies
Yes , Correct, because the only left option in the answer choices
.
Logically: This option is clear mathematical term explaining inequality.
The amount of fossil fuel used to generate the electricity needed to power the new technologies <The amount of fossil fuel used to generate the energy(or if we want to think of energy as electricity) needed to power the older technology.
For some how I wanted to bring this information because this question reminds me of something that can be very helpful for those who prethink .
What are the characteristics of a strengthener.
1. New Information
and
2.this New Information must support the Conclusion
but,
3 this new information supporting the conclusion "May or may not be always be true for the
conclusion to hold true"
And Option E .
Yes its a new information and yes it supports the conclusion, increasing our belief in authors argument (conclusion). But what is noteworthy here is that this New information is also an assumption that author makes to conclude his argument. This new information
must always be true for the conclusion to hold true.
So Every Assumption is a strengthener but every strengthener is not an assumption.
Thanks,
Probus.
_________________
Probus
~You Just Can't beat the person who never gives up~ Babe Ruth