Hi,

Here is the detailed solution:

The question asks us to find an option statement which is most strongly suggested by the passage. Therefore, the question is very similar to an inference question.

Facts of the case:
• Decline in manufacturing sets off a chain reaction.
• Decline in manufacturing -> Non-maintenance of Process-engineering expertise -> Difficulty in conducting research on next generation process technologies -> Inability to develop new products.

Prethinking:

The passage talks about a sequential cause-effect relationship in the form: A->B->C->D.

In this case, an inference of the form X->Y can be built from the information given, where X can be any event which precedes Y in the above chain reaction.

Analysis of Answer choices:

A. In the long term, an economy with a deteriorating infrastructure for advanced process engineering and with declining manufacturing activity will likely lose its ability to innovate. – Correct choice.We don’t know for sure what a decline in “advanced process engineering” could lead to, since the passage talks about “process engineering” in general. However, a declining manufacturing activity will necessarily lead to inability to develop new products or innovate. Therefore, this statement is supported by the information given in the passage.

B. To develop new products a company must never cut down its manufacturing. –The passage talks about manufacturing in a region, not a company, which may be spread over multiple regions. Thus, this option is incorrect.

C. An increase in the manufacturing activity in a region leads to increase in innovation within the region – While a decrease in manufacturing activity leads to decrease in innovation, we cannot infer what effect an increase in manufacturing activity will have. Thus, incorrect.

D. To develop new products, a company needs to frequently change its processes. – Without the word “frequently”, this option could have been attractive. Note that “frequent” change of processes as a prerequisite to develop new products cannot be inferred from the passage. Thus, incorrect.

E. An economy that has growing manufacturing capabilities will churn out more new products than other economies. – Again, like option D, we cannot infer about the effect of increasing manufacturing activity. Thus, Incorrect.

Hope this helps

Thanks,
Chiranjeev
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I also vote for A

B- too strong language
C the argument never said that
D didnt like the word frequently. Again , too strong language
E the argument never compared two economies
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The decline of manufacturing in a region sets off a chain reaction. Once manufacturing is outsourced, process-engineering expertise can’t be maintained, since it depends on daily interactions with manufacturing. Without process-engineering capabilities, companies find it increasingly difficult to conduct advanced research on next-generation process technologies. Without the ability to develop such new processes, they find they can no longer develop new products.

decline in manufacturing initiates chain reaction
Manufacturing outsourcing -> decline process Eng expertise -> decline adv research new process tech -> new prod dev decline


Which of the following is best supported by the passage?

A. In the long term, an economy with a deteriorating infrastructure for advanced process engineering and with declining manufacturing activity will likely lose its ability to innovate. incorrect- passage does not talks about infrastructure for advanced process engineering
B. To develop new products, a company must never cut down on its manufacturing. correct- pass fact test
C. An increase in the manufacturing activity in a region leads to increase in innovation within the region not necessarily true
D. To develop new products, a company needs to frequently change its processes. not supported by the passage
E. An economy that has growing manufacturing capabilities will churn out more new products than other economies. not supported by the passage
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The conclusion is : Without the ability to develop such new processes, they find they can no longer develop new products.

I think that D is best supported by the conclusion since changing its processes is the same as bringing new processes. Hence, a company needs to frequently change its processes in order to develop new products ..
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The answer seems to be A)

For those stating that the economy is not being referred. The para starts with 'declining manufacturing in the region'. Option A) is the statement that covers the all the arguments mentioned in the para.

Good Day !

Hi,

Your reasoning is mostly correct. However, option B talks about a company while the passage just talk about "regions". Therefore, B is incorrect.

Also, refer the detailed explanations to see why A is correct.

Happy learning!

Thanks.
Chiranjeev
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Hi,

You got into a trap

This option could have been a very close option choice without the word "frequently". This word spoils the game

Refer to the detailed solution posted above to understand the nuances of this.

Thanks
Chiranjeev
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