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Among the myths taken as fact by the environmental managers of most
[#permalink]
Updated on: 31 May 2024, 05:20
Updated on: 31 May 2024, 05:20
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91
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Question 1
00:00
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B
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D
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Difficulty:
35%
(medium)
based on 7962 sessions
64% (02:51) correct
36%
(02:53) wrong
Question 2
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E
Difficulty:
25%
(medium)
based on 7835 sessions
71% (01:35) correct 29%
(01:37) wrong
Question 3
00:00
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Difficulty:
5%
(low)
based on 7647 sessions
78% (01:00) correct 22%
(01:14) wrong
Question 4
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Difficulty:
15%
(low)
based on 7383 sessions
69% (00:46) correct 31%
(00:56) wrong Among the myths taken as fact by the environmental managers of most corporations is the belief that environmental regulations affect all competitors in a given industry uniformly. In reality, regulatory costs—and therefore compliance—fall unevenly, economically disadvantaging some companies and benefiting others. For example, a plant situated near a number of larger non-compliant competitors is less likely to attract the attention of local regulators than is an isolated plant, and less attention means lower costs.
Additionally, large plants can spread compliance costs such as waste treatment across a larger revenue base; on the other hand, some smaller plants may not even be subject to certain provisions such as permit or reporting requirements by virtue of their size. Finally, older production technologies often continue to generate toxic wastes that were not regulated when the technology was first adopted. New regulations have imposed extensive compliance costs on companies still using older industrial coal-fired burners that generate high sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide outputs, for example, whereas new facilities generally avoid processes that would create such waste products. By realizing that they have discretion and that not all industries are affected equally by environmental regulation, environmental managers can help their companies to achieve a competitive edge by anticipating regulatory pressure and exploring all possibilities for addressing how changing regulations will affect their companies specifically.
Additionally, large plants can spread compliance costs such as waste treatment across a larger revenue base; on the other hand, some smaller plants may not even be subject to certain provisions such as permit or reporting requirements by virtue of their size. Finally, older production technologies often continue to generate toxic wastes that were not regulated when the technology was first adopted. New regulations have imposed extensive compliance costs on companies still using older industrial coal-fired burners that generate high sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide outputs, for example, whereas new facilities generally avoid processes that would create such waste products. By realizing that they have discretion and that not all industries are affected equally by environmental regulation, environmental managers can help their companies to achieve a competitive edge by anticipating regulatory pressure and exploring all possibilities for addressing how changing regulations will affect their companies specifically.
1. It can be inferred from the passage that a large plant might have to spend more than a similar but smaller plant on environmental compliance because the larger plant is
(A) more likely to attract attention from local regulators
(B) less likely to be exempt from permit and reporting requirements
(C) less likely to have regulatory costs passed on to it by companies that supply its raw materials
(D) more likely to employ older production technologies
(E) more likely to generate wastes that are more environmentally damaging than those generated by smaller plants
2. According to the passage, which of the following statements about sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide outputs is true?
(A) Older production technologies cannot be adapted so as to reduce production of these outputs as waste products.
(B) Under the most recent environmental regulations, industrial plants are no longer permitted to produce these outputs.
(C) Although these outputs are environmentally hazardous, some plants still generate them as waste products despite the high compliance cost they impose.
(D) Many older plants have developed innovative technological processes that reduce the amounts of these outputs generated as waste products.
(E) Since the production processes that generate these outputs are less costly than alternative processes, these less expensive processes are sometimes adopted despite their acknowledged environmental hazards.
3. Which of the following best describes the relationship of the statement about large plants in the highlighted text to the passage as a whole?
(A) It presents a hypothesis that is disproved later in the passage.
(B) It highlights an opposition between two ideas mentioned in the passage.
(C) It provides examples to support a claim made earlier in the passage.
(D) It exemplifies a misconception mentioned earlier in the passage.
(E) It draws an analogy between two situations described in the passage.
4. The primary purpose of the passage is to
(A) address a widespread environmental management problem and suggest possible solutions
(B) illustrate varying levels of compliance with environmental regulation among different corporations
(C) describe the various alternatives to traditional methods of environmental management
(D) advocate increased corporate compliance with environmental regulation
(E) correct a common misconception about the impact of environmental regulations
OG 2019 ID's:
RC00272-02
RC00272-04
RC00272-06
RC00272-07
Magoosh GMAT Instructor
Joined: 28 Dec 2011
Posts: 4490
Given Kudos: 130
Re: Among the myths taken as fact by the environmental managers of most
[#permalink]
22 Feb 2017, 12:32
22 Feb 2017, 12:32
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Expert Reply
zoezhuyan wrote:
Hi mikemcgarry or other experts,
I was confused with choice D in Question 54
54. Which of the following best describes the relationship of the statement about large plants (lines 18-26) to the passage as a whole?
(A) It presents a hypothesis that is disproved later in the passage.
(B) It highlights an opposition between two ideas mentioned in the passage.
(C) It provides examples to support a claim made earlier in the passage.
(D) It exemplifies a misconception mentioned earlier in the passage.
(E) It draws an analogy between two situations described in the passage.
IMO , "addition", the first word in paragraph 2, implies same level as the content preceding "addition".
here is an example which proves the main idea, so I view the comparison of larger company and smaller as an example to prove the main idea.
Please point out my faults.
Thanks in advance
have a nice day
>_~
I was confused with choice D in Question 54
54. Which of the following best describes the relationship of the statement about large plants (lines 18-26) to the passage as a whole?
(A) It presents a hypothesis that is disproved later in the passage.
(B) It highlights an opposition between two ideas mentioned in the passage.
(C) It provides examples to support a claim made earlier in the passage.
(D) It exemplifies a misconception mentioned earlier in the passage.
(E) It draws an analogy between two situations described in the passage.
IMO , "addition", the first word in paragraph 2, implies same level as the content preceding "addition".
here is an example which proves the main idea, so I view the comparison of larger company and smaller as an example to prove the main idea.
Please point out my faults.
Thanks in advance
have a nice day
>_~
Dear zoezhuyan,
I'm happy to respond.
You are correct that "additionally" continues the line of argument. You are correct that the passage began with stating a misconception, then stating what is really true. We got one example, and after the word "additionally," we get another example. But these are examples of what?? Let's think about this carefully.
Misconception: Environmental regulations have the same effect on all companies.
Truth: Environmental regulations have vastly different effects on different companies.
Example #1: location can affect how much or little regulatory attention a company gets
(then the word "additionally")
Example #2: size matters: big vs. small companies also are affected differently
Those are examples of what? They are examples of how different companies are affected by environmental regulations in different ways. In other words, they are examples of the "Truth" that we listed above. They are NOT examples of the "misconception"--in fact, they are all counterexamples to the "misconception." Choice (D) has it exactly backwards! These are NOT examples of the misconception: quite to the contrary, they are examples demonstrating that the misconception is wrong.
Does all this make sense?
Mike
Current Student
Joined: 14 Nov 2016
Posts: 1165
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Re: Among the myths taken as fact by the environmental managers of most
[#permalink]
03 Oct 2017, 07:27
03 Oct 2017, 07:27
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eybrj2 wrote:
Among the myths taken as fact by the environmental managers of most corporations is the belief that environmental regulations affect all competitors in a given industry uniformly. In reality, regulatory costs—and therefore compliance—fall unevenly, economically disadvantaging some companies and benefiting others. For example, a plant situated near a number of larger non-compliant competitors is less likely to attract the attention of local regulators than is an isolated plant, and less attention means lower costs. Additionally, large plants can spread compliance costs such as waste treatment across a larger revenue base; on the other hand, some smaller plants may not even be subject to certain provisions such as permit or reporting requirements by virtue of their size. Finally, older production technologies often continue to generate toxic wastes that were not regulated when the technology was first adopted. New regulations have imposed extensive compliance costs on companies still using older industrial coal-fired burners that generate high sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide outputs, for example, whereas new facilities generally avoid processes that would create such waste products. By realizing that they have discretion and that not all industries are affected equally by environmental regulation, environmental managers can help their companies to achieve a competitive edge by anticipating regulatory pressure and exploring all possibilities for addressing how changing regulations will affect their companies specifically.
3. Which of the following best describes the relationship of the statement about large plants (lines 12-17) [Additionally, large plants can spread compliance costs such as waste treatment across a larger revenue base; on the other hand, some smaller plants may not even be subject to certain provisions such as permit or reporting requirements by virtue of their size.] to the passage as a whole?
(A) It presents a hypothesis that is disproved later in the passage.
(B) It highlights an opposition between two ideas mentioned in the passage.
(C) It provides examples to support a claim made earlier in the passage.
(D) It exemplifies a misconception mentioned earlier in the passage.
(E) It draws an analogy between two situations described in the passage.
(A) It presents a hypothesis that is disproved later in the passage.
(B) It highlights an opposition between two ideas mentioned in the passage.
(C) It provides examples to support a claim made earlier in the passage.
(D) It exemplifies a misconception mentioned earlier in the passage.
(E) It draws an analogy between two situations described in the passage.
Passage: Environmental Regulations
Question: Passage Structure
The Simple Story
EMs (environmental managers) mistakenly believe that environmental regulations affect all competitors equally. This author asserts that the effects are unequal. Various examples are given; then the passage concludes that EMs would do a better job if they paid attention to how regulations affect their own specific companies, not just the industry at large.
Note that this passage follows a classic structure: The author disagrees with what some or most people believe, provides evidence or examples to support that disagreement, and then possibly discusses some consequence or follow-on analysis of the true situation.
Sample Passage Map
Here is one way to map this passage. (Note: abbreviate as desired!)
P1: Myth: most EMs think env regs affect all equally.
BUT diff firms affected differently
P2: (eg)
EMs = better job, comp adv if realize this
Note (eg) is an abbreviation for “examples are given at this point in the passage.”
Step 1: Identify the Question
The question asks you to determine the relationship of a particular statement to the passage as a whole. This language signals a hybrid question about the structure of the overall passage. You’ll need to understand the specific text referenced in the context of the primary purpose or overall point of the passage.
Step 2: Find the Support
First, remind yourself of the overall point of the passage: contrary to popular belief, environmental regulations typically apply unequally to companies in the same industry, resulting in competitive advantages or disadvantages.
Next, review the referenced text in lines 12 through 17:
“Additionally, large plants can spread compliance costs such as waste treatment across a larger revenue base; on the other hand, some smaller plants may not even be subject to certain provisions such as permit or reporting requirements by virtue of their size.”
Step 3: Predict an Answer
This statement indicates particular advantages that a plant may enjoy based on its size. Larger plants can spread costs across their larger revenue base, so per-unit costs are lower. At the same time, larger plants might be subject to certain requirements that smaller plants don’t even have to follow in the first place.
This information serves to support the author’s main idea: these regulations can apply unequally and therefore result in advantages or disadvantages for different companies.
Step 4: Eliminate and Find a Match
(A) The cited text is not disproved later in the passage. In fact, the cited text serves as support for the author’s main point.
(B) The passage does convey some opposition: there is a common misconception, on one hand, and the author’s conflicting view, on the other hand. The cited text, however, does not highlight the opposition between the two ideas. Rather, it provides support specifically for the author’s view.
(C) CORRECT. This choice matches the predicted answer. The referenced sentence does provide examples that serve to support the author’s main claim (which was indeed made earlier in the passage).
(D) The misconception is that regulations affect all competitors equally. The text in lines 12 to 17 does not support that misconception; rather, that text contradicts the misconception.
(E) The purpose of the cited text is to provide support for the author’s main point. This text does not draw an analogy between two situations described elsewhere in the passage.
