USFS Publications Director to County Commissioners of Western Colorado

Question

USFS Publications Director to County Commissioners of Western Colorado
July 1, 9:12 A.M.

Due to the pine beetle infestation in the Rocky Mountain National Forest in Colorado, the U.S. Forest Service is required to provide estimates of the number of acres affected and the numbers of dead trees per acre. These numbers are based on USFS aerial photos and county field observation reports.

Each county in Colorado must submit its field reports to the USFS by October 1, for the publication of statewide maps of the affected areas.

The Forest Service will compile the data from photos and county field observation reports for its annual report to Congress. Please see the attached list of counties that must comply with the reporting requirements. Counties with no Forest Service lands are not required to participate. Field observation reports must follow the designated format found in the document attached.

We rely on your cooperation to fulfill this reporting requirement and would remind you to take all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of your field observers in the infested areas.County Commissioner of Summit County in Response to USFS Publications Director’s E-mail of July 1
July 5, 11:45 A.M.

Regarding field observation reports of pine beetle infestation: our county budget has been reduced by the recent economic downturn. Will there be funds available for hiring field observers, data entry workers, and report writers? We estimate that compliance with the reporting requirements will cost an estimated $286,000. Please advise.USFS Publications Director in Response to Summit
County Commissioner’s E-mail of July 5
July 8, 7:30 A.M.

Our understanding is that reporting costs will be reimbursed to you based on a percentage of the actual number of affected acres in your county. Keep in mind that the number of affected acres in your county is based on last year’s estimates of total affected acreage. If you observe an increase, it must correlate with this year’s aerial photos to qualify for increased reimbursement costs. Current reimbursement costs are calculated at 70% of total acreage, with a per-acre reimbursement of $6.00.

Kushchokhani · Answer

1. D
Let a be the number of acres affected
286000=6*70/100*a
Solving for a, we get a=68096
Hence, answer is D.

2. The Summit County Commissioner plans to hire workers to provide reporting assistance to meet the Forest Service's requirements- Yes
The Forest Service is most likely to reimburse Summit County for 70% of its reporting costs- No ($6.00 per acre is an ad-hoc figure, which may be very different from the actual per acre cost incurred)
The Summit County Commissioner believes Summit County has experienced an increase over the previous year in the total number of forest acres affected by the pine beetle infestation- No

rajtare · Answer

Q1) since only 70% of the total expenses will be reimbursed hence, and additional rate used for estimation of cost will be $6, hence the total acreage can be calculated as: 286000*10/(6*7)
= 68,096
hence option D

Q2) 
 The Summit County Commissioner plans to hire workers to provide reporting assistance to meet the Forest Service's requirements. -   YES  as he shares an intent in his email to usfs publication director
 The Forest Service is mostly like to reimburse Summit County for 70% of its reporting costs. -   YES  Can be informed from the USFS publication director's email to county commissioner
 The Summit County Commissioner believes Summit County has experienced an increase over the previous year in the total number of forest acres affected by the pine beetle infestation.- NO  as no such information is available in the passage to support this fact

wadhwakaran · Answer

1 
The total reimbursement = 286000
Reimbursement per affected acre = 6
Total No. of affected acres= 286000/6
Affected acres= 70% of total acres
286000/6= 70/100*T
T=2860000/42
T=68095.23
(Option D)

2
The Summit County Commissioner plans to hire workers to provide reporting assistance to meet the Forest Service's requirements.  YES

The Forest Service is mostly like to reimburse Summit County for 70% of its reporting costs.  NO

The Summit County Commissioner believes Summit County has experienced an increase over the previous year in the total number of forest acres affected by the pine beetle infestation.  NO

Archit3110 · Answer

1. Suppose that Summit County completes the reporting required by the Forest Service, and its reporting costs total $286,000. If all of the information in the three e-mails is accurate, in order for Summit County to be reimbursed for its entire reporting costs, the number of acres affected by the pine beetle infestation in the county would have to be closest to:

A. 29,762
B. 33,092
C. 47,667
D. 68,096
E. 72,132

compensation is given by 70% of total acreage, with a per-acre reimbursement of $6.00.
0.7* total acreage *6 = 286,000
total acreage = 65,096
OPTION D

2. Consider each of the following statements. Does the information in the three sources support the inference as stated?

The Summit County Commissioner plans to hire workers to provide reporting assistance to meet the Forest Service's requirements.

YES

The Forest Service is mostly like to reimburse Summit County for 70% of its reporting costs.
 NO

The Summit County Commissioner believes Summit County has experienced an increase over the previous year in the total number of forest acres affected by the pine beetle infestation.
 NO

Arm007 · Answer

1. Suppose that Summit County completes the reporting required by the Forest Service, and its reporting costs total $286,000. If all of the information in the three e-mails is accurate, in order for Summit County to be reimbursed for its entire reporting costs, the number of acres affected by the pine beetle infestation in the county would have to be closest to:

A. 29,762
B. 33,092
C. 47,667
D. 68,096
E. 72,132

1Q: 
Given: Cost of report = $286000
Let the total number of affected acreage be x: 
Reimbursement from USFS will be provided for 70% of x and at $6 per acre
So net reimbursement = 0.7*x*6 = 0.42x
now 0.42*x = 286000
=> x = 68905.23

So  Option D.

2Q:
Yes No 
Statement 1:
The Summit County Commissioner plans to hire workers to provide reporting assistance to meet the Forest Service's requirements:  No.

Since the reimbursement is based on no. of affected areas, and there is no way to know prior to reporting about the # of affected areas, and due to budget cuts, it's highly unlikely that Summit County Commissioner will plan to hire workers to provide reporting assistance. He just made an inquiry and nothing is mentioned about him hiring workers.

Statement 2:
The Forest Service is mostly like to reimburse Summit County for 70% of its reporting costs:  No.

The extent of reimbursement would depend on the #no of affected acreage. If it's very high the USFC could potentially reimburse the entire amount and if none of it is affected then they might not reimburse anything. Hence nothing can be inferred from the emails.

Statement 3:
m The Summit County Commissioner believes Summit County has experienced an increase over the previous year in the total number of forest acres affected by the pine beetle infestation:  No.

We could argue that the the Summit County Commissioner believes that the total number of forest acres affected by the pine beetle infestation has changed, could have decreased or increased, over the previous year, and hence he needs funds to check that but cannot conclude that it has only increased.

av1901 · Answer

1. Suppose that Summit County completes the reporting required by the Forest Service, and its reporting costs total $286,000. If all of the information in the three e-mails is accurate, in order for Summit County to be reimbursed for its entire reporting costs, the number of acres affected by the pine beetle infestation in the county would have to be closest to:

A. 29,762
B. 33,092
C. 47,667
D. 68,096
E. 72,132

Total amount compensated  = 286000 
Per acre compensation  = 6

Total acres compensated =  \frac{286000}{6}

Now, it is mentioned in the third email that  Current reimbursement costs are calculated at 70% of total acreage 
=> Let actual number of affected acres (total acreage)  = x

Therefore:  \frac{70}{100}* x = \frac{286000}{6} 
 x = \frac{286000*100}{6*70} = 68095.24  (approximately)

Answer - D (68096)

2. Consider each of the following statements. Does the information in the three sources support the inference as stated?

The Summit County Commissioner plans to hire workers to provide reporting assistance to meet the Forest Service's requirements.

Yes! In Tab 2: E-mail #2, The Summit County Commissioner mentions that their funds have been reduced due to economic reasons and whether funds will be available for carrying out the reporting by hiring the people appropriate for the job. By asking whether funds will be available, the commissioner is indicating/implying that the department does indeed want to hire workers for assistance but does not have the money to do the same

YES

The Forest Service is mostly like to reimburse Summit County for 70% of its reporting costs.

Yes! In Tab 3: E-mail #3, The Forest Service clearly mentions that all reporting costs will be reimbursed based on the percentage of actual acres affected and the current reimbursement costs are 70% of the total acreage affected

YES

The Summit County Commissioner believes Summit County has experienced an increase over the previous year in the total number of forest acres affected by the pine beetle infestation.

No, in Tab 3: E-mail #3, although the Forest Service mentions (in general) that any County that experienced an increase in affected acreage has to mention and the same has to be matched with the report and the aerial photos but nowhere has it been asked or mentioned by the Summit County commissioner regarding increase in affected acreage

NO

Answer:

The Summit County Commissioner plans to hire workers to provide reporting assistance to meet the Forest Service's requirements.

YES

The Forest Service is mostly like to reimburse Summit County for 70% of its reporting costs.

YES

The Summit County Commissioner believes Summit County has experienced an increase over the previous year in the total number of forest acres affected by the pine beetle infestation.

NO

UtkarshAnand · Answer

1. ANSWER D

.7 * x(no.of acres affected) * 6(dollars per acre) = $286000
On solving, x = 68096 (approx.)

2. A. The Summit County Commissioner plans to hire workers to provide reporting assistance to meet the Forest Service's requirements.
YES
(As per 2nt statement of E-mail 2)

B. The Forest Service is mostly like to reimburse Summit County for 70% of its reporting costs.
NO.
Nowhere mentioned.

C. The Summit County Commissioner believes Summit County has experienced an increase over the previous year in the total number of forest acres affected by the pine beetle infestation.
NO.
Nowhere mentioned.

pintukr · Answer

1. Suppose that Summit County completes the reporting required by the Forest Service, and its reporting costs total $286,000. If all of the information in the three e-mails is accurate, in order for Summit County to be reimbursed for its entire reporting costs, the number of acres affected by the pine beetle infestation in the county would have to be closest to:

Since , reimbursement @ $6 for 70% of affected acreage, we get $286000/ (o,7 x 6) = 68095

Hence, (D) is the CORRECT answer

A. 29,762
B. 33,092
C. 47,667
  D. 68,096  
E. 72,132

2. Consider each of the following statements. Does the information in the three sources support the inference as stated?

The Summit County Commissioner plans to hire workers to provide reporting assistance to meet the Forest Service's requirements.

YES (Mail #2 )

The Forest Service is mostly like to reimburse Summit County for 70% of its reporting costs.

No (Mail #2 & Mail #3)

The Summit County Commissioner believes Summit County has experienced an increase over the previous year in the total number of forest acres affected by the pine beetle infestation.

No (Mail #3)

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Hello Everyone

OA to this question is:

1. D
2. Yes, No, and No.

The official answers are posted in the question thread. Official Explanation will be posted at 8:30 am. Thank you everyone for participating in this competition. The final result will be available on the main thread at 7 am Pacific tomorrow.

Good luck with your GMAT Prep.

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

1. Suppose that Summit County completes the reporting required by the Forest Service, and its reporting costs total $286,000. If all of the information in the three e-mails is accurate, in order for Summit County to be reimbursed for its entire reporting costs, the number of acres affected by the pine beetle infestation in the county would have to be closest to:

Explantion

The third e-mail tells us that the reimbursement cost is $6 per acre. To cover its report costs completely, Summit County would have to be reimbursed for $286,000 ÷ $6, or about 47,667 affected acres. The Forest Service only reimburses counties for 70% of their total affected acreage. To receive reimbursement for 47,667 acres, Summit County would have to have a total acreage larger than 47,667. To determine the amount, divide 47,667 by 70%, or 0.70. The answer is approximately 68,096. If Summit County had a total of 68,096 affected acres, it could be reimbursed for 68,096 × 0.70, or 47,667 acres.

Answer: D

2. Consider each of the following statements. Does the information in the three sources support the inference as stated?

Explantion

The Summit County Commissioner plans to hire workers to provide reporting assistance to meet the Forest Service's requirements.

The first inference is supported by the information in the three sources. The second e-mail indicates that the Summit County Commissioner has estimated costs for meeting the reporting requirements. A total of $286,000 will be spent to hire field observers, data entry workers, and report writers.

Answer: Yes

The Forest Service is mostly like to reimburse Summit County for 70% of its reporting costs.

The second inference is not supported by the information in the three sources. The Forest Service instructs the County Commissioner on how reimbursements are calculated. No mention is made of the exact reporting costs for Summit County or the total number of affected acres. Therefore, the reimbursement percentage cannot be determined.

Answer: No

The Summit County Commissioner believes Summit County has experienced an increase over the previous year in the total number of forest acres affected by the pine beetle infestation.

The third inference is not supported by the information in the three sources. This statement is not suggested in any of the three sources.

Answer: No

cpucci · Answer

Can someone explain why 2.a is YES? The commissioner never mentioned that he plans to hire workers, he only asked if will they be provided with money to comply, as he does not have any. Furthermore, the response is that they MIGHT get some money back, so I just don't get how someone asking if they will receive money for hiring, and receiving an answer of "maybe a little bit" would imply that he is actually planning to hire workers.

If we follow the definition of planning "decide on and make arrangements for in advance." we can see that none of those are met.

Thanks in advance.

If we follow the definition of planning "decide on and make arrangements for in advance." we can see that none of those are met.

Thanks in advance.

AkshayDang · Answer

Nice Question by Gmat Club. Thanks to team Gmat Club for support.

siddhantvarma · Answer

I'd like to suggest an edit to the official Answer for Q2, second statement:

"The Forest Service is mostly like to reimburse Summit County for 70% of its reporting costs.

The second inference is not supported by the information in the three sources. The Forest Service instructs the County Commissioner on how reimbursements are calculated. No mention is made of the exact reporting costs for Summit County or the total number of affected acres. Therefore, the reimbursement percentage cannot be determined."

I think the only reason why we answer is NO for this statement is because the statement talks about reporting costs, whereas we only know the reimbursement cost based on total accreage.

From the third tab: "Current reimbursement costs are calculated at 70% of total acreage, with a per-acre reimbursement of $6.00."
So we most certainly know reimbursement costs as a percentage of total acreage would definitely by 70%.

The official answer should be edited to:
"The second inference is not supported by the information in the three sources. The Forest Service instructs the County Commissioner on how reimbursements are calculated as a percentage of total acreage. No mention is made of the exact reporting costs for Summit County. Therefore, the reimbursement percentage on reporting costs cannot be determined."

The above is more accurate.

USFS Publications Director to County Commissioners of Western Colorado

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Yes	No
		The Summit County Commissioner plans to hire workers to provide reporting assistance to meet the Forest Service's requirements.
		The Forest Service is mostly like to reimburse Summit County for 70% of its reporting costs.
		m The Summit County Commissioner believes Summit County has experienced an increase over the previous year in the total number of forest acres affected by the pine beetle infestation.

GMAT Multi-Source Reasoning (MSR) Questions

USFS Publications Director to County Commissioners of Western Colorado

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615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

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