Forum Home > GMAT > Quantitative > Problem Solving (PS)
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
Track
Your Progress
Practice
Pays
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
GRE Forum Moderator
Joined: 02 Nov 2016
Posts: 14031
Given Kudos: 5807
GPA: 3.62
Electricity is produced from several sources e.g. hydro-electric power
[#permalink]
Updated on: 28 Oct 2023, 03:23
Updated on: 28 Oct 2023, 03:23
4
Bookmarks
Expert Reply
Electricity is produced from several sources e.g. hydro-electric power is electricity produced from water resources generally by building dams; solar power is electricity produced by converting heat energy of the sun into electrical energy; thermal energy is electricity produced by burning coal or natural gas, etc.
Nuclear energy is one of the sources of electricity and is produced in a nuclear reactor. A nuclear reactor produces and controls the release of energy from splitting the atoms of elements such as uranium and plutonium. In a nuclear power reactor, the energy released from continuous fission of the atoms in the fuel as heat is used to make steam. The steam is used to drive the turbines which produce electricity (as in most fossil fuel plants, but without the combustion of fossil fuels (high-carbon) and resultant greenhouse gas emissions).
If graphite or heavy water is used as moderator, it is possible to run a power reactor on natural instead of enriched uranium. Natural uranium has the same elemental composition as when it was mined (0.7% U-235, over 99.2% U-238), enriched uranium has had the proportion of the fissile isotope (U-235) increased by a process called enrichment, commonly to 3.5 - 5.0%. In this case the moderator can be ordinary water, and such reactors are collectively called light water reactors.
As of 2005, nuclear power provided 6.3% of the world's energy and 15% of the world's electricity, with the U.S., France, and Japan together accounting for 56.5% of nuclear generated electricity.
Nuclear energy is one of the sources of electricity and is produced in a nuclear reactor. A nuclear reactor produces and controls the release of energy from splitting the atoms of elements such as uranium and plutonium. In a nuclear power reactor, the energy released from continuous fission of the atoms in the fuel as heat is used to make steam. The steam is used to drive the turbines which produce electricity (as in most fossil fuel plants, but without the combustion of fossil fuels (high-carbon) and resultant greenhouse gas emissions).
If graphite or heavy water is used as moderator, it is possible to run a power reactor on natural instead of enriched uranium. Natural uranium has the same elemental composition as when it was mined (0.7% U-235, over 99.2% U-238), enriched uranium has had the proportion of the fissile isotope (U-235) increased by a process called enrichment, commonly to 3.5 - 5.0%. In this case the moderator can be ordinary water, and such reactors are collectively called light water reactors.
As of 2005, nuclear power provided 6.3% of the world's energy and 15% of the world's electricity, with the U.S., France, and Japan together accounting for 56.5% of nuclear generated electricity.
Show timer
00:00
Difficulty:
(N/A)
Question Stats:
14% (02:44) correct
86%
(03:14)
wrong
based on 64
sessions
1. For each of the following, select Justified if it is a justified inference on the basis of the information provided. Otherwise select Not Justified.
| Justified | Not Justified | |
| Enriched uranium produces more energy per gram than natural uranium. | ||
| Nuclear electricity production 1s similar to electricity production from fossil fuels in away that both uses heat energy to produce electricity. | ||
| Nuclear power has caused fewer accidental deaths than any other form of power generation. |
ShowHide Answer
Official Answer
Enriched uranium produces more energy per gram than natural uranium.: Not Justified
Nuclear electricity production 1s similar to electricity production from fossil fuels in away that both uses heat energy to produce electricity.: Not Justified
Nuclear power has caused fewer accidental deaths than any other form of power generation.: Not Justified
Show timer
00:00
Difficulty:
(N/A)
Question Stats:
39% (01:17) correct
61%
(01:25)
wrong
based on 59
sessions
2. The following statements are claims of the proponents of nuclear energy. Mark each of them as Tackled, if they have been directly countered by the opponent, otherwise mark Not Tackled
| Tackled | Not Tackled | |
| Almost all the world’s developed countries use nuclear energy as a source of electricity. | ||
| Nuclear energy produces less greenhouse gas and is also a cheap alternative to other sources of electricity. | ||
| The number of deaths in the nuclear reactors so far does not exceed even 1% of the total deaths caused by other sources of electricity. |
ShowHide Answer
Official Answer
Almost all the world’s developed countries use nuclear energy as a source of electricity.: Not Tackled
Nuclear energy produces less greenhouse gas and is also a cheap alternative to other sources of electricity.: Tackled
The number of deaths in the nuclear reactors so far does not exceed even 1% of the total deaths caused by other sources of electricity.: Not Tackled
Show timer
00:00
Difficulty:
55%
(hard)
Question Stats:
83% (01:15) correct
17%
(01:54)
wrong
based on 46
sessions
3. Which of the following statement would be the strongest counter-argument to the argument of the opponent regarding the data of fewer accidental deaths per unit of nuclear energy?
| In case of major earthquakes or natural disasters, the number of deaths in a nuclear power plant has always been lower than the number of deaths in a similar size power plant of any other source of electricity. | |
| In case of major earthquakes or natural disasters, the accidental deaths in a nuclear power plants are primarily due to heat energy accumulated in the plant. | |
| Due to the extensive insurance coverage of all the nuclear plants, all the victims in a natural disaster are paid sufficient amounts by the insurance companies. | |
| Past data cannot be challenged since it has been verified by the concerned government agencies. | |
| Even if the number of deaths per unit of power produced is greater in nuclear energy, no one can deny the environmental benefits of nuclear power. |
ShowHide Answer
Official Answer
In case of major earthquakes or natural disasters, the number of deaths in a nuclear power plant has always been lower than the number of deaths in a similar size power plant of any other source of electricity.
Source: e-GMAT
Originally posted by Sajjad1994 on 07 Mar 2022, 08:00.
Last edited by BottomJee on 28 Oct 2023, 03:23, edited 6 times in total.
Last edited by BottomJee on 28 Oct 2023, 03:23, edited 6 times in total.
Moved to new forum
Re: Electricity is produced from several sources e.g. hydro-electric power
[#permalink]
07 Mar 2022, 13:17
07 Mar 2022, 13:17
2
Kudos
1. For each of the following, select Justified if it is a justified inference on the basis of the information provided. Otherwise select Not Justified.
Enriched uranium produces more energy per gram than natural uranium - Not Justified
We only know "If graphite or heavy water is used as moderator, it is possible to run a power reactor on natural instead of enriched uranium." Information on their respective productivity is not provided and cannot be inferred.
Nuclear electricity production is similar to electricity production from fossil fuels in away that both uses heat energy to produce electricity - Justified.
Supported by the following sentences: "In a nuclear power reactor, the energy released from continuous fission of the atoms in the fuel as heat is used to make steam. The steam is used to drive the turbines which produce electricity (as in most fossil fuel plants, ..."
Nuclear power has caused fewer accidental deaths than any other form of power generation. - Not Justified.
This is a very tricky question. I initially think it is not justified, then I changed the mind. Ultimately, I am back to "Not justified".
We are told that "Nuclear power has caused far fewer accidental deaths per unit of energy generated than other major forms of power generation"
We are also told that "As of 2005, nuclear power provided 6.3% of the world's energy". So, it seems that Nuclear power has caused fewer accidental deaths?
But we have to take notice of "major forms of power generation".
There are also minor or negligible forms of power generation. Those forms of power generation may see only a few, if any, human causalities. We cannot infer that Nuclear power has caused fewer accidental deaths than any other form of power generation.
2 The following statements are claims of the proponents of nuclear energy. Mark each of them as Tackled, if they have been directly countered by the opponent, otherwise mark Not Tackled
Almost all the world’s developed countries use nuclear energy as a source of electricity - Not tackled
Because the opponents do not address this claim.
Nuclear energy produces less greenhouse gas and is also a cheap alternative to other sources of electricity - Tackled
Note this sentense:
"In addition, against the belief of many proponents of nuclear energy, when all the energy-intensive stages of the nuclear fuel chain are considered, from uranium mining to nuclear decommissioning, nuclear power is neither a low-carbon nor an economical electricity source."
The number of deaths in the nuclear reactors so far does not exceed even 1% of the total deaths caused by other sources of electricity - Not tackled.
The opponent does not discuss this statement.
3. Which of the following statement, if true, would be the strongest counter-argument to the argument of the opponent regarding the data of fewer accidental deaths per unit of nuclear energy?
My answer is (A).
Note the argument of the opponent regarding the data of fewer accidental deaths per unit of nuclear energy: It is true that Nuclear power has caused far fewer accidental deaths per unit of energy generated than other major forms of power generation, but they consider only the past data and fail to look at the potential of damage from nuclear reactors in case of major earthquakes or natural disasters.
Now, if (A) is true, "In case of major earthquakes or natural disasters, the number of deaths in a nuclear power plant has always been lower than the number of deaths in a similar size power plant of any other source of electricity." The opponents' argument does not hold.
(B) Irrelevant. It provides some background information only.
(C) Irrelevant. Being compensated by insurance for lives lost does not necessarily counter opponent's argument. (Note the use of "due to" in this sentence is considered incorrect in GMAT)
(D) The opponent does not question the past data but warn about the future catastrophes.
(E) This one directly contradicts the information in the prompt. In GMAT test, it is highly unlikely that newly introduced info should contradict premises.
Enriched uranium produces more energy per gram than natural uranium - Not Justified
We only know "If graphite or heavy water is used as moderator, it is possible to run a power reactor on natural instead of enriched uranium." Information on their respective productivity is not provided and cannot be inferred.
Nuclear electricity production is similar to electricity production from fossil fuels in away that both uses heat energy to produce electricity - Justified.
Supported by the following sentences: "In a nuclear power reactor, the energy released from continuous fission of the atoms in the fuel as heat is used to make steam. The steam is used to drive the turbines which produce electricity (as in most fossil fuel plants, ..."
Nuclear power has caused fewer accidental deaths than any other form of power generation. - Not Justified.
This is a very tricky question. I initially think it is not justified, then I changed the mind. Ultimately, I am back to "Not justified".
We are told that "Nuclear power has caused far fewer accidental deaths per unit of energy generated than other major forms of power generation"
We are also told that "As of 2005, nuclear power provided 6.3% of the world's energy". So, it seems that Nuclear power has caused fewer accidental deaths?
But we have to take notice of "major forms of power generation".
There are also minor or negligible forms of power generation. Those forms of power generation may see only a few, if any, human causalities. We cannot infer that Nuclear power has caused fewer accidental deaths than any other form of power generation.
2 The following statements are claims of the proponents of nuclear energy. Mark each of them as Tackled, if they have been directly countered by the opponent, otherwise mark Not Tackled
Almost all the world’s developed countries use nuclear energy as a source of electricity - Not tackled
Because the opponents do not address this claim.
Nuclear energy produces less greenhouse gas and is also a cheap alternative to other sources of electricity - Tackled
Note this sentense:
"In addition, against the belief of many proponents of nuclear energy, when all the energy-intensive stages of the nuclear fuel chain are considered, from uranium mining to nuclear decommissioning, nuclear power is neither a low-carbon nor an economical electricity source."
The number of deaths in the nuclear reactors so far does not exceed even 1% of the total deaths caused by other sources of electricity - Not tackled.
The opponent does not discuss this statement.
3. Which of the following statement, if true, would be the strongest counter-argument to the argument of the opponent regarding the data of fewer accidental deaths per unit of nuclear energy?
My answer is (A).
Note the argument of the opponent regarding the data of fewer accidental deaths per unit of nuclear energy: It is true that Nuclear power has caused far fewer accidental deaths per unit of energy generated than other major forms of power generation, but they consider only the past data and fail to look at the potential of damage from nuclear reactors in case of major earthquakes or natural disasters.
Now, if (A) is true, "In case of major earthquakes or natural disasters, the number of deaths in a nuclear power plant has always been lower than the number of deaths in a similar size power plant of any other source of electricity." The opponents' argument does not hold.
(B) Irrelevant. It provides some background information only.
(C) Irrelevant. Being compensated by insurance for lives lost does not necessarily counter opponent's argument. (Note the use of "due to" in this sentence is considered incorrect in GMAT)
(D) The opponent does not question the past data but warn about the future catastrophes.
(E) This one directly contradicts the information in the prompt. In GMAT test, it is highly unlikely that newly introduced info should contradict premises.
GRE Forum Moderator
Joined: 02 Nov 2016
Posts: 14031
Given Kudos: 5807
GPA: 3.62
Re: Electricity is produced from several sources e.g. hydro-electric power
[#permalink]
08 Mar 2022, 09:56
08 Mar 2022, 09:56
Expert Reply
Competition mode is off now.
OAs are:
Question #1
All Not Justified
Question #2
Not Tackled, Tackled, and Not Tackled
Question #3
A
OAs are:
Question #1
All Not Justified
Question #2
Not Tackled, Tackled, and Not Tackled
Question #3
A
