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Bunuel
To encourage economic development in remote regions, the federal government pays regional governments a bonus based on the total volume of goods delivered to businesses within their region. A shipping company proposes building a national distribution hub in one such region, routing most national shipments through the hub before final delivery elsewhere. In exchange, the company requests a share of the bonuses, arguing that the regional government would greatly profit from the substantial increase in shipment volume.

The company’s argument depends on which of the following assumptions?

(A) Without the proposed hub, most shipments would bypass the remote region entirely.
(B) The federal government awards bonuses based on total shipment volume passing through a region, not just on shipments delivered locally.
(C) The regional government would only share bonuses if the new hub directly benefited local businesses.
(D) Routing shipments through the new hub would not make delivery times longer than shipping via current routes.
(E) Businesses in the remote region currently account for a small proportion of the shipping company’s national shipments.


 


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. Clearly it is based on the quantum supplied to the remote Businesses from the shipping industry hub
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As the paragraph states that the shipping company wants the bonuses from the regional governments who would receive the same from Fed. Now, the argument states that shipping company wants a share of the bonuses as the regional government would greatly profit from the substantial increase in shipment volume. This shipment volume will increase as the routing shipments through the new hub would take shorter time than shipping via current routes.
A. Doesn’t support the argument as the hub is build in the remote region. There is no mention of outside remote region.
B. Fed awards bonuses on total goods delivered to business within their region, not just on shipment delivered locally.
C. Goods will pass through the hub to other areas also which means more shipment awarding more bonus to the region .
D. Short time through this route results in more shipment to distribute locally and also elsewhere. More profit to the region government.
E. Business share of the shipping company in the remote region is not mentioned in the paragraph. It doesn’t provide any evidence to support the argument.
Hence, Point D is the answer.
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Premise: The federal goverment pays bonuses based on total volume of goods delivered to businesses within a region
* Premise: The company proposes building a hub and routing most shipments through it
* Premise: The company wants a share of the bonuses
* Conclusion: The regional government would greatly profit from the increase in shipment volume
Let's evaluate each option:
(A) Without the proposed hub, most shipments would bypass the remote region entirely.
This isn't necessary. The company's argument is about increased volume, not whether shipments currently bypass the region.
(B) The federal government awards bonuses based on total shipment volume passing through a region, not just on shipments delivered locally.
This is critical. The company's argument hinges on the idea that routing shipments through the hub (before final delivery elsewhere) would increase the bonus. But the premise states that bonuses are based on "goods delivered to businesses within their region." If only local deliveries count, then shipments passing through wouldn't increase the bonus, and the company's argument falls apart.
(C) The regional government would only share bonuses if the new hub directly benefited local businesses.
This isn't an assumption the company is making. The company is arguing that the volume increase would be profitable regardless of local business benefit.
D) Routing shipments through the new hub would not make delivery times longer than shipping via current routes.
This might be relevant to the overall business case, but it's not necessary for the specific argument about bonuses and profits.
(E) Businesses in the remote region currently account for a small proportion of the shipping company's national shipments.
This provides context but isn't necessary for the argument about increased bonuses to work.
The correct answer is (B).
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(A) Without the hub, shipments bypass the region.
This may be true but not critical to the argument.

(B) Federal government awards bonuses based on total shipment volume passing through the region, not just delivered locally.
This is exactly what the argument needs. --> Answer

(C) Regional government shares bonuses only if hub benefits local businesses.
Not needed for the company’s argument.

(D) Routing through hub doesn’t increase delivery times.
Might be true but not essential for the bonus argument.

(E) Businesses in region currently have a small share of shipments.
Not essential.
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The argument's conclusion that the regional government would "greatly profit" depends on the new shipment volume qualifying for a federal bonus. The prompt establishes a critical rule: the federal government pays bonuses based on the total volume of goods delivered to businesses within the region. The company's plan, however, is to build a national hub that routes most of its shipments through the region for final delivery elsewhere.

The central flaw in the company's argument is the disconnect between the type of volume the bonus rewards (delivered to the region) and the type of volume the company's new hub will create (passing through the region). For the company's conclusion to be valid, it must assume that the rule for awarding bonuses is different from what is explicitly stated in the background information. The argument requires that volume merely passing through the region is eligible for the bonus.

Answer choice (B) directly states this necessary assumption: "The federal government awards bonuses based on total shipment volume passing through a region, not just on shipments delivered locally." This closes the logical gap in the argument. Applying the negation test confirms this. If the federal bonus is awarded *only* for shipments delivered locally, then the massive volume from the new hub generates no bonus money for the region, and the company's conclusion that the region will profit is completely destroyed.

Because the company's entire argument hinges on this unstated premise, it is the correct assumption. The correct answer is (B).
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Conclusion
The regional government would greatly profit from the substantial increase in shipment volume due to the shipping company.

(A) Without the proposed hub, most shipments would bypass the remote region entirely.
INCORRECT

(B) The federal government awards bonuses based on total shipment volume passing through a region, not just on shipments delivered locally.
CORRECT - This is the assumption for the conclusion. Since if profit depends on shipment volume and not just on shipments delivered locally then our conclusion holds as the plan is to increase the shipment volume.

(C) The regional government would only share bonuses if the new hub directly benefited local businesses.
INCORRECT

(D) Routing shipments through the new hub would not make delivery times longer than shipping via current routes.
INCORRECT

(E) Businesses in the remote region currently account for a small proportion of the shipping company’s national shipments.
INCORRECT
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As the company's plan is based on federal government bonuses based on regional business.
if B is True then his plan will succeed else it would fail hence B is key for the decission.
Bunuel
To encourage economic development in remote regions, the federal government pays regional governments a bonus based on the total volume of goods delivered to businesses within their region. A shipping company proposes building a national distribution hub in one such region, routing most national shipments through the hub before final delivery elsewhere. In exchange, the company requests a share of the bonuses, arguing that the regional government would greatly profit from the substantial increase in shipment volume.

The company’s argument depends on which of the following assumptions?

(A) Without the proposed hub, most shipments would bypass the remote region entirely.
(B) The federal government awards bonuses based on total shipment volume passing through a region, not just on shipments delivered locally.
(C) The regional government would only share bonuses if the new hub directly benefited local businesses.
(D) Routing shipments through the new hub would not make delivery times longer than shipping via current routes.
(E) Businesses in the remote region currently account for a small proportion of the shipping company’s national shipments.


 


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To encourage economic development in remote regions, the federal government pays regional governments a bonus based on the total volume of goods delivered to businesses within their region. A shipping company proposes building a national distribution hub in one such region, routing most national shipments through the hub before final delivery elsewhere. In exchange, the company requests a share of the bonuses, arguing that the regional government would greatly profit from the substantial increase in shipment volume.

In simpler words.
A company wants set up a distribution hub in a region in exchange for a share of bonus that the regional government will get from federal government. The company projects this as a win-win for regional government as it would increase bonus due to increased shipment volume.

But we don't have the explicit information that regional government will indeed receive bonus for the shipment that are just routed through the region. The same assumption is provided by Option B.

Rest all options are not bridging this gap (of a win-win situation).
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Argument

IC : To encourage economic development in remote regions, the federal government pays regional governments a bonus based on the total volume of goods delivered to businesses within their region.
A shipping company proposes building a national distribution hub in one such region, routing most national shipments through the hub before final delivery elsewhere. In exchange, the company requests a share of the bonuses, arguing that the regional government would greatly profit from the substantial increase in shipment volume.


Assumption based CR
negate options and weaken conclusion

(A) With the proposed hub, most shipments would bypass the remote region entirely. does not weaken the conclusion

(B) The federal government does not awards bonuses based on total shipment volume passing through a region, but on shipments delivered locally. weakens the conclusion ; correct option

(C) The regional government will not share bonuses if the new hub directly benefited local businesses.

does not weaken conclusion

(D) Routing shipments through the new hub will make delivery times longer than shipping via current routes.

does not weaken conclusion

(E) Businesses in the remote region currently do not account for a small proportion of the shipping company’s national shipments.

does not weaken conclusion

OPTION B is correct
Bunuel
To encourage economic development in remote regions, the federal government pays regional governments a bonus based on the total volume of goods delivered to businesses within their region. A shipping company proposes building a national distribution hub in one such region, routing most national shipments through the hub before final delivery elsewhere. In exchange, the company requests a share of the bonuses, arguing that the regional government would greatly profit from the substantial increase in shipment volume.

The company’s argument depends on which of the following assumptions?

(A) Without the proposed hub, most shipments would bypass the remote region entirely.
(B) The federal government awards bonuses based on total shipment volume passing through a region, not just on shipments delivered locally.
(C) The regional government would only share bonuses if the new hub directly benefited local businesses.
(D) Routing shipments through the new hub would not make delivery times longer than shipping via current routes.
(E) Businesses in the remote region currently account for a small proportion of the shipping company’s national shipments.


 


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Bunuel
To encourage economic development in remote regions, the federal government pays regional governments a bonus based on the total volume of goods delivered to businesses within their region. A shipping company proposes building a national distribution hub in one such region, routing most national shipments through the hub before final delivery elsewhere. In exchange, the company requests a share of the bonuses, arguing that the regional government would greatly profit from the substantial increase in shipment volume.

The company’s argument depends on which of the following assumptions?

(A) Without the proposed hub, most shipments would bypass the remote region entirely.
(B) The federal government awards bonuses based on total shipment volume passing through a region, not just on shipments delivered locally.
(C) The regional government would only share bonuses if the new hub directly benefited local businesses.
(D) Routing shipments through the new hub would not make delivery times longer than shipping via current routes.
(E) Businesses in the remote region currently account for a small proportion of the shipping company’s national shipments.


 


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Plan: To build a national distribution hub
Goal: Regional government would greatly profit from the substantial increase in shipment volume

(A) Without the proposed hub, most shipments would bypass the remote region entirely.

This information is irrelevant to the conclusion or to the goal. Hence, we can eliminate A.

(B) The federal government awards bonuses based on total shipment volume passing through a region, not just on shipments delivered locally.

This is a correct assumption. The regional government will get the bonus only if the federal government agrees to pay to the regional government even if the shipment volume passes through the region. Else, the plan fails. We can keep B.

(C) The regional government would only share bonuses if the new hub directly benefited local businesses.

No such assumption needs to be made. Hence, we can eliminate C.

(D) Routing shipments through the new hub would not make delivery times longer than shipping via current routes.

Similar to A, this information is kind of irrelevant. We can eliminate D.

(E) Businesses in the remote region currently account for a small proportion of the shipping company’s national shipments.

Out of scope information. Eliminate E.

Option B
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To encourage economic development in remote regions, the federal government pays regional governments a bonus based on the total volume of goods delivered to businesses within their region. A shipping company proposes building a national distribution hub in one such region, routing most national shipments through the hub before final delivery elsewhere. In exchange, the company requests a share of the bonuses, arguing that the regional government would greatly profit from the substantial increase in shipment volume.

Prethink: The company assumes that increased shipment volume routed through via the hub will lead to higher bonuses for the regional government.

The company’s argument depends on which of the following assumptions?

(A) Without the proposed hub, most shipments would bypass the remote region entirely......Not necessary for arguement........No
(B) The federal government awards bonuses based on total shipment volume passing through a region, not just on shipments delivered locally.......Parallel with pre thinking .......Correct
(C) The regional government would only share bonuses if the new hub directly benefited local businesses........ it’s not what the company’s argument relies on.............No
(D) Routing shipments through the new hub would not make delivery times longer than shipping via current routes..........Nothing about timings.........No
(E) Businesses in the remote region currently account for a small proportion of the shipping company’s national shipments..........No

B
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I remember a similar question like this, where long-range telephone calls were routed through a region, exactly the same.

To encourage economic development in remote regions, the federal government pays regional governments a bonus based on the total volume of goods delivered to businesses within their region. A shipping company proposes building a national distribution hub in one such region, routing most national shipments through the hub before final delivery elsewhere. In exchange, the company requests a share of the bonuses, arguing that the regional government would greatly profit from the substantial increase in shipment volume.

The assumption should be true for the plan to work.

The company’s argument depends on which of the following assumptions?

(A) Without the proposed hub, most shipments would bypass the remote region entirely.

The proposal doesn't depend upon this. Whether this is true or false, that doesn't affect the plan.

(B) The federal government awards bonuses based on total shipment volume passing through a region, not just on shipments delivered locally. If this is not true, then the plan will fail

A shipping company proposes building a national distribution hub in one such region, routing most national shipments through the hub before final delivery elsewhere.

This is an assumption.

(C) The regional government would only share bonuses if the new hub directly benefited local businesses.

Nowhere related or mentioned, cannot infer this from the given information.

(D) Routing shipments through the new hub would not make delivery times longer than shipping via current routes.

Not relevant at all.

(E) Businesses in the remote region currently account for a small proportion of the shipping company’s national shipments.

Not relevant at all.
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Govt: to pay bonus based on the total volume of goods delivered to businesses within the region.
Shipping Company: proposes routing most national shipments through the hub before final delivery elsewhere

Assumption: Shipping company assumes Govt will pay bonus even if the goods are passing through a region, with their final delivery elsewhere.


(A) Without the proposed hub, most shipments would bypass the remote region entirely. Whether all shipments or none shipment bypass the remote region isn't imp, we have to find the assumption behind the shipping company's plan.

(B) The federal government awards bonuses based on total shipment volume passing through a region, not just on shipments delivered locally. CORRECT. This is the assumption of the shipping company's proposed plan. If we negate it, federal government awards bonuses not based on total shipment volume passing through a region, just on shipments delivered locally.this will break the shipping company's plan.

(C) The regional government would only share bonuses if the new hub directly benefited local businesses. Irrelevant
(D) Routing shipments through the new hub would not make delivery times longer than shipping via current routes: Delivery Times are irrelevant here
(E) Businesses in the remote region currently account for a small proportion of the shipping company’s national shipments. Even if they account for a small proportion or large proportion, doesn't explain the assumption behind the shipping co plan.

Ans B
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The Company's Argument:

A national distribution hub will be built in a remote region.

Most national shipments will be routed through this hub.

This will substantially increase shipment volume in the region.

The regional government gets a bonus based on the total volume of goods delivered to businesses within their region.

Therefore, the regional government would greatly profit from the increased volume and should share bonuses with the company.

The Crucial Link: The argument hinges on the idea that routing most national shipments through the hub before final delivery elsewhere will directly translate into a "substantial increase in shipment volume" that counts towards the federal bonus for the regional government.

Let's evaluate the options:

(A) Without the proposed hub, most shipments would bypass the remote region entirely.

If this is true, then the hub would indeed bring new volume to the region that wasn't there before. This supports the idea that the hub increases "shipment volume." This is a strong candidate.

(B) The federal government awards bonuses based on total shipment volume passing through a region, not just on shipments delivered locally.

This is the most critical assumption. The government's bonus is based on "total volume of goods delivered to businesses within their region."

The company's proposal is to route "most national shipments through the hub before final delivery elsewhere."

If the bonus only counts goods actually delivered to businesses within that specific region, then simply passing through the hub (even if sorted there) for delivery elsewhere would not increase the bonus.

For the company's argument to hold, the "shipment volume" that generates the bonus must include goods that are merely transiting or being processed in the hub, even if their final destination is outside that specific remote region. This option directly addresses how the bonus is calculated.

(C) The regional government would only share bonuses if the new hub directly benefited local businesses.

The company is arguing that the government would profit and should share. This option describes a condition for sharing, but it's not an assumption of the company's argument that the government will profit. The company's argument is about the volume, not the terms of a deal.

(D) Routing shipments through the new hub would not make delivery times longer than shipping via current routes.

This is a factor that might influence the shipping company's business model or customer satisfaction, but it's not an assumption critical to the argument that the regional government will profit from increased bonus volume. The argument is purely about the volume count, not efficiency or customer impact.

(E) Businesses in the remote region currently account for a small proportion of the shipping company’s national shipments.

This might explain why the region is remote and why a hub there could be a big change, but it doesn't directly address the mechanism by which passing through the hub translates into a bonus-earning "total volume of goods delivered to businesses within their region." Even if local business volume is small, the hub needs to be counted for transit.

Why (B) is the best answer:

The core of the disconnect (and thus the assumption) is how "total volume of goods delivered to businesses within their region" is interpreted. The company is proposing to route shipments through the region before final delivery elsewhere. If "delivered to businesses within their region" strictly means final destination within that region, then the company's argument that transit volume increases the bonus falls apart. The company must assume that the federal government counts this transit/processing volume as part of the "total volume of goods delivered to businesses within their region," even if those businesses are the hub itself or related logistics operations within the region that handle goods for onward travel. Option (B) precisely captures this necessary interpretation.

Answer: B
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(A) Without the proposed hub, most shipments would bypass the remote region entirely.- this isn't an assumption bypassing is not out concern
(B) The federal government awards bonuses based on total shipment volume passing through a region, not just on shipments delivered locally.- exactly , what if the gov only pays on shipments delivered locally this wouldn't help the reg gov get more reward so sharing wouldn't be profitable to reg gov.
(C) The regional government would only share bonuses if the new hub directly benefited local businesses.- this would be reg gov's decision how they want to share the bonus (irrelevant)
(D) Routing shipments through the new hub would not make delivery times longer than shipping via current routes.-irrelevant we are not concerned with how long the shipments would take to be delivered
(E) Businesses in the remote region currently account for a small proportion of the shipping company’s national shipments.- this is not the assumption it doesn't matter currently if it is a small proportion or big.
IMO:B
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Background: To encourage economic development in remote regions, the federal government pays regional governments a bonus based on the total volume of goods delivered to businesses within their region.
Premise: A shipping company proposes building a national distribution hub in one such region, routing most national shipments through the hub before final delivery elsewhere.
Conclusion: In exchange, the company requests a share of the bonuses, arguing that the regional government would greatly profit from the substantial increase in shipment volume.

Asking share in bonus because building national distribution hub will lead to greater profit from substantial increase in shipment volume.

(A) Without the proposed hub, most shipments would bypass the remote region entirely.
This does not show why there will be increase in shipment volume of region. This shows current state and does not fills the gap.

(B) The federal government awards bonuses based on total shipment volume passing through a region, not just on shipments delivered locally.
Yes this shows the it is due to total shipment volume that the bonus is awarded on and thus increasing shipment volume will increase bonuses passing through the region. Hence correct.

(C) The regional government would only share bonuses if the new hub directly benefited local businesses.
This is irrelevant.

(D) Routing shipments through the new hub would not make delivery times longer than shipping via current routes.
Time of delivery is not in premise or in conclusion.

(E) Businesses in the remote region currently account for a small proportion of the shipping company’s national shipments.
This is irrelevant as it is not the interest of company's proportion of shipments that matters.

Hence B is correct
Bunuel
To encourage economic development in remote regions, the federal government pays regional governments a bonus based on the total volume of goods delivered to businesses within their region. A shipping company proposes building a national distribution hub in one such region, routing most national shipments through the hub before final delivery elsewhere. In exchange, the company requests a share of the bonuses, arguing that the regional government would greatly profit from the substantial increase in shipment volume.

The company’s argument depends on which of the following assumptions?

(A) Without the proposed hub, most shipments would bypass the remote region entirely.
(B) The federal government awards bonuses based on total shipment volume passing through a region, not just on shipments delivered locally.
(C) The regional government would only share bonuses if the new hub directly benefited local businesses.
(D) Routing shipments through the new hub would not make delivery times longer than shipping via current routes.
(E) Businesses in the remote region currently account for a small proportion of the shipping company’s national shipments.


 


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hakzarif
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The company’s argument assumes that the regional government’s bonus is based on the total shipment volume passing through the region, not just on goods delivered locally. Without this, routing shipments through the hub but delivering them elsewhere wouldn’t increase the government’s bonus, undermining the company’s claim. Option (A) suggests shipments would otherwise bypass the region, which might be true but isn’t necessary for the argument to hold. Option (C) says the government would only share bonuses if local businesses benefit, which isn’t relevant to the company’s assumption about how the bonus is calculated. Option (D) about delivery times is unrelated to the bonus calculation, and option (E) about the current shipment proportion doesn’t affect the logic behind the bonus claim. Therefore, only option (B) is a necessary assumption for the company’s argument.
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