GMAT Club World Cup 2022 (DAY 10): Under the rule of King Saif, Qatani

Premise 1 - Depletion of existing gas wells and lack of investment in new gas wells during King Ahmet's rule, dropping gas exports
Premise 2 - PSII plans to Investments to develop new gas wells which will increase the gas exports

A. Prince Saif II gained back power from Prince Ahmet through a coup, making the Prince quite unpopular among the people of Qatania. --PSII's popularity is irrelevant to the gas exports

B. Qatania has a political conflict with the neighboring natural gas exporting countries, who intend to stop all imports from Qatania. --Weakens Premise 2 that exports will increase --Even if PSII manages to produce more Natural gas, the ban could reduce Qatania's exports

C. Qatania does not have enough capital to invest in all the planned new gas wells and investment for some of the new gas wells will come from foriegn companies. --Goes against the premise that new investments would come and the source of investment is irrelevent

D. During the reign of King Ahmet, the population of Qatania has increased significantly, thereby raising the demand of energy in Qatania exorbitantly. --Strengthens Premise 1, depletion of gas wells due to increased demand and KA didn't do anything t produce more

E. The old gas wells have not yet been completely depleted and some of them still produce considerable amounts of natural gas. --goes against premise 1 that gas wells are depleted

correct answer choice B

A. Prince Saif II gained back power from Prince Ahmet through a coup, making the Prince quite unpopular among the people of Qatania.Out of Scope .OUT

B. Qatania has a political conflict with the neighboring natural gas exporting countries, who intend to stop all imports from Qatania.No

C. Qatania does not have enough capital to invest in all the planned new gas wells and investment for some of the new gas wells will come from foriegn companies.Correct

D. During the reign of King Ahmet, the population of Qatania has increased significantly, thereby raising the demand of energy in Qatania exorbitantly.out of scope .OUT

E. The old gas wells have not yet been completely depleted and some of them still produce considerable amounts of natural gas.OUT

OA:C

Under the rule of King Saif, Qatania had been the largest exporter of natural gas, which is used to produce energy worldwide. However, since his brother King Ahmet took over the power to rule Qatania, the gas export has been significantly dropping because of the depletion of existing gas wells and lack of investment in new gas wells. Nevertheless, now King Saif’s son Prince Saif II is taking back the power from King Ahmet. Prince Saif II has declared that he would increase investments in developing new gas wells, thereby boosting the gas export of the country.

Which of the following options, if true, most significantly raises doubts about the plan of Prince Saif II?

Conclusion pertains to increase in gas exports in consequence to Prince Saif II's plans for increasing investments in developing new gas wells. Raising doubts necessarily means an option which proves that the exports wouldn't be boosted despite increased investments in developing new gas wells.

A. Prince Saif II gained back power from Prince Ahmet through a coup, making the Prince quite unpopular among the people of Qatania.
An irrelevant option..doesn't pertain to increase/decrease in gas exports

B. Qatania has a political conflict with the neighboring natural gas exporting countries, who intend to stop all imports from Qatania.
If the neigboring countries are themselves natural gas exporting countries, then such nations were not purchasing gas from Qatania earlier also..hence it doesn't impact the argument

C. Qatania does not have enough capital to invest in all the planned new gas wells and investment for some of the new gas wells will come from foreign companies.
Though funding is from 'foreign source'. new investments possible..thus boosting gas exports..acts as strengthener, not a weakener (as required)

D. During the reign of King Ahmet, the population of Qatania has increased significantly, thereby raising the demand of energy in Qatania exorbitantly.
Population increase will absorb all additional gas produced consequent to production from new gas wells..in turn, leaving little gas for exports..Gas exports won't be boosted..a clear weakener for the argument presented in the stimulus

E. The old gas wells have not yet been completely depleted and some of them still produce considerable amounts of natural gas.
Conclusion concerned with boost in gas exports owing to production from new gas wells, not the old gas wells..Out of scope

Correct option is (D)

Conclusion: increase investments in developing new gas wells, thereby boosting the gas export of the country.
The success of the plan depends on investment in developing new gas wells.
So any answer choice that will show that there is less possibility of investment then the plan would not succeed.
Answer choice C explicitly mentions that Qatania does not have enough capital to invest in all the planned new gas wells. So the plan will not be successful.

Hence answer choice (C)

Goal: Boost natural gas exports of Qatania
Plan: Increase investments in developing new gas wells
Logic of the plan: the gas export has been significantly dropping because of the depletion of existing gas wells and lack of investment in new gas wells.
We need to weaken the plan.

Prince Ahmet being unpopular among the people of Qatania is nothing to do with exports to other countries. Hence, A is out.

There is a political conflict with the neighboring natural gas exporting countries. Qatania is concerned with natural gas importing countries rather than exporting countries. B is out.

Even if the investment for some of the new gas wells comes from foreign companies, laws in Qatania may be such that the profits are kept within the country. Hence, C is not a strong weakener and hence incorrect.

If the demand of energy in Qatania has raised exorbitantly, investments in developing new gas wells may just be able to fulfil domestic demand. So, the plan to export will be in vein. Keep D.

The argument states that the gas export has been significantly dropping because of the depletion of existing gas wells and lack of investment in new gas wells. We do not need to wait for the existing gas wells to completely deplete before gas exports drops, investment in new gas wells may still be helpful. Hence, E is out.

Answer is D.

The situation is very clear if the reason for stopping is because of the depletion of existing gas wells and lack of investment in new gas wells. Now if we find a solution for that problem then the exports would rise again, but, what could stop this result even if the investments rises !


A. Prince Saif II gained back power from Prince Ahmet through a coup, making the Prince quite unpopular among the people of Qatania.
the unpopularity is irrelevant to the export , Wrong answer
B. Qatania has a political conflict with the neighboring natural gas exporting countries, who intend to stop all imports from Qatania.
This is the correct answer choice, because even if we raised the investments , if the neighbouring countries, won't import from Catanya, then the exports won't rise,
C. Qatania does not have enough capital to invest in all the planned new gas wells and investment for some of the new gas wells will come from foriegn companies.
the capacity of investing is not challenged here, wrong answer
D. During the reign of King Ahmet, the population of Qatania has increased significantly, thereby raising the demand of energy in Qatania exorbitantly.
the domestic consumption is not challenged, it could raise and Catania still has the capacity to export, nothing say the opposite in the passage
E. The old gas wells have not yet been completely depleted and some of them still produce considerable amounts of natural gas.
completely irrelevant, the passage talks about the depletion f the wells, Wrong answer

Under the rule of King Saif, Qatania had been the largest exporter of natural gas, which is used to produce energy worldwide. However, since his brother King Ahmet took over the power to rule Qatania, the gas export has been significantly dropping because of the depletion of existing gas wells and lack of investment in new gas wells. Nevertheless, now King Saif’s son Prince Saif II is taking back the power from King Ahmet. Prince Saif II has declared that he would increase investments in developing new gas wells, thereby boosting the gas export of the country.

Which of the following options, if true, most significantly raises doubts about the plan of Prince Saif II?

Prethinking:

1.Until the time when the new gas wells would be developed, there will be an alternate and cheap source of energy diminishing the demand of oil, hence export.
2. The countries will not buy oil from Qatania because of any XYZ factor.
3. The price of the oil offered by Qatania would be much higher than those offered by other countries.

ETC ...

ONLY option B gives us the valid reason as to why the imports will not improve despite developments in new gas wells


B. Qatania has a political conflict with the neighboring natural gas exporting countries, who intend to stop all imports from Qatania.

Ans: Option B

ANSWER D

Which of the following options, if true, most significantly raises doubts about the plan of Prince Saif II?

Conclusion of SAIF II:
" I will increase investments in developing new gas wells, thereby boosting the gas export of the country"
Some facts: :Qatania had been the largest exporter of natural gas, which is used to produce energy worldwide
Premise :
However, since King Ahmet took over the power to rule Qatania, the gas export has been significantly dropping because of the depletion of existing gas wells and lack of investment in new gas wells.
....

To undermines the conclusion we can try to undermine the premise especially the first part about the depletion of existing gas wells, since the prince Saif II only address the 2nd part.Indeed if the depletion existing gas wells is partly due to raise of use of gas in the country, Said may not be able to increase exports has expected.


A. Prince Saif II gained back power from Prince Ahmet through a coup, making the Prince quite unpopular among the people of Qatania.
OUT OF SCOPE

B. Qatania has a political conflict with the neighboring natural gas exporting countries, who intend to stop all imports from Qatania.
NOPE
Could be an answer but neighbors are not the only clients since it is stated that Qatania exports worldwide.


C. Qatania does not have enough capital to invest in all the planned new gas wells and investment for some of the new gas wells will come from foriegn companies.
NOPE, we have no reason to doubt the fact that prince Said Lied. So wherever comes investment is none of our concern.

D. During the reign of King Ahmet, the population of Qatania has increased significantly, thereby raising the demand of energy in Qatania exorbitantly.
I WILL GO FOR THIS ONE It directly attacks the conclusion : new wells do not mean raise of exports.

E. The old gas wells have not yet been completely depleted and some of them still produce considerable amounts of natural gas.
NOPE We have no reason to believe that what was stated in the text was not true.

Posted from my mobile device

Under the rule of King Saif, Qatania had been the largest exporter of natural gas, which is used to produce energy worldwide. However, since his brother King Ahmet took over the power to rule Qatania, the gas export has been significantly dropping because of the depletion of existing gas wells and lack of investment in new gas wells. Nevertheless, now King Saif’s son Prince Saif II is taking back the power from King Ahmet. Prince Saif II has declared that he would increase investments in developing new gas wells, thereby boosting the gas export of the country.

Which of the following options, if true, most significantly raises doubts about the plan of Prince Saif II?

A. Prince Saif II gained back power from Prince Ahmet through a coup, making the Prince quite unpopular among the people of Qatania. Incorrect

not relevant to gas export

B. Qatania has a political conflict with the neighboring natural gas exporting countries, who intend to stop all imports from Qatania. Incorrect

irrelevant

C. Qatania does not have enough capital to invest in all the planned new gas wells and investment for some of the new gas wells will come from foriegn companies. Incorrect

if some of the new wells can produce enough gas than there is possibility of increase gas exporting

D. During the reign of King Ahmet, the population of Qatania has increased significantly, thereby raising the demand of energy in Qatania exorbitantly. Correct

most of the gas will consume by the population of Qatania, so export will not increase

E. The old gas wells have not yet been completely depleted and some of them still produce considerable amounts of natural gas. Incorrect

support conclusion

Under rule of King Saif, Qatania was largest exporter of natural gas, which is used to product energy in the entire world. But when his brother Ahmet took over, gas export dropped because of reducing existing gas wells and lack of investment in new gas wells.
But now King Saif's son is coming back and he has declared more investments into new gas well thus increasing the export of the country

His plan is that increased investment into new gas wells will lead to boosting of exports of country. His main intention is boosting export of the country again.
We need to find an option that somehow states how investment into new wells might not lead to significant boosting of exports of the country?

A. Prince Saif II gained back power from Prince Ahmet through a coup, making the Prince quite unpopular among the people of Qatania.
Irrelevant to what we need to determine because Prince Saif being popular or unpopular has no impact or effect on wells and export. ELIMINATE

B. Qatania has a political conflict with the neighboring natural gas exporting countries, who intend to stop all imports from Qatania.
Question stem does not mention only neighboring countries, it mentions largest exporter and worldwide. Also they themselves are exporters so import here means of other materials I think which is irrelevant anyways. ELIMINATE

C. Qatania does not have enough capital to invest in all the planned new gas wells and investment for some of the new gas wells will come from foriegn companies.
Not enough money for all but they will arrange for some via any source. Does not show how plan will not work. Reverse actually, strengthens it a little. ELIMINATE

D. During the reign of King Ahmet, the population of Qatania has increased significantly, thereby raising the demand of energy in Qatania exorbitantly.
Yes! It states that population and thus energy requirement has increased in Qatania itself and so even if increased investments in gas wells do happen, it will be consumed more in Qatania and not be able to boost exports significantly. ANSWER

E. The old gas wells have not yet been completely depleted and some of them still produce considerable amounts of natural gas.
Again, kind of strengthens that if it is already present, export will be boosted even more. ELIMINATE

Answer - D