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A-- Weakens - remove
B--Supports, but doesnt all the way- Remove
C--Irrlevant
D--Weakens
E- Correct answer, salt water in crystallized form will take more time to evaporate.
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Option E is correct as the fault in the walls of the aquarium protect the water's salinity and the fishes as if the salt crystallize the salinity remains the same mostly
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In this CR question, I checked what is actually been considered and what jump is taken for the conclusion:
Kara wants to go for one week long business trip and she had a instance when she left the aquarium unattended for 9 days and the salinity after 9 days too was within the range. Based on this single evidence she concludes that she can leave the tank unattended, without endangering the fishes, if her business trip is not extended beyond the planned dates.

Now we need to strengthen this:

a) this tells us about past and no info is given that she will do it again - it actually weakens this
b) this is telling us a trend about her business trip, the question is should the fish tank be left unattended - we need to strengthen that the fishes would be safe and not she would have fixed plan schedule. - it is a weak strengthener
c) irrelevant - we don't need any details related to stress (don't combine option a and c) I was tempted though. xD
d) this weakens the conclusion
e) this option specifically tells us about the mechanism of fish tank for dealing with salt that is left behind, which was the main problem of increased salinity. Now if the tank has developed a mechanism to keep salinity within range on its own she could now take 9 or lower than 9 days gap in attending the fish tank. - IMO E
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E

Her case rests on the honeymoon: nine days, salinity held, so seven should be safer. Anything making the tank behave better now props that up.

E satisfies this, salt crystallizes into the wall imperfections instead of staying dissolved, so less concentrates in the shrinking water. Same evaporation at a slower climb. Nine days was already fine, this trip is shorter and gentler.

A and D go in the wrong direction, starting at minimum salinity means the honeymoon had a cushion she can't assume again, and a desert move means faster evaporation than the precedent
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Bunuel
Kara owns a salt-water aquarium in which the level of salinity, or concentration of salt in the water, must be maintained within a narrow range. Salt is left behind in the remaining liquid when water evaporates, so Kara must periodically replenish the water that evaporates from the tank to keep the salinity in range. In considering whether she can leave the tank alone during a week-long business trip, Kara notes that, during her nine-day honeymoon, she left the tank unattended; while its salinity levels did increase, they were still well within the acceptable range when she returned from the trip. Kara concludes that, as long as the business trip is not extended beyond the planned dates, she can leave the tank unattended during the trip without endangering the fish.

Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument above?

(A) Immediately before leaving for her honeymoon, Kara added an unusually large amount of water to the tank, bringing its salinity levels down to their minimum safe levels.

(B) In the nine years during which Kara has worked for her current employer, none of her business trips has been extended beyond the planned end date, and she has returned from several of them earlier than planned.

(C) Many of Kara's fish experience significant physiological stress from rapid changes in salinity, such as those that occur when a large amount of water is replenished, even if overall salinity levels remain within the safe range.

(D) Since her honeymoon, Kara has moved to a desert region, in which the lack of humidity allows water to evaporate more quickly than in her previous home region.

(E) Since Kara's honeymoon, the walls of her aquarium have developed imperfections in which salt collects and crystallizes, rather than staying dissolved in the remaining water, when water evaporates.

 


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option a - it weakens the argument as she brought salt levels to the minimum
option b - it's not a rule that the business trip won't extend if it didn't in past 9 years
option c - not relevant option d - weakens the argument
option e - if salts are crystallized, salinity will increase slowly and a week long trip won't be a problem. thus, Option E.
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The argument states that on a pervious 9-day trip, the aquarium's salinity increased but stayes withing a safe range. Thefore a 7 day trip should also be safe.

To strengthen the argument, we want evidence that salinity will rise no faster than it did before.

IMO, Option E is correct as it states that if some salt crystalized on the tank walls instead of staying dissolved, the salinity of the remaining water increases more slowly, making the 7-day trip even safer.

Looking at other options:
(A) Weakens instead - if preacuation were needed before the 9-day trip , Kara can't assume the 7-day trip will be safe without them
(B) Knowing that the trip will likely last only 7 days does not show the fish will be safe
(C) Irrelevant - as it talks about stress from changing the water, not sakinity during the trip
(D) Weakens instead - as faster evaporation could make salinity rise mre quickly than before

Answer: Option E: Correct
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I got B as the answer. Kara is saying that since a 9 day trip was safe for the trip, a 7 day trip should be fine if it doesn't get extended.

B strengthens the argument because if in 9 years her employer hasn't extended a business trip it is less likely that he will do so this time, so the assumption of the conclusion, that the trip won't be extended, is reasonable.

A weakens the arguement. If she added more water before the honeymoon, salinity levels would be lower at the beginning of the trip than normal so comparing this trip to the honeymoon isn't a fair comparison unless you assume she will do the same thing this trip.

For C if salinity within the safe range could stress fish, it cast doubt on how safe these fish are on an extended trip.

D weakens the argument because a drier climate would evaporate water faster and cause salinity to increase faster than during her honeymoon so it wouldn't be fair to compare her business trip to that honeymoon trip

E weakens the argement because the salt in the tank would behave differently than when she went on her honeymoon so again this would not be a fair comparison.
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kara owns salt water aquarium in which level of salinity must be maintained within narrow range.
when water evaporates, salt is left behind in remaining liquid. so she needs to replenish the water that evaporates from tank to keep the salinity within range.
she has week long business trip coming up and she is considering whether to leave the tank alone during that.
but in the past she had nine day honeymoon during which she left tank unattended and during that phase salinity did go up but was still in the acceptable range.

conclusion= as long as the trip is not extended beyond the planned dates, she can leave the tank unattended during the trip without endangering the fish.

A this talks about what she did before leaving for honeymoon but we have no idea wether she is going to do that or not. not useful. out.
B this just reaffirm the belief that trip will be for 7 days only but nothing to back the conclusion. out.
C this talks about what happens to fish when there is some changes in salinity
D in such case it may weaken her claim. so out.
E so if there is some cracks and salt get collected in those cracks when water evaporates, then salinity goes down and not up. that means fish will have less salty water to drink. so this helps in ensuring that she will not be endangered with it. keep.

choice E

Bunuel
Kara owns a salt-water aquarium in which the level of salinity, or concentration of salt in the water, must be maintained within a narrow range. Salt is left behind in the remaining liquid when water evaporates, so Kara must periodically replenish the water that evaporates from the tank to keep the salinity in range. In considering whether she can leave the tank alone during a week-long business trip, Kara notes that, during her nine-day honeymoon, she left the tank unattended; while its salinity levels did increase, they were still well within the acceptable range when she returned from the trip. Kara concludes that, as long as the business trip is not extended beyond the planned dates, she can leave the tank unattended during the trip without endangering the fish.

Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument above?

(A) Immediately before leaving for her honeymoon, Kara added an unusually large amount of water to the tank, bringing its salinity levels down to their minimum safe levels.

(B) In the nine years during which Kara has worked for her current employer, none of her business trips has been extended beyond the planned end date, and she has returned from several of them earlier than planned.

(C) Many of Kara's fish experience significant physiological stress from rapid changes in salinity, such as those that occur when a large amount of water is replenished, even if overall salinity levels remain within the safe range.

(D) Since her honeymoon, Kara has moved to a desert region, in which the lack of humidity allows water to evaporate more quickly than in her previous home region.

(E) Since Kara's honeymoon, the walls of her aquarium have developed imperfections in which salt collects and crystallizes, rather than staying dissolved in the remaining water, when water evaporates.

 


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A-Incorrect: weakens as it says that with unusually low salinity then the tank had extra room for salinity to rise.
B-Incorrect: the passage assumes the trip will not be extended, does not say if salinity will remain safe.
C-Incorrect:this focuses on fish stress which is irrelevant.
D-Incorrect: this weakens the argument because salinity would rise faster than before.
E-Correct: salt crystallizing means less stays dissolved in the water, having salinity lower.
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A - doesn't link with business trip
B - Strengthens
C - weaken
D - weaken
E - does make sense but it brings variability which doesn't strengthen the statement.
IMO b
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Conclusion: As long as the business trip is not extended beyond the planned dates (a week long), she can leave the tank unattended during the trip without endangering the fish.
Reasoning: During her nine day honeymoon, she left the tank unattended, salinity levels were within the acceptable range when shre returned from the trip.

We need to find the choice that is strengthrning her conclusuon.

A - It's a weakener. It changes the comparision base level.
B - It supports Kara's conclusion taht depends on her trip not been extended. If her trip never extended, it's probable the her coclusion hold.
C - Weakener. It will increase the salinity levels.
D - weakener. Faster evaporation will increase the salinity level more.
E - Weakener.

Answer: B
Bunuel
Kara owns a salt-water aquarium in which the level of salinity, or concentration of salt in the water, must be maintained within a narrow range. Salt is left behind in the remaining liquid when water evaporates, so Kara must periodically replenish the water that evaporates from the tank to keep the salinity in range. In considering whether she can leave the tank alone during a week-long business trip, Kara notes that, during her nine-day honeymoon, she left the tank unattended; while its salinity levels did increase, they were still well within the acceptable range when she returned from the trip. Kara concludes that, as long as the business trip is not extended beyond the planned dates, she can leave the tank unattended during the trip without endangering the fish.

Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument above?

(A) Immediately before leaving for her honeymoon, Kara added an unusually large amount of water to the tank, bringing its salinity levels down to their minimum safe levels.

(B) In the nine years during which Kara has worked for her current employer, none of her business trips has been extended beyond the planned end date, and she has returned from several of them earlier than planned.

(C) Many of Kara's fish experience significant physiological stress from rapid changes in salinity, such as those that occur when a large amount of water is replenished, even if overall salinity levels remain within the safe range.

(D) Since her honeymoon, Kara has moved to a desert region, in which the lack of humidity allows water to evaporate more quickly than in her previous home region.

(E) Since Kara's honeymoon, the walls of her aquarium have developed imperfections in which salt collects and crystallizes, rather than staying dissolved in the remaining water, when water evaporates.

 


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Kara owns a salt-water aquarium in which the level of salinity, or concentration of salt in the water, must be maintained within a narrow range. Salt is left behind in the remaining liquid when water evaporates, so Kara must periodically replenish the water that evaporates from the tank to keep the salinity in range. In considering whether she can leave the tank alone during a week-long business trip, Kara notes that, during her nine-day honeymoon, she left the tank unattended; while its salinity levels did increase, they were still well within the acceptable range when she returned from the trip. Kara concludes that, as long as the business trip is not extended beyond the planned dates, she can leave the tank unattended during the trip without endangering the fish.


Premise :

Kara has a salt water aquarium , where the concentration must be maintained within a narrow range..
when water evaporates the salt is left behind.. periodically water is to be replenished to maintain salinity ...

Kara is leaving for a trip 9 days , tank was left unattended , salinity increased but it was within range..
conclusion she can leave tank unattended beyond planned dates ... without endangering fish.



Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument above?

strengthen type CR



(A) Immediately before leaving for her honeymoon, Kara added an unusually large amount of water to the tank, bringing its salinity levels down to their minimum safe levels.

this is a strong reason why level of salinity was within range.. as water added was high that rate of evaporation did not impact overall range..
correct option


(B) In the nine years during which Kara has worked for her current employer, none of her business trips has been extended beyond the planned end date, and she has returned from several of them earlier than planned.

this is not a strengthener nor a strong reason ; incorrect option

(C) Many of Kara's fish experience significant physiological stress from rapid changes in salinity, such as those that occur when a large amount of water is replenished, even if overall salinity levels remain within the safe range.

fish condition is not discussed in premise or conclusion ; its range of water salinity ; incorrect option

(D) Since her honeymoon, Kara has moved to a desert region, in which the lack of humidity allows water to evaporate more quickly than in her previous home region.

this will be a weakener .. not a strengthener ; incorrect option

(E) Since Kara's honeymoon, the walls of her aquarium have developed imperfections in which salt collects and crystallizes, rather than staying dissolved in the remaining water, when water evaporates.

the option does not address issue in discusssion ; incorrect option

OPTION A; is correct
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Kara's argument is that she left the aquarium unattended for 9 days during her honeymoon and the salinity increased but stayed within the safe range. Therefore, she believes it will also be safe to leave the aquarium unattended during her 7-day business trip. If we can prove that the conditions during the business trip are at least as safe as, or safer than they were during the honeymoon we can strenghten the argument.

(A) says that Kara added an unusually large amount of water before leaving for her honeymoon, bringing the salinity to the minimum safe level.

If in a way the tank was protected with extra water before the honeymoon trip it clearly had an advantage which the business trip scenario doesn't have. This actually weakens the argument.

(B) says none of Kara's business trips has ever been extended beyond the planned end date and she has even returned early from some trips.

This can strengthen the argument because Kara's conclusion depends on the fact that her trip is lasting only the planned 7 days. If business trips are consistently not extended then it's reasonable to rely on the planned duration. We can hold on to this option but lets look into other option to see if we can find a stronger choice.

(C) says the fish experience stress when a large amount of water is added at once.

Kara is deciding whether to leave the tank alone, not whether adding water later is harmful. This is unrelated to the argument.

(D) says Kara now lives in a desert where water evaporates faster.

the salinity could increase much faster than it did during the honeymoon if there is faster evaporation. This weakens the argument because

(E) says salt now crystallizes on the aquarium walls instead of remaining dissolved in the water.

If some salt is removed from the water as it crystallizes the salinity would increase more slowly. This does in a way strengthen the argument but it introduces a new condition that changes the aquarium itself. Here he argument is based on comparing the length of the two trips and (B) more directly supports the assumption that the business trip will remain shorter than the successful 9-day honeymoon. E is a trap choice since it deviated from the premise

Answer: Option B
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conclusion: as long as business trip is not extended beyond planned dates, fish tank can be left unattended.
premise: during nine-day honeymoon, tank was left unattended, salinity level then increased but within safe limits.
assumption: all other factors have been constant since then and now such as weather etc.

A) for honeymoon extra step was taken to reduce salinity to minimum safe level, hence the increase happened but salinity did not go above safe limit, we do not know if that is going to be done this time around hence weakening the argument that fish tank can be left unattended now as well.
B) what happened in past does not guarantee it will happen this time around, could be some extenuating circumstance forcing her to stay back longer.
C) weakens the premise that it was not safe to leave the fish tank unattended last time around on honeymoon trip. we attack the assumption and hence conclusion, not the premise so incorrect.
D) external factor has changed which weakens the conclusion. water now evaporating faster will increase salinity levels more rapidly.
E) salinity increases when water evaporates & salt is left behind in remaining liquid. If now that salt crystallizes in aquarium walls' imperfections rather than staying back in remaining liquid, it strengthens the argument that salinity will not rise or increase slowly than did previously and hence it is safe to leave fish tank unattended in this trip. correct.
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A. This actually weakens the argument because it shows the salinity levels could have been because of the unusually high volume of water
B. Although this points to a shorter period, it says nothing about whether the water can be left unattended for that long
C. This is irrelevant as it offers information of an aftermath
D. This weakens the argument even more thanks to an even faster evaporation
E. This choice strengthens the conclusion by showing that the salinity can be maintained even better with the help of the walls imperfections
Ans E
Bunuel
Kara owns a salt-water aquarium in which the level of salinity, or concentration of salt in the water, must be maintained within a narrow range. Salt is left behind in the remaining liquid when water evaporates, so Kara must periodically replenish the water that evaporates from the tank to keep the salinity in range. In considering whether she can leave the tank alone during a week-long business trip, Kara notes that, during her nine-day honeymoon, she left the tank unattended; while its salinity levels did increase, they were still well within the acceptable range when she returned from the trip. Kara concludes that, as long as the business trip is not extended beyond the planned dates, she can leave the tank unattended during the trip without endangering the fish.

Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument above?

(A) Immediately before leaving for her honeymoon, Kara added an unusually large amount of water to the tank, bringing its salinity levels down to their minimum safe levels.

(B) In the nine years during which Kara has worked for her current employer, none of her business trips has been extended beyond the planned end date, and she has returned from several of them earlier than planned.

(C) Many of Kara's fish experience significant physiological stress from rapid changes in salinity, such as those that occur when a large amount of water is replenished, even if overall salinity levels remain within the safe range.

(D) Since her honeymoon, Kara has moved to a desert region, in which the lack of humidity allows water to evaporate more quickly than in her previous home region.

(E) Since Kara's honeymoon, the walls of her aquarium have developed imperfections in which salt collects and crystallizes, rather than staying dissolved in the remaining water, when water evaporates.

 


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Option B In the nine years during which kara has ....
This statement strengthens the argument the most as it is gives clarity that the business trips from past were never extended and this validates the assumption that the water level will remain at an acceptable level

Why others are not the sol
A) this weakens the argument as it tells us that the salinity levels were already down as they added more water
C) This statement is not relevant for the statement as we are talking about the living conditions for fish that has nothing to do with the conclusion
D) this statement weakens the argument as it is saying after moving there will be more chances of water evaporating beyond a safe level
E) weakens the statement as the salt crystallizes the safe limit will not be correct causing improper readings
Bunuel
Kara owns a salt-water aquarium in which the level of salinity, or concentration of salt in the water, must be maintained within a narrow range. Salt is left behind in the remaining liquid when water evaporates, so Kara must periodically replenish the water that evaporates from the tank to keep the salinity in range. In considering whether she can leave the tank alone during a week-long business trip, Kara notes that, during her nine-day honeymoon, she left the tank unattended; while its salinity levels did increase, they were still well within the acceptable range when she returned from the trip. Kara concludes that, as long as the business trip is not extended beyond the planned dates, she can leave the tank unattended during the trip without endangering the fish.

Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument above?

(A) Immediately before leaving for her honeymoon, Kara added an unusually large amount of water to the tank, bringing its salinity levels down to their minimum safe levels.

(B) In the nine years during which Kara has worked for her current employer, none of her business trips has been extended beyond the planned end date, and she has returned from several of them earlier than planned.

(C) Many of Kara's fish experience significant physiological stress from rapid changes in salinity, such as those that occur when a large amount of water is replenished, even if overall salinity levels remain within the safe range.

(D) Since her honeymoon, Kara has moved to a desert region, in which the lack of humidity allows water to evaporate more quickly than in her previous home region.

(E) Since Kara's honeymoon, the walls of her aquarium have developed imperfections in which salt collects and crystallizes, rather than staying dissolved in the remaining water, when water evaporates.

 


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Conclusion: For Kara's 7-day business trip, she can leave the tank unattended without endangering the fish.

Evidence
- Salinity level in the aquarium must be maintained within a narrow range
- Kara must periodically replenish the water to keep the salinity in range
- During the 9-day honeymoon, she left the tank unattended; its salinity did increase

Missing link/assumption:
- there is an X factor that manages the salinity level during the 9-day honeymoon.

Most strengthen:
E. Since Kara's honeymoon, the walls developed in which SALT COLLECTS and CRYSTALLIZES, rather than staying dissolved, when water evaporates
-> meaning these wall imperfections become the external X factor that manages the salinity level of Kara's aquarium.

Others might be incorrect.
A. It weakens
B. It does not address the X factor that impacts the salinity level of the aquarium
C. Fish's stress is irrelevant to the arguments
D. The lack of humidity is not explain correlate with the salinity level of aquarium water.
Bunuel
Kara owns a salt-water aquarium in which the level of salinity, or concentration of salt in the water, must be maintained within a narrow range. Salt is left behind in the remaining liquid when water evaporates, so Kara must periodically replenish the water that evaporates from the tank to keep the salinity in range. In considering whether she can leave the tank alone during a week-long business trip, Kara notes that, during her nine-day honeymoon, she left the tank unattended; while its salinity levels did increase, they were still well within the acceptable range when she returned from the trip. Kara concludes that, as long as the business trip is not extended beyond the planned dates, she can leave the tank unattended during the trip without endangering the fish.

Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument above?

(A) Immediately before leaving for her honeymoon, Kara added an unusually large amount of water to the tank, bringing its salinity levels down to their minimum safe levels.

(B) In the nine years during which Kara has worked for her current employer, none of her business trips has been extended beyond the planned end date, and she has returned from several of them earlier than planned.

(C) Many of Kara's fish experience significant physiological stress from rapid changes in salinity, such as those that occur when a large amount of water is replenished, even if overall salinity levels remain within the safe range.

(D) Since her honeymoon, Kara has moved to a desert region, in which the lack of humidity allows water to evaporate more quickly than in her previous home region.

(E) Since Kara's honeymoon, the walls of her aquarium have developed imperfections in which salt collects and crystallizes, rather than staying dissolved in the remaining water, when water evaporates.

 


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