The RP-12 telecommunication satellite has veered substantially from

Question

The RP-12 telecommunication satellite has veered substantially from its intended orbit.  The reason for this is a glancing collision with a piece of debris from another satellite that malfunctioned two weeks ago.  Telescope images reveal that the RP-12 has a precisely circular dent 3 inches in diameter;  this shape could not have been the result of contact with a meteoroid or other naturally occurring space object.

In the argument given, the two portions in  boldface  play which of the following roles?

(A) The first is a premise that is used to support an unstated conclusion; the second is another premise used to support the same conclusion.
(B) The first is a premise used to support the argument’s conclusion; the second is that conclusion.
(C) The first is the argument’s conclusion; the second is a premise used to support that conclusion.
(D) The first is the argument’s conclusion; the second is another conclusion that can be inferred from the first one.
(E) The first is the argument’s conclusion; the second is a piece of information used to confirm the possibility of alternate conclusions.

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Question 19: RP-12 Satellite

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nghiabui2012 · Answer

1: reason
2: states that the first may not a reason.
=> E

winterschool · Answer

The RP-12 telecommunication satellite has veered substantially from its intended orbit. The reason for this is a glancing collision with a piece of debris from another satellite that malfunctioned two weeks ago. Telescope images reveal that the RP-12 has a precisely circular dent 3 inches in diameter; this shape could not have been the result of contact with a meteoroid or other naturally occurring space object.

In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

(A) The first is a premise that is used to support an unstated conclusion; the second is another premise used to support the same conclusion.
(B) The first is a premise used to support the argument’s conclusion; the second is that conclusion.
(C) The first is the argument’s conclusion; the second is a premise used to support that conclusion.
(D) The first is the argument’s conclusion; the second is another conclusion that can be inferred from the first one.
(E) The first is the argument’s conclusion; the second is a piece of information used to confirm the possibility of alternate conclusions.

first is conclusion and second is a claim

A & B - eliminate

D - second is not a conclusion and its a claim, cant be inferred from first

E - second is not support alternate conclusion

answer should be - C

tinbq · Answer

IMO: C - the first boldface is the argument's main conclusion (reason for the veered orbit) and the second boldface rules out alternate explanation, accordinly supports the main conclusion.

ramlala · Answer

(A) The first is not a premise but conclusion; the second is another premise used to support the same conclusion. not true. 
(B) The first is not a premise but conclusion; not true. 
(C) The first is the argument’s conclusion; the second is a premise used to support that conclusion. This is true. 
(D) The first is the argument’s conclusion; the second is not another conclusion. Not true. 
(E) The first is the argument’s conclusion; the second is a piece of information used to confirm the possibility of alternate conclusions. There is no alternate solution. Not true.

Ans. C

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Mo2men · Answer

How come the first is conclusion?

The reason for this = because

Can you put 'therefore' test?

EMPOWERgmatVerbal · Answer

Official Explanation:

The RP-12 telecommunication satellite has veered substantially from its intended orbit.  The reason for this is a glancing collision with a piece of debris from another satellite that malfunctioned two weeks ago.  Telescope images reveal that the RP-12 has a precisely circular dent 3 inches in diameter;  this shape could not have been the result of contact with a meteoroid or other naturally occurring space object. 
 
 In the argument given, the two portions in  boldface  play which of the following roles? 
 
 (A) The first is a premise that is used to support an unstated conclusion; the second is another premise used to support the same conclusion. 
 (B) The first is a premise used to support the argument’s conclusion; the second is that conclusion. 
 (C) The first is the argument’s conclusion; the second is a premise used to support that conclusion. 
 (D) The first is the argument’s conclusion; the second is another conclusion that can be inferred from the first one. 
 (E) The first is the argument’s conclusion; the second is a piece of information used to confirm the possibility of alternate conclusions.

Question Type:   Bold Face CR
  Boil It Down:   The RP-12 satellite veered off course because it ran into debris from another satellite. We know this because it has a dent that could only be caused by another satellite, and not a meteoroid or space object.
  Goal:    Find the option that best shows the purpose of each bold face section.

Analysis:

This question asks us to explain the function of the boldfaced portions.
 
 Conclusion:  The RP-12 is off its orbit because it collided with debris from another satellite.
 
 Premise:  The shape of a dent on the RP-12 could not have been caused by other space objects.
 
The analysis above points to the correct choice. Because of the shape of the dent (premise), we know that the RP-12 was hit by debris from another satellite (conclusion). As choice C states, the conclusion is the first boldfaced portion, and this is supported by the second portion, which is the premise.

(A) The first is a premise that is used to support an unstated conclusion; the second is another premise used to support the same conclusion.
 The first part is not a premise; it is a conclusion. There is no unstated conclusion.

(B) The first is a premise used to support the argument’s conclusion; the second is that conclusion.
 This reverses the function of the two portions.

(C) The first is the argument’s conclusion; the second is a premise used to support that conclusion.
 This is the correct choice. As described in the analysis above, the first portion is a conclusion – it concludes that the satellite veered off-course because of a collision with parts of another satellite.

(D) The first is the argument’s conclusion; the second is another conclusion that can be inferred from the first one.
 The second portion is not a conclusion – it is a premise (evidence).

(E) The first is the argument’s conclusion; the second is a piece of information used to confirm the possibility of alternate conclusions.
 The second portion does not confirm alternates; it rules them out.

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winterschool · Answer

Mo2men

First is a position taken by authors and later all sentences or statement intended to support that position. so First bold face can be a conclusion.

Mo2men · Answer

Dear  GMATGuruNY ,

Can you please shed light on the role of first sentence in the question above?

Thanks

GMATGuruNY · Answer

Boldface 1:
 The reason for this  -- the fact that the RP-12 telecommunication satellite has veered substantially from its intended orbit --  is a glancing collision with a piece of debris from another satellite that malfunctioned two weeks ago .

WHY does the argument contend that DEBRIS caused the RP-12 to veer from its intended orbit?

Boldface 2:
 This shape  -- a circular dent 3 inches in diameter --  could not have been the result of contact with a meteoroid or other naturally occurring space object .

Boldface 2 explains why Boldface 1 is believed to be true.
Thus:
BF1 = conclusion
BF2 = premise
The correct answer is C:
 The first is the argument’s conclusion; the second is a premise used to support that conclusion.

C

Xolmuhammad · Answer

I still dont understand why the sentences starting with " the reason for this, since, because,"without any ambiguity can be the conclusion. We often see sentences starting "Thus, since........,..." or " therefore , since.......,....". But this is not like that. 
Furthermore , why is this sentence converging the conclusion and the premise in BF1 and taking it as a conclusion?

Experts, please help me!!!

Mo2men · Answer

Thanks  GMATGuruNY  for youe keen reply and support.

I still have unclear question about BF1. If I try to apply 'therefore' test between the BF1 and the previous sentence, then I do es not give senscial meaning. How come is BF1 a conclusion? Can you elaborate or do I miss something?

Thanks in advance

GMATGuruNY · Answer

In everyday writing,  this  may serve to stand in for not a specific noun but for an IDEA or FACT expressed in a preceding sentence.
  Mary was a good student .  This pleased her mother . 
Here,  this  = the fact expressed in the preceding blue sentence.
The sentence in green conveys the following meaning.
 THE FACT THAT MARY WAS A GOOD STUDENT pleased her mother. 
Note:
Generally, this sort of usage is not permissible in a Sentence Correction.

The RP-12 telecommunication satellite has veered substantially from its intended orbit .  The reason for this is a glancing collision with a piece of debris from another satellite that malfunctioned two weeks ago . 
In BF1,  this  = the fact expressed in the preceding blue sentence.
As a result, BF1 conveys the following meaning:
  The reason for  the fact that the RP-12 telecommunication satellite has veered substantially from its intended orbit  is a glancing collision with a piece of debris from another satellite that malfunctioned two weeks ago  .
Essentially, the blue sentence serves as an ANTECEDENT for  this .
As a result, it constitutes not a premise separate from BF1 but PART OF THE MEANING expressed by BF1.

GMATGuruNY · Answer

To confirm whether you have correctly identified the conclusion, apply the WHY TEST:
1. Ask why the apparent conclusion is true
2. The rest of the argument should provide an answer

In my earlier post, I explain that the first sentence in this CR serves as an ANTECEDENT for the usage of  this  in BF1.
As a result, BF1 expresses the following meaning:
  The reason for the fact that the RP-12 telecommunication satellite has veered substantially from its intended orbit is a glancing collision with a piece of debris from another satellite that malfunctioned two weeks ago.

Applying the WHY TEST to BF1, we get:
WHY is it true that  a glancing collision with a piece of debris  must be responsible for  the fact that the RP-12 telecommunication satellite has veered substantially from its intended orbit ?

The rest of the argument provides an answer:
 Telescope images reveal that the RP-12 has a precisely circular dent 3 inches in diameter; this shape could not have been the result of contact with a meteoroid or other naturally occurring space object.

BF1 passes the WHY TEST and thus constitutes the conclusion.

The RP-12 telecommunication satellite has veered substantially from

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GMAT Critical Reasoning (CR) Questions

The RP-12 telecommunication satellite has veered substantially from

Prep Toolkit

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

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

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Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards