High-intensity sonic travel systems generate

Question

High-intensity sonic travel systems generate powerful shock waves that can disturb communities along flight paths. Current commercial supersonic aircraft are permitted to operate only over oceans because no satisfactory method has yet been developed to eliminate the harmful effects of sonic booms over populated areas. Since no viable long-term solution has been devised, some policymakers propose that all research into commercial supersonic passenger travel should cease and that no new supersonic aircraft should be developed.

The proposal mentioned above falls short of offering a complete solution to the problem it addresses because

(A) it would prevent future advances in high-speed aviation technology.
(B) it does not distinguish between supersonic aircraft that generate loud sonic booms and those that generate quieter ones.
(C) it does not address the disturbances caused by supersonic aircraft that are already in operation.
(D) conventional subsonic aircraft are generally more fuel-efficient than supersonic aircraft.
(E) the benefits of faster travel are enjoyed immediately, whereas the effects of sonic booms are experienced only occasionally.

guddo · Answer

High-intensity sonic travel systems generate powerful shock waves that can disturb communities along flight paths. Current commercial supersonic aircraft are permitted to operate only over oceans because no satisfactory method has yet been developed to eliminate the harmful effects of sonic booms over populated areas. Since no viable long-term solution has been devised, some policymakers propose that all research into commercial supersonic passenger travel should cease and that no new supersonic aircraft should be developed.
 
 The proposal mentioned above falls short of offering a complete solution to the problem it addresses because

The problem is sonic-boom disturbance from supersonic aircraft. The proposal stops future research and future aircraft, but it does not deal with supersonic aircraft that already exist.  The gap  is that stopping future development does not necessarily stop  current disturbances .

(A) it would prevent future advances in high-speed aviation technology.

This may be a disadvantage of the proposal, but it does not show why the proposal is incomplete as a solution to sonic-boom disturbance.

(B) it does not distinguish between supersonic aircraft that generate loud sonic booms and those that generate quieter ones.

This is not the main issue. The proposal is broad, but the question asks why it does not fully solve the problem.

(C) it does not address the disturbances caused by supersonic aircraft that are already in operation.

This is correct. Even if no new aircraft are developed and research stops, existing supersonic aircraft may still cause sonic-boom disturbances. So the proposal does not completely solve the problem.

(D) conventional subsonic aircraft are generally more fuel-efficient than supersonic aircraft.

This is irrelevant. The issue is sonic-boom disturbance, not fuel efficiency.

(E) the benefits of faster travel are enjoyed immediately, whereas the effects of sonic booms are experienced only occasionally.

This does not show the proposal is incomplete. It compares benefits and harms, but does not identify an unsolved part of the problem.

Answer: (C)

officiisnobis · Answer

We need to find why this proposal fails to solve whole issue - 
(A) Wrong - the issue is with the sound it creates
(B) Wrong - proposal is for all types of aircraft. No distinguishing feature like sound is mentioned.
(C) Correct - because if there are aircraft already in use then this proposal does not resolve that
(D) Wrong - Just a fact
(E) Wrong - Again just a statement that does not show how proposal is incomplete

joydipb01 · Answer

Probably because < 60% got it right. I had marked it a 505-555 originally

officiisnobis · Answer

probably because fewer people got it right and there were very few attempts.

gullyboy09 · Answer

High-intensity sonic travel systems generate powerful shock waves that can disturb communities along flight paths. Current commercial supersonic aircraft are permitted to operate only over oceans because no satisfactory method has yet been developed to eliminate the harmful effects of sonic booms over populated areas. Since no viable long-term solution has been devised, some policymakers propose that all research into commercial supersonic passenger travel should cease and that no new supersonic aircraft should be developed.

The proposal mentioned above falls short of offering a complete solution to the problem it addresses because

First of all, it is not very clear what problem passage is trying to solve here! In short, passage said it has harmful effects on communities along path, and no solution has been devised, so let's stop the research all together. What's the problem passage tried solving here?

(C) it does not address the disturbances caused by supersonic aircraft that are already in operation -> Here it's already mentioned current ones fly only in ocean so I don't see them creating any issue.

And passage is not consistent with terms, initially it used "High intensity sonic", and then "super sonic", it was a bit confusing.

egmat · Answer

Hi gullyboy09,

Let's first nail down the problem, because everything hinges on that.

What problem is the proposal trying to solve?  The very first line tells you: supersonic aircraft "generate powerful shock waves that can  disturb communities along flight paths ." That disturbance - the harmful effect of sonic booms on people - is  the problem . (And yes, the "high-intensity sonic travel systems" in the opening line and "supersonic aircraft" later are the same thing - just a fancier label for the intro.)

The proposal's fix is:  stop future research  and  build no new supersonic aircraft . Notice what that touches - only the  future . It says nothing about the planes flying today.

Now your objection to (C).  You're reading "they fly only over oceans" as "so they cause no disturbance." But look at  why  they're restricted to oceans: "because  no satisfactory method has yet been developed to eliminate the harmful effects  of sonic booms over populated areas." The ocean rule is a stopgap, not a cure - it exists precisely  because  the boom problem is unsolved. Those existing aircraft are still generating booms and still part of the very problem being discussed. Banning new planes does nothing about them.

That's the gap (C) points to: the proposal can't be a  complete  solution because the current planes - a live source of the problem - are left untouched.

A simpler version of the same move:

A town's air is being polluted by its factories. Proposal:  ban all new factories and stop factory research.

Does that clean the air? No - the  existing  factories keep polluting. Blocking the future never fixes what's already running. That is exactly what (C) says about the supersonic planes already in operation.

Answer: C

Genius001 · Answer

The problem is sonic booms from existing supersonic aircraft. The proposal only stops future research and new aircraft, but it doesn't solve the noise caused by aircraft already flying.

So the proposal is incomplete, making C the best answer.

High-intensity sonic travel systems generate

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High-intensity sonic travel systems generate

Prep Toolkit

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

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My Rewards