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16 Sep 2014, 01:46
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E
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
45%
(medium)
Question Stats:
65% (01:54) correct
35%
(02:01)
wrong
based on 270
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Lead water main pipes deliver water to homes and businesses all over the city of Redmond. Because of health concerns related to lead, specially trained workers are required to repair the water main pipes, and without repairs, the water main pipes would eventually cease to deliver water effectively. Therefore, taxpayers in the city of Redmond must continue to provide funds to train workers to repair lead-containing materials safely.
Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the argument above?
A. When water main pipes cease to function effectively, they can be left in place without raising health concerns.
B. Although lead water main pipes are a necessary part of the delivery of water in Redmond, some residents also obtain a portion of their water from wells.
C. In response to public demands, the Redmond city council has cut funding for the training of repair workers and increased spending on the city's mass transit system.
D. Repair of water main pipes requires workers to spend long periods of time underground, which increases the expense of training these workers.
E. The development of a safe and durable material for pipes has made repairing lead water main pipes more costly and less practical than replacing them.
Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the argument above?
A. When water main pipes cease to function effectively, they can be left in place without raising health concerns.
B. Although lead water main pipes are a necessary part of the delivery of water in Redmond, some residents also obtain a portion of their water from wells.
C. In response to public demands, the Redmond city council has cut funding for the training of repair workers and increased spending on the city's mass transit system.
D. Repair of water main pipes requires workers to spend long periods of time underground, which increases the expense of training these workers.
E. The development of a safe and durable material for pipes has made repairing lead water main pipes more costly and less practical than replacing them.
16 Sep 2014, 01:46
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Official Solution:
Lead water main pipes deliver water to homes and businesses all over the city of Redmond. Because of health concerns related to lead, specially trained workers are required to repair the water main pipes, and without repairs, the water main pipes would eventually cease to deliver water effectively. Therefore, taxpayers in the city of Redmond must continue to provide funds to train workers to repair lead-containing materials safely.
Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the argument above?
A. When water main pipes cease to function effectively, they can be left in place without raising health concerns.
B. Although lead water main pipes are a necessary part of the delivery of water in Redmond, some residents also obtain a portion of their water from wells.
C. In response to public demands, the Redmond city council has cut funding for the training of repair workers and increased spending on the city's mass transit system.
D. Repair of water main pipes requires workers to spend long periods of time underground, which increases the expense of training these workers.
E. The development of a safe and durable material for pipes has made repairing lead water main pipes more costly and less practical than replacing them.
Lead pipes deliver water to residents of the city of Redmond. Only specially trained workers can repair the pipes, and without repair, they would eventually stop working. Thus, Redmond taxpayers must continue to fund the training of these workers.
The question asks for something that would weaken the claim that Redmond taxpayers must continue to fund the training of workers who repair the pipes. The pipes must be repaired because they deliver water to the citizens of Redmond. If something other than these particular pipes could deliver water to the citizens of Redmond, then the argument that the citizens of Redmond must pay for repairs of these pipes would be weakened.
Choice A states that when the pipes stop working, they can be left in place without raising health concerns. However, this does not explain how Redmond's citizens will get water without repairing these pipes.
Choice B states that while these pipes are necessary for the delivery of water, Redmond residents also get some water from wells. Although this does provide an additional source of some water, choice B emphasizes the necessity of lead water pipes (and thus the need to make sure that they are repaired when they need it).
Choice C states that Redmond has decided to put less money towards the training of pipe repair workers and more money into maintaining the city's mass transit system. While this answer choice suggests that public may not understand the need to repair pipes, it does not provide any reason to doubt this need.
Choice D states that pipe repair workers must work underground; therefore, their training is especially expensive. This makes pipe repairs seem even more challenging and expensive, but no less necessary.
Choice E states that it's cheaper and more practical to replace lead pipes with a new type of pipe than to repair the lead pipes. This undermines the conclusion that repair workers must be trained; Redmond could get its water through new pipes more cheaply.
Answer: E
Lead water main pipes deliver water to homes and businesses all over the city of Redmond. Because of health concerns related to lead, specially trained workers are required to repair the water main pipes, and without repairs, the water main pipes would eventually cease to deliver water effectively. Therefore, taxpayers in the city of Redmond must continue to provide funds to train workers to repair lead-containing materials safely.
Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the argument above?
A. When water main pipes cease to function effectively, they can be left in place without raising health concerns.
B. Although lead water main pipes are a necessary part of the delivery of water in Redmond, some residents also obtain a portion of their water from wells.
C. In response to public demands, the Redmond city council has cut funding for the training of repair workers and increased spending on the city's mass transit system.
D. Repair of water main pipes requires workers to spend long periods of time underground, which increases the expense of training these workers.
E. The development of a safe and durable material for pipes has made repairing lead water main pipes more costly and less practical than replacing them.
Lead pipes deliver water to residents of the city of Redmond. Only specially trained workers can repair the pipes, and without repair, they would eventually stop working. Thus, Redmond taxpayers must continue to fund the training of these workers.
The question asks for something that would weaken the claim that Redmond taxpayers must continue to fund the training of workers who repair the pipes. The pipes must be repaired because they deliver water to the citizens of Redmond. If something other than these particular pipes could deliver water to the citizens of Redmond, then the argument that the citizens of Redmond must pay for repairs of these pipes would be weakened.
Choice A states that when the pipes stop working, they can be left in place without raising health concerns. However, this does not explain how Redmond's citizens will get water without repairing these pipes.
Choice B states that while these pipes are necessary for the delivery of water, Redmond residents also get some water from wells. Although this does provide an additional source of some water, choice B emphasizes the necessity of lead water pipes (and thus the need to make sure that they are repaired when they need it).
Choice C states that Redmond has decided to put less money towards the training of pipe repair workers and more money into maintaining the city's mass transit system. While this answer choice suggests that public may not understand the need to repair pipes, it does not provide any reason to doubt this need.
Choice D states that pipe repair workers must work underground; therefore, their training is especially expensive. This makes pipe repairs seem even more challenging and expensive, but no less necessary.
Choice E states that it's cheaper and more practical to replace lead pipes with a new type of pipe than to repair the lead pipes. This undermines the conclusion that repair workers must be trained; Redmond could get its water through new pipes more cheaply.
Answer: E
05 Jan 2015, 01:56
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Conclusion: Fund training workers to repair lead-containing materials safely.
Weaken: Do not fund or replace instead of repair
E. fits in perfectly.
Weaken: Do not fund or replace instead of repair
E. fits in perfectly.
Bunuel
Lead water main pipes deliver water to homes and businesses all over the city of Redmond. Because of health concerns related to lead, specially trained workers are required to repair the water main pipes, and without repairs, the water main pipes would eventually cease to deliver water effectively. Therefore, taxpayers in the city of Redmond must continue to provide funds to train workers to repair lead-containing materials safely.
Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the argument above?
A. When water main pipes cease to function effectively, they can be left in place without raising health concerns.
B. Although lead water main pipes are a necessary part of the delivery of water in Redmond, some residents also obtain a portion of their water from wells.
C. In response to public demands, the Redmond city council has cut funding for the training of repair workers and increased spending on the city's mass transit system.
D. Repair of water main pipes requires workers to spend long periods of time underground, which increases the expense of training these workers.
E. The development of a safe and durable material for pipes has made repairing lead water main pipes more costly and less practical than replacing them.
Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the argument above?
A. When water main pipes cease to function effectively, they can be left in place without raising health concerns.
B. Although lead water main pipes are a necessary part of the delivery of water in Redmond, some residents also obtain a portion of their water from wells.
C. In response to public demands, the Redmond city council has cut funding for the training of repair workers and increased spending on the city's mass transit system.
D. Repair of water main pipes requires workers to spend long periods of time underground, which increases the expense of training these workers.
E. The development of a safe and durable material for pipes has made repairing lead water main pipes more costly and less practical than replacing them.
