Scientist: There is a finite amount of helium, which is a key

Question

Scientist: There is a finite amount of helium, which is a key component of MRI magnets, in the world. Because the supply is not renewable, it is frivolous to waste this precious resource on such products as party balloons. Instead, we should use other gases, such as hydrogen, to fill balloons, and the price of helium should be raised significantly to make it prohibitive for such trivial purposes.

Which of the following, if true, provides the strongest support for the suggestion that the price of helium should be raised?

(A) Other medical imaging tests exist that do not require helium to function.

(B) Hydrogen is at least as plentiful as helium, and is not a finite resource.

(C) The cost of the helium used for medical purposes is already significantly higher than helium sold on the open market.

(D) A survey of patients has shown that they do not mind paying slightly more for services if doing so helps the environment.

(E) 80% of people who purchase gases for party balloons cite the price of helium as one of their top three considerations in choosing it.

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ManifestMBAbay25 · Answer

Premises - MRI magnets use helium which is a finite resource and should not be wasted. 
Conclusion - party balloons should use other gases like hydrogen and price of helium should be raised so that it cannot be used so frivolously.

(A) Other medical imaging tests exist that do not require helium to function. - this is weakening the argument.  Incorrect

(B) Hydrogen is at least as plentiful as helium, and is not a finite resource. - provides support to the argument but do not justify why the price of helium should be raised.  Incorrect .

(C) The cost of the helium used for medical purposes is already significantly higher than helium sold on the open market. - the author's suggestion is to increase the price for party helium so that it cannot be used for trivial purposes. this is talking about medical helium and its price so not adding any value to the suggestion.  Incorrect

(D) A survey of patients has shown that they do not mind paying slightly more for services if doing so helps the environment. - the patients can pay more but again it does not say anything about the helium used in trivial activities and how to minimize that.  Incorrect

(E) 80% of people who purchase gases for party balloons cite the price of helium as one of their top three considerations in choosing it. - this gives us a reason why increasing the price of helium for party balloons can change the decision for 80% of the people who buy these balloons.  Correct

NextstopISB · Answer

The scientist argues that helium is a finite resource essential for MRI magnets, so its use for trivial purposes like party balloons should be discouraged by raising its price.

To support raising the price, the correct answer should show that increasing the price would reduce frivolous helium use.

Option Analysis:

(A) Other medical imaging tests exist that do not require helium to function. 
- This weakens the argument by suggesting that MRI machines might not be essential. 
- Incorrect.

(B) Hydrogen is at least as plentiful as helium and is not a finite resource. 
- This supports the idea of using hydrogen instead but does not directly justify raising helium prices. 
- Incorrect.

(C) The cost of the helium used for medical purposes is already significantly higher than helium sold on the open market. 
- This is about current pricing but does not support raising helium prices further. 
- Incorrect.

(D) A survey of patients has shown that they do not mind paying slightly more for services if doing so helps the environment. 
- This is about patients, not helium users, and does not address discouraging party balloon use. 
- Incorrect.

(E) 80% of people who purchase gases for party balloons cite the price of helium as one of their top three considerations in choosing it. 
- This strongly supports the argument because it suggests that increasing the price would reduce frivolous helium use. 
- Correct answer.

Final Answer: (E)

Bunuel · Answer

Official Explanation

Answer = (E).

The scientist in this passage has concluded that hydrogen, not helium, should be used to fill balloons, and that helium should be made more expensive. His evidence is the finite supply of helium. To strengthen the link between these ideas, we need to connect consumer use of helium to its low price. (E) does this by suggesting that one of the reasons people use helium for party balloons is its low price.

The scientist is going after frivolous, not medical, uses of helium (A). Furthermore, even if other medical imaging tests exist that do not require helium, look at the evidence the scientist cites: the supply of helium is finite. Identifying other medical imaging tests does not change that fact.

Choice (B) focuses on hydrogen, which is one example cited, but not necessarily the only substitute for helium. The fact that hydrogen is "at least as plentiful" for helium is promising. Does hydrogen have other issues, such as its flammability, that make its use at parties problematic? We don't know, but that's a possibility. Finally, this final line is completely unrealistic: hydrogen is "not a finite resource." What in tarnation does this mean? The entire Visible Universe is finite! What does it mean for a resource not to be finite? Does some divine being continual supply humans with unlimited hydrogen? How does such a resource fit into any known economic system? This last line raises many more questions than it answers. This does not provide strong support because of all the questions this raises.

If medical helium is already more expensive than the helium sold to consumers, (C), this tells us nothing about the finite supply of the gas, only about its price. To provide a strong strengthener, the statement has to connect the finite supply to the price, as in (E).

(D) is vague: to pay slightly more for services doesn’t tell us what people would think about raising the price of helium. It also doesn’t create a connection between the limited supplies of the gas and the possible price hike.

Scientist: There is a finite amount of helium, which is a key

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Scientist: There is a finite amount of helium, which is a key

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

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