The Nordlingen WE luxury sports car uses a special imported rosewood

Question

The Nordlingen WE luxury sports car uses a special imported rosewood in the extensive wood trimming of its interior. Unfortunately, trade sanctions imposed on the nation that is the primary supplier of that type of rosewood has resulted in a considerable increase in the price of the now extremely rare commodity. Purchasers of the new models of the Nordlingen WE can expect to see that increase reflected in an increase in Nordlingen's ticket price.

The conclusion above is based on the assumption that...

(A) The price of the Nordlingen WE would not have risen even if the trade sanctions hadn't been imposed on the primary supplier of Nordlingen's rosewood.

(B) The price of the rosewood is a major contributing factor to the Nordlingen WE's ticket price.

(C) More of the imported rosewood is used for the Nordlingen WE's wood trim than for any other domestic purpose.

(D) The imported rosewood will continue to be used for the wood trim in the new models of the Nordlingen WE.

(E) There was not some reason for the imposition of the trade sanctions on the primary supplier of the rosewood of sufficient importance to outweigh the concerns of the domestic rosewood consumers.

ankita · Accepted Answer

if you negate B, it says that the price of rosewood is not a major contributing factor to the Nordlingen WE's ticket price. but even being a small factor it could factor into the increased price of the car, though it will be small.

now if you refute D, the conclusion will fall apart completely, as the imported rosewood would not be used at all in the new models.

banerjeea_98 · Answer

"D". For the price to increase, wood has to be used and then its price has to increase. D tells us that author assumed that even in new models this wood be used.

rthothad · Answer

The conclusion here is the last statement:
"Purchasers of the new models of the Nordlingen WE can expect to see that  increase reflected  in an increase  in   Nordlingen's ticket price ".

It cannot be 'C' becos the conclusion is concerned about the increase in price & not about the usage of imported rosewood, so it is 'D'

briks123 · Answer

Between B and D, I go with D. Argument assumes that this "extremely rare commodity" will still be used in the manufacturing of the cars.

RycherX · Answer

If you negate choice B, wouldn't the argument fall apart?
Can I infer that "major factor" will effect the price?

ashkrs · Answer

I think D . 
A - That is a fact
B - Well this may be as assumption 
C - Out of context
D - Assumtion stronger than B
E - Out of context

lexis · Answer

Oh, I got some mistakes. After reread the passage, I concur that D is the best answer.

Let me crack B, 
The conclusion must base on assumption that rosewood will still used in next generation of WE models.
B reveals flaw when we cast doubt on the MAJOR FACTOR, wonder what will happen if it is NOT major factor, but rather second or third factor? Price of WE still increases!

Therefore, D is BEST :D

bschool17 · Answer

First read and A, C and E are out.

B/w B & D apply negation tech. i.e. after negating the assumption should weaken the argument.
negating D  demolishes  the argument ... so go with D

always use negation in Assumption Q when stuck (only after eliminating a few options) !

KHow · Answer

Hello,

I am also torn regarding why B is not the correct answer. Could someone please provide insight about why B is out? It seems like a valid argument to me.

Thank you!

VeritasPrepBrian · Answer

lexis and ankita nail it above - it's that addition of the word "major" that dooms (B). We don't need rosewood to be a MAJOR factor in the price...as long as it's a factor at all, then the increase in rosewood cost can still be reflected in the overall price.

Two big lessons here:

1) Precision in wording matters! Especially in the cases of the conclusions of arguments, the major premise leading to a conclusion, or assumption answer choices, if an adjective (like "major") or modifier is added, it's usually a huge deal.

Here without "major" (B) would be correct. But like lexis and ankita mentioned, we don't  need  rosewood to be a  major  cost contributor, and assumptions are necessary premises.

2) Whenever a conclusion of a strengthen/weaken/assumption question, or the objective of a plan/strategy question, mentions an increase or decrease, even a marginal increase or decrease will satisfy that! Unless that conclusion/objective specifically calls out a threshold (a major reduction, a 50% increase), then you just need to get some, even small, level of increase/decrease. But the testmakers know that your mind wants to go to a big increase/decrease, so there will be trap answers that tempt you with "but it won't be that big of an increase/decrease." Make sure you stay tight to the actual conclusion, which in this case is just "an increase."

napolean92728 · Answer

The  correct answer is (D)  The imported rosewood will continue to be used for the wood trim in the new models of the Nordlingen WE.
The argument concludes that purchasers of new Nordlingen WE models can expect a price increase due to the increased cost of rosewood. This conclusion is only valid if the company continues to use this specific imported rosewood in the new models rather than switching to a different material or wood type.

Let me analyze why the other options are incorrect:
 (A)  Incorrect: The argument doesn't assume anything about whether prices would have risen without sanctions. It only connects the sanctions to the current price increase.
 (B)  Incorrect: While the argument does suggest rosewood contributes to the car's price, it doesn't assume it's a "major" factor. Even a small component's price increase could be passed on to consumers.
 (C)  Incorrect: The argument makes no comparison between how much rosewood is used in the Nordlingen versus other domestic purposes. This information is irrelevant to the conclusion about price increases.
 (E)  Incorrect: The argument doesn't make any assumptions about the justification for or importance of the trade sanctions. It only deals with the effect of those sanctions on rosewood availability and price.

The Nordlingen WE luxury sports car uses a special imported rosewood

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The Nordlingen WE luxury sports car uses a special imported rosewood

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

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