The quality of unrefined olive oil is not actually defined

Question

The quality of unrefined olive oil is not actually defined in terms of acidity, yet extensive tests have shown that the less free oleic acid an unrefined olive oil contains per liter, the higher its quality. The proportion of free oleic acid that an olive oil contains is an accurate measure of the oilâ€™s acidity.

If the statements above are all true, which of the following conclusions is best supported by them?

A. When an olive oil is refined, the concentration of oleic acid in the oil is reduced.

B. The quality of an unrefined olive oil can be determined only by accurately measuring its acidity.

C. If an unrefined olive oil is intermediate in acidity between two other unrefined olive oils, it will also be intermediate between them in quality.

D. Free oleic acid is the only acid that unrefined olive oil contains.

E. People who judge the quality of unrefined olive oils actually judge those oils by their acidity, which the judges can taste.

paddy · Answer

This is a real tricky one, both B & C are very close.

Yet, I would go for option C.

Option B - The passage never states that measurement of acidity is the only factor of determining quality of unrefined olive oil. Hence B does not stand fully true.

Option C - The passage however mentions that the amount of free oleic acid an unrefined olive oil contains is directly proportional to its quality. It also mentions that amount of free oleic acid can determine olive oils acidity. By linking the two statements C can be concluded:

"If an unrefined olive oil is intermediate in acidity between two other unrefined olive oils, it will also be intermediate between them in quality. "

christoph · Answer

C)

A. When an olive oil is refined, the concentration of oleic acid in the oil is reduced. => i think oleic acid and free oleic acid is different => wrong

B. The quality of an unrefined olive oil can be determined only by accurately measuring its acidity. => only is too strong => maybe there are other measures => wrong

C. If an unrefined olive oil is intermediate in acidity between two other unrefined olive oils, it will also be intermediate between them in quality. => right

D. Free oleic acid is the only acid that unrefined olive oil contains. => again "only" => maybe there are other acids => wrong

E. People who judge the quality of unrefined olive oils actually judge those oils by their acidity, which the judges can taste. => nothing about this in the argument => wrong

dipaksingh · Answer

well agree with C , but cant negate D

the stem has as evidence ---"The proportion of free oleic acid that an olive oil contains is an accurate measure of the oilâ€™s acidity". 

this can only be true if there are no other acids present in unrefined olive oil.
in a way D is the best assumption,

any one tell me how to negate D.

gmat2me2 · Answer

The option D says that the oelic acid is the  ONLY  acid that unrefined olive oil contains. But that was not mentioned in the stem.

Since it is a conclusion question we should use the preimises mentioned and come to a conclusion. And the premises do not mention that oelic acid is the ONLY thing which olive oil contains. It says that the quality of the olive oil changes depending on the oelic acid

chunjuwu · Answer

Yes 

OA is C.

Folaa3 · Answer

It took me a while to figure why it is C. I guess I need to take my time in reading the stimuli

The quality of unrefined olive oil is not actually defined

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