Recently, a plane crashed near the outskirts of Berlin within minutes

Question

Recently, a plane crashed near the outskirts of Berlin within minutes after its takeoff from Berlin airport. Initial analysis confirmed that the crash was caused by either the usage of substandard fuel or a fault in the control board. Since the airport staff tested the control board before the plane took off, analysts hypothesize that the reason behind the plane crash was substandard fuel.

Which of the following options, if true, most strengthens the analysts’ hypothesis?

A. The black box, upon inspection, was found to belong to a generation of models more compatible with fighter planes than with passenger planes. 
B. Upon enquiry, the staff at Berlin airport confirmed that they indeed checked the control board before the plane took off. 
C. Using a low quality fuel can lead to engine failure and a subsequent plane crash. 
D. All the testing conducted by the airport staff is done very extensively to avoid any lapses. 
E. The plane belongs to the ZX3V series which contains a fuel combustion engine that is notoriously famous for explosions within minutes after takeoff.

johng2016 · Accepted Answer

Premise 1: A plane crashed after its takeoff. 
Premise 2: Analyst: Crash reasons = the usage of substandard fuel or a fault in the control board.
Premise 3: Airport staff tested the control board before the plane took off
Conclusion: Analysts hypothesize that the reason = substandard fuel.

A. The black box, upon inspection, was found to belong to a generation of models more compatible with fighter planes than with passenger planes. ==>  new information, there are no reason for a black box to position here => WRONG

B. Upon enquiry, the staff at Berlin airport confirmed that they indeed checked the control board before the plane took off.  ==> challenge the premise 3=> WRONG

C. Using a low quality fuel can lead to engine failure and a subsequent plane crash.  ==> show that substandard fuel cause crash => MAY BE RIGHT

D. All the testing conducted by the airport staff is done very extensively to avoid any lapses.   ==> support for the Premise 3 and eliminate the provision that the test result may show negative result (which may cause crash), as the premise 3 do not tell exactly about the test result ==> MAY BE RIGHT

E. The plane belongs to the ZX3V series which contains a fuel combustion engine that is notoriously famous for explosions within minutes after takeoff   ==> this answer choice tell about another reason may cause crash and therefore Weaken the conclusion => WRONG

Now we come back again to C and D

C:  When re-think, we can realize that this answer choice tell about a natural truth, but does not provide any proof that this plane use substandard fuel. Actually, it is more likely a paraphrase of the analysis. ==> WRONG

The only left one is D

tryambaks · Answer

Analysis of the argument: The plane could only crash for two reasons
1.Bad fuel
2.Control board fault
Airport authority already checked the control board before plane took off

So, for conclusion to be correct, i.e. the plane did crash because of Bad fuel , we have have eliminate any other issues that could contribute to the crash and bad fuel should be the only factor solely responsible for the crash.

Since we have only two contributing factors as stated in the argument and anything stated in the argument is 100% true, therefore we have make sure that all the checks(tests) done by airport authority are 100% full proof and there is nothing that escaped their test cases. And this is what is stated in option D: =>  All the testing conducted by the airport staff is done very extensively to avoid any lapses.

Therefore Answer is D

chesstitans · Answer

boil down to B and D.
B just reiterates what is said in the argument.

gmatexam439 · Answer

Recently, a plane crashed near the outskirts of Berlin within minutes after its takeoff from Berlin airport. Initial analysis confirmed that the crash was caused by either the usage of substandard fuel or a fault in the control board. Since the airport staff tested the control board before the plane took off, analysts hypothesize that the reason behind the plane crash was substandard fuel.

Which of the following options, if true, most strengthens the analysts’ hypothesis?

A. The black box, upon inspection, was found to belong to a generation of models more compatible with fighter planes than with passenger planes. - This provides and alternate explanation for the crash. WEAKENER. 
B. Upon enquiry, the staff at Berlin airport confirmed that they indeed checked the control board before the plane took off. - Asking a criminal whether he committed the crime or not won't get you a correct answer. INCORRECT. 
C. Using a low quality fuel can lead to engine failure and a subsequent plane crash. - We already know this from the argument that engine failure causes plane crash. INCORRECT. 
D. All the testing conducted by the airport staff is done very extensively to avoid any lapses. - This removes any alternative explanation for the crash. CORRECT. 
E. The plane belongs to the ZX3V series which contains a fuel combustion engine that is notoriously famous for explosions within minutes after takeoff. - This provides and alternate explanation for the crash. WEAKENER.

bluetrain · Answer

hard but typical question

avoid reiterated statement.

arvind910619 · Answer

A very good question .
Imo D

A is just outside the scope of the argument .
B Is just restatement of one of the premise of the argument .
C Well this may be true but we do know weather it was used in the plane .
D Correct if in fact this is the case then we have reasons that the crash was caused by the substandard fuel .
E Again this out of scope.

SSM700plus · Answer

Recently, a plane crashed near the outskirts of Berlin within minutes after its takeoff from Berlin airport. Initial analysis confirmed that the crash was caused by either the usage of substandard fuel or a fault in the control board. Since the airport staff tested the control board before the plane took off, analysts hypothesize that the reason behind the plane crash was substandard fuel.

Which of the following options, if true, most strengthens the analysts’ hypothesis?

Premise : 
1) Plane crashed minutes after its takeoff.
2) The crash might be because of fault in control Board
3) tested the control board before the plane took off.

analysts’ hypothesis:- the reason behind the plane crash was substandard fuel.

Pre-thinking:
Any option that provide us information about 
1) impact of using substandard fuel will strengthen the Conclusion or
2) No fault in Control board tested before plane took off will strengthen the Conclusion

A. The black box, upon inspection, was found to belong to a generation of models more compatible with fighter planes than with passenger planes. 
 New Info - Black box was never discussed in the passage. So we can't say if it will strengthen or weaken the argument

B. Upon enquiry, the staff at Berlin airport confirmed that they indeed checked the control board before the plane took off. 
 This is just repeat of statement given in premise. We need some new info.

C. Using a low quality fuel can lead to engine failure and a subsequent plane crash.
 I think this is inline with our Pre-thinking. Hold on to it.

D. All the testing conducted by the airport staff is done very extensively to avoid any lapses. 
 It specifies that all the testing conducted would fix the control board issue, if any. This is also inline with our Pre-thinking. Hold on to it.

E. The plane belongs to the ZX3V series which contains a fuel combustion engine that is notoriously famous for explosions within minutes after takeoff.
 Well it talks about fuel combustion engine. Nothing about substandard fuel.

C & D both are inline with our pre-thinking. How to eliminate one of these 2 choices?

Please help me understand this!!

Praval15 · Answer

My take on options:-

A:- A weakener, since it attributes the mishap to black box.
B:- Same as that in the passage. Has not managed to strengthen the arguments in the passage at all.
C:- Question is not whether it can but whether it did?
D:- The passage stated that inspection was conducted. This states that the inspection was very thorough and added qualitative element to the inspection. Therefore, correct option.
E:- Such explosions may take place with good/normal quality fuel.

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Recently, a plane crashed near the outskirts of Berlin within minutes

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