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16 Sep 2014, 02:28
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Twenty years ago, Bangladesh put in place regulations requiring operators of surface mines to pay for the reclamation of mined-out land. Since then, reclamation technology has not improved. Yet, the average reclamation cost for a surface coal mine being reclaimed today is only four takas per ton of coal that the mine produced, less than half what it cost to reclaim surface mines in the years immediately after the regulations took effect.
Which of the following, if true, most helps to account for the drop in reclamation costs described?
A. Even after Bangladesh began requiring surface mine operators to pay reclamation costs, coal mines in Bangladesh continued to be less expensive to operate than coal mines in almost any other country.
B. In the twenty years since the regulations took effect, the use of coal as a fuel has declined from the level it was at in the previous twenty years.
C. Mine operators have generally ceased surface mining in the mountainous areas of Bangladesh because reclamation costs per ton of coal produced are particularly high for mines in such areas.
D. Even after Bangladesh began requiring surface mine operators to pay reclamation costs, surface mines continued to produce coal at a lower total cost than underground mines.
E. As compared to twenty years ago, a greater percentage of the coal mined in Bangladesh today comes from surface mines.
Which of the following, if true, most helps to account for the drop in reclamation costs described?
A. Even after Bangladesh began requiring surface mine operators to pay reclamation costs, coal mines in Bangladesh continued to be less expensive to operate than coal mines in almost any other country.
B. In the twenty years since the regulations took effect, the use of coal as a fuel has declined from the level it was at in the previous twenty years.
C. Mine operators have generally ceased surface mining in the mountainous areas of Bangladesh because reclamation costs per ton of coal produced are particularly high for mines in such areas.
D. Even after Bangladesh began requiring surface mine operators to pay reclamation costs, surface mines continued to produce coal at a lower total cost than underground mines.
E. As compared to twenty years ago, a greater percentage of the coal mined in Bangladesh today comes from surface mines.
16 Sep 2014, 02:28
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Official Solution:
Twenty years ago, Bangladesh put in place regulations requiring operators of surface mines to pay for the reclamation of mined-out land. Since then, reclamation technology has not improved. Yet, the average reclamation cost for a surface coal mine being reclaimed today is only four takas per ton of coal that the mine produced, less than half what it cost to reclaim surface mines in the years immediately after the regulations took effect.
Which of the following, if true, most helps to account for the drop in reclamation costs described?
A. Even after Bangladesh began requiring surface mine operators to pay reclamation costs, coal mines in Bangladesh continued to be less expensive to operate than coal mines in almost any other country.
B. In the twenty years since the regulations took effect, the use of coal as a fuel has declined from the level it was at in the previous twenty years.
C. Mine operators have generally ceased surface mining in the mountainous areas of Bangladesh because reclamation costs per ton of coal produced are particularly high for mines in such areas.
D. Even after Bangladesh began requiring surface mine operators to pay reclamation costs, surface mines continued to produce coal at a lower total cost than underground mines.
E. As compared to twenty years ago, a greater percentage of the coal mined in Bangladesh today comes from surface mines.
General Approach
This question is asking for the explanation for the drop in reclamation costs. Then, it's critical to carefully read through each answer choice and consider whether it provides a convincing explanation for this drop. The correct answer will be one that logically connects to the premise and conclusion of the argument and cannot be ruled out based on information in the question stem.
Correct Answer
Choice C is correct. It states that mine operators have generally ceased surface mining in the mountainous areas of Bangladesh because reclamation costs per ton of coal produced are particularly high for mines in such areas. This helps explain the drop in the average reclamation cost, as the average would be lowered if mines in high-cost areas stop being included in the calculation.
Incorrect Answers
Choice A talks about the operational cost of coal mines in Bangladesh compared to other countries. However, it does not specifically address the reclamation cost, which is the focus of the question. Hence, it is irrelevant.
Choice B discusses the use of coal as a fuel declining in the last twenty years. This could possibly affect the supply and demand of coal, but it does not directly explain why the reclamation cost has dropped.
Choice D talks about the total cost of producing coal in surface mines versus underground mines. However, this doesn't explain why the reclamation cost for surface mines has dropped, which is what we're trying to determine. Hence, this is irrelevant.
Choice E suggests that a greater percentage of the coal mined in Bangladesh today comes from surface mines. However, an increase in surface mined coal does not necessarily indicate a decrease in reclamation cost. Therefore, this answer choice does not explain the drop in reclamation costs.
Answer: C
Twenty years ago, Bangladesh put in place regulations requiring operators of surface mines to pay for the reclamation of mined-out land. Since then, reclamation technology has not improved. Yet, the average reclamation cost for a surface coal mine being reclaimed today is only four takas per ton of coal that the mine produced, less than half what it cost to reclaim surface mines in the years immediately after the regulations took effect.
Which of the following, if true, most helps to account for the drop in reclamation costs described?
A. Even after Bangladesh began requiring surface mine operators to pay reclamation costs, coal mines in Bangladesh continued to be less expensive to operate than coal mines in almost any other country.
B. In the twenty years since the regulations took effect, the use of coal as a fuel has declined from the level it was at in the previous twenty years.
C. Mine operators have generally ceased surface mining in the mountainous areas of Bangladesh because reclamation costs per ton of coal produced are particularly high for mines in such areas.
D. Even after Bangladesh began requiring surface mine operators to pay reclamation costs, surface mines continued to produce coal at a lower total cost than underground mines.
E. As compared to twenty years ago, a greater percentage of the coal mined in Bangladesh today comes from surface mines.
General Approach
This question is asking for the explanation for the drop in reclamation costs. Then, it's critical to carefully read through each answer choice and consider whether it provides a convincing explanation for this drop. The correct answer will be one that logically connects to the premise and conclusion of the argument and cannot be ruled out based on information in the question stem.
Correct Answer
Choice C is correct. It states that mine operators have generally ceased surface mining in the mountainous areas of Bangladesh because reclamation costs per ton of coal produced are particularly high for mines in such areas. This helps explain the drop in the average reclamation cost, as the average would be lowered if mines in high-cost areas stop being included in the calculation.
Incorrect Answers
Choice A talks about the operational cost of coal mines in Bangladesh compared to other countries. However, it does not specifically address the reclamation cost, which is the focus of the question. Hence, it is irrelevant.
Choice B discusses the use of coal as a fuel declining in the last twenty years. This could possibly affect the supply and demand of coal, but it does not directly explain why the reclamation cost has dropped.
Choice D talks about the total cost of producing coal in surface mines versus underground mines. However, this doesn't explain why the reclamation cost for surface mines has dropped, which is what we're trying to determine. Hence, this is irrelevant.
Choice E suggests that a greater percentage of the coal mined in Bangladesh today comes from surface mines. However, an increase in surface mined coal does not necessarily indicate a decrease in reclamation cost. Therefore, this answer choice does not explain the drop in reclamation costs.
Answer: C
13 Dec 2015, 11:28
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Hello Bunuel!
I have a quick question on this problem. How do you know that the problem is referring to average cost (as discussing in the solution)? For example, when I read the problem, I interpret it this way:
Yet, the average reclamation cost for a surface coal mine being reclaimed today is only four takas per ton of coal that the mine produced, less than half what it cost to reclaim surface mines in the years immediately after the regulations took effect. = The government charges half as much for "reclamation costs" than it did before because it says "half of what it cost to reclaim".
How do you know to interpret this as "average cost", and that there are high cost areas vs low cost areas?
Thank you!
Ellie
I have a quick question on this problem. How do you know that the problem is referring to average cost (as discussing in the solution)? For example, when I read the problem, I interpret it this way:
Yet, the average reclamation cost for a surface coal mine being reclaimed today is only four takas per ton of coal that the mine produced, less than half what it cost to reclaim surface mines in the years immediately after the regulations took effect. = The government charges half as much for "reclamation costs" than it did before because it says "half of what it cost to reclaim".
How do you know to interpret this as "average cost", and that there are high cost areas vs low cost areas?
Thank you!
Ellie
shashanksagar
17 Jul 2016, 05:31
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dont agree, how do we even know how much area of bangladesh is covered with mountains, it may be 1% of total terrestrial area or coal fields.
