V11-28

Question

Which of the following most logically completes the passage?
 
Burning fossil fuels—oil, coal, and natural gas—causes pollution. The environmental manager of a chemical plant proposes replacing all diesel-fueled vehicles used within the plant with either rechargeable, battery-powered vehicles or solar-powered vehicles. The management’s decision to purchase battery-powered vehicles, despite the need to install charging stations throughout the plant, is considered an environmentally sound choice primarily because __________________.

A. The pollution generated by battery-powered vehicles is only marginally higher than that generated by solar-powered vehicles.
B. The electricity used by the plant is supplied by an environmentally friendly wind farm.
C. Other nearby plants also rely on battery-powered vehicles.
D. Local residents are not environmentally conscious and frequently use gas-fired heaters.
E. The company intends to obtain certification as an environmentally friendly plant.

souvik101990 · Answer

Official Solution:

Which of the following most logically completes the passage?
 
Burning fossil fuels—oil, coal, and natural gas—causes pollution. The environmental manager of a chemical plant proposes replacing all diesel-fueled vehicles used within the plant with either rechargeable, battery-powered vehicles or solar-powered vehicles. The management’s decision to purchase battery-powered vehicles, despite the need to install charging stations throughout the plant, is considered an environmentally sound choice primarily because __________________.

A. The pollution generated by battery-powered vehicles is only marginally higher than that generated by solar-powered vehicles.
B. The electricity used by the plant is supplied by an environmentally friendly wind farm.
C. Other nearby plants also rely on battery-powered vehicles.
D. Local residents are not environmentally conscious and frequently use gas-fired heaters.
E. The company intends to obtain certification as an environmentally friendly plant.

A. If the battery powered vehicles create more pollution than solar powered ones, the decision to buy battery powered vehicles is not a good decision, even if the differential is marginal. This is not a justification that's good enough for this question type. 
 
B.  Correct.  If the electricity used in the chemical plant were produced by a power plant using fossil fuel, the decision to use battery powered vehicles would not be a good decision since there would be effectively no environmental benefit, just that the location of pollution would be shifted from the chemical plant to the power plant. However this option states that the electricity used to recharge the battery-powered vehicles is generated from environment-friendly wind-power plant; therefore the management’s decision is good and would actually contribute to environment benefits.
 
C. The operation of the other plants is out of context.
 
D. The local residents’ lifestyle is out of context.
 
E. The company would receive certification if it can prove that it has reduced pollution by using battery powered vehicles, but this statement does not clarify whether the company really reduced pollution by the management’s decision, and thus does not help decide whether the decision is good.

Answer: B

evisa · Answer

"However this option states that the electricity used to recharge the battery-powered vehicles is generated from environment-friendly wind-power plant"

Hi souvik101990

Sorry but I am not clear about your explanation why "B" is correct? It says that the wind-power for the chemical plants not to charge batteries. It sounds OFS. While choice "E" gives one good reason why it is good to install the electric batteries.
One more question please What is the source of your questions?

Regards,

Liza99 · Answer

Hi Souvik101990, At first, I too thought the answer was E b/c it looked most logical reason to buy battery powered vehicles. However, after reading the explanations, I realized my mistake. IMO: Question Stem - some type of chemical plant uses fossil burning (burning oil, n.gas and coal). Then they want to decrease environmental effect (pollution) by purchasing battery powered vehicles instead of solar powered ones. The plant's main purpose is to decrease pollution, not production of electricity. Answer B - states the logical reason to buy battery powered vehicles is good b/c wind-power plant provides its electricity thus supporting the main purpose - pollution decrease. If you have better explanation, pls share it

bhimeshsharma · Answer

Very good and logical question

mSKR · Answer

It says that management would go ahead to buy battery powered vehicles regardless of requirement of installation of electric battery charging points. 
Question: what is the relevance of the line 
When there is already a requirement of installation of electric points then electric cars would come eventually ( as only electric charge points has no meaning)
otherwise the sentence should be : The management’s decision to buy battery powered vehicles requirement of installation of electric battery charging points at various locations in the plant ,

Rashmi96 · Answer

I did not quite understand the solution. kindly explain, how we can choose a completely need source as wind power to be relevent

bb · Answer

For this question type, we need to explain a paradox and usually a new piece of information will be provided but you will have to evaluate to determine if it is relevant or not relevant. In this case, the fact that the plant is supplied by a wind farm for its power supply is actually relevant And helps explain the paradox

PS. I’ve made a few like grammar tweaks to the question but the logic remains sound and the same

V11-28

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