Robot satellites relay important communications and identify weather

Question

Robot satellites relay important communications and identify weather patterns. Because the satellites can be repaired only in orbit, astronauts are needed to repair them. Without repairs, the satellites would eventually malfunction. Therefore, space flights carrying astronauts must continue.

Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the argument above?

(A) Satellites falling from orbit because of malfunctions burn up in the atmosphere.

(B) Although satellites are indispensable in the identification of weather patterns, weather forecasters also make some use of computer projections to identify weather patterns.

(C) The government, responding to public pressure, has decided to cut the budget for space flights and put more money into social welfare programs.

(D) Repair of satellites requires heavy equipment, which adds to the amount of fuel needed to lift a spaceship carrying astronauts into orbit.

(E) Technical obsolescence of robot satellites makes repairing them more costly and less practical than sending new, improved satellites into orbit.

KapTeacherEli · Accepted Answer

When you're weakening a GMAT argument, you're seldom if ever directly addressing the evidence and the conclusion. After all, it would be too easy to dismiss every argument on the whole test as "The author is lying about his figures!" and then everyone would get an 800 :-D

Rather, the GMAT tests your ability to find missing links and unstated connections in the argument--and then, to strengthen or weaken them as appropriate. Here, we are told the astronauts are the only way to repair important satellites. The conclusion is that manned spaceflight must continue. But this isn't a completely proper chain of logic; we have no evidence that repair is the best way to fix those satellites! The author is assuming that repairing satellites is wise and necessary. So, we look for an answer choice that states that repairing satellites is unwise. (B) has nothing to do with that. But (E) matches what we predicted perfectly--even though astronauts are the only way to repair weather satellites, it doesn't matter, because it's economically wasteful to repair them at all! There is no longer a good reason to continue manned spaceflight, and so the author's argument is weakened and we have our solutions. Hope this helps!

hanumayamma · Answer

Conclusion: Therefore, space flights carrying astronauts must continue. 
Here assumption is the robots will be in use.  Any factor that introduces information that defeats the assumption wins.

A: Irrelevant
B: Only addresses weather patter what about relay of important communication. – Eliminate it
C: Government is not even mentioned in the argument 
D: Strengthens
E:  This weaken the argument by showing faulty assumption  - Hold it

vksunder · Answer

Guys - I trimmed the answer choices down to D/E and went with E. However, I dont completely understand why D is incorrect?

Could one of you please explain as to why D is incorrect. Thanks!

durgesh79 · Answer

we haev to select the option that would "most" seriously weaken the argument..

lets look D and E in plain words

D : repair of satellites will cost $ 5M (some huge amount) becuase of fuel required to send the heavy equipment and astronauts .. but we dont know what is the cost of sending new satellite... may be less, may be more ... we dont know. so cant conlude

E : repairing is more costly than sending new....

clear E

vksunder · Answer

NOw that I'm thinking about D, it could be incorrect because the reasoning appears to be generic. That is, the repair costs is applicalbe to all satellities (robot satellities and other kinds)

Thanks for the explanation durgesh! Later guys

thebigr002 · Answer

This is a question from the Comprehensive Critical Reasoning Guide by gmatclub.

Robot satellites relay important communications and identify weather patterns. Because the satellites can be repaired only in orbit, astronauts are needed to repair them. Without repairs, the satellites would eventually malfunction. Therefore,  space flights carrying astronauts must continue  {Conclusion} . 
Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the argument above?

A. Satellites falling from orbit because of malfunctions burn up in the atmosphere –  Irrelevant.

B. Although satellites are indispensable in the identification of weather patterns, weather forecasters also make some use of computer projections to identify weather patterns.  This doesn’t provide a reason for not sending astronauts to space. Once again, out of scope .

C. The government, responding to public pressure, has decided to cut the budget for space flights and put more money into social welfare programs.  Though this seems like a right answer, think about it. This is lots of irrelevant information, and doesn’t answer our question directly. Incorrect.

D. Repair of satellites requires heavy equipment, which adds to the amount of fuel needed to lift a spaceship carrying astronauts into orbit.  Fuel? This is a shell game fallacy. Clearly shows a statement that could be true and is very attractive to the test taker, but irrelevant to what’s asked. Incorrect.

E. Technical obsolescence of robot satellites makes repairing them more costly and less practical than sending new, improved satellites into orbit.  This makes sense. If repair cost > new satellite cost, why send astronauts to space to repair them? Just send new satellites. Hence this is correct.

I Would like to know why Option B is marked as "out of scope" while option E is marked correct.
the argument does talk about the robot satellites and whether pattern, but nothing about its costing.

Then why do we refute option B.

All help is appreciated.

egmat · Answer

I would like to add my 2 cents here. I completely agreeing with Mr. Eli that CR would be too easy if weakeners refuted the facts presented in the argument. I believe that you need to eliminate choice B, you comprehend and understand it. I have reproduced the choice below:

Notice the use of highlighted words: indispensable and also. By using "indispensable" this choice is saying that you need weather satellites. A weakener would actually say the opposite. Similarly, by using "also" the author is merely talking about some gadgetry that is needed "in addition to" satellites. Its like saying...
 
While tablet ,mode in computers are indispensable for the consumption of information on the go, PC modes are also required to stay productive on the road. - note we are not saying that the presence of PC mode obviates the need for tablet mode.

Let me know if this makes sense.

fozzzy · Answer

IS option D incorrect because the inspite of high costs the space flights will continue. Whereas in option E it rules that case out completely?

blueseas · Answer

IS option D incorrect because the inspite of high costs the space flights will continue. Whereas in option E it rules that case out completel
hi,

conclusion  : robot satellite repair is must==>therefore space flight is must.==>we have to weaken this or in other words we have to say that space flight is not required.

(D) Repair of satellites requires heavy equipment, which adds to the amount of fuel needed to lift
 a spaceship carrying astronauts into orbit. ==>this does not say that repair is not required so still there are chances of satellites malfunctioning and hence technician still will be required==>hence doesnt weaken.

(E) Technical obsolescence of robot satellites makes repairing them more costly and less practical than sending new, improved satellites into orbit.===>now it is saying that if new satellites are replaced===>no techinician required to repair==>hence no space flight required.==>hence weaken

so your thinking was right that it is ruling out the possibility of space flight use.

swati007 · Answer

Why is option C incorrect?Is it because it covers only about weather patterns and not about important communications ??

blueseas · Answer

HI swati..
i dint find any talk regarding weather pattern in option C:

(C) The government, responding to public pressure, has decided to cut the budget for space flights and put more money into social welfare programs.

Please make it clear.

swati007 · Answer

Sorry, I meant option B. Is this incorrect because it covers only about weather patterns and not about important communications

blueseas · Answer

no ...i will say.

conclusion   :  space flights carrying astronauts must continue===>astronauts are going in space only for repairing the faulty satellites.

so we have to weaken this.
how can we weaken this?
by showing space flight are not must.
option B:
(B) Although satellites are indispensable in the identification of weather patterns, weather forecasters also make some use of computer projections to identify weather patterns. ===>  THIS Is saying although satellite are vital...in identifying weather......,forecaster can also make some prediction about weather...
this is nowhere related to conclusion....whether space flight should continue or not.....hence this one is out of context...
 
hope it helps

kudos always encourages me :-D

swati007 · Answer

So, if the same task can be done by weather forecasters then there is no need to send the space flights. - so the argument is weaken- correct?
Now, I think option c is incorrect because the forecasters will make use of computers projections which in turn may use satellites??

blueseas · Answer

first of all i think you are talking only about option B and not C

.read the option

b)-=>Although satellites are   indispensable   in the identification of weather patterns, weather forecasters also make some use of computer projections to identify weather patterns. ===>
INDISPENSABLE means you cannot replace that thing with anything else.....so it is saying we cannot replace satellites in case of weather forecasting...but weather forecaster ALSO MAKE SOME USE OF COMPUTER PROJECTION TO FORECAST WEATHER.
MOREOVER as you said earlier it is also lacking COMMUNICATION PART.....

BUT we cant assume that whatever information satellite is sending ..we can decode it only in computer....

hope i made it clear.

mehtakaustubh · Answer

Conclusion: space flights must continue(because satellites require repairs.)
Here we need to weaken the argument. So something that gives a flaw or better alternative to repairs would be the correct choice.
Now choice D says repairs require heavy instruments and adds to amount of fuel required, but this might be any way required if there is no other option other than repairing of satellites.
Choice E says sending new and improved sat is cheaper or requires the same amount as that of repairs. In this case why would the old sat be repaired if new one is of the same cost...so this one which weakens the given argument.
So E.

chesstitans · Answer

How E can be the answer because it talks about sending a new satellite, this is not mentioned in the argument.
The question seems to be about a plan. Then, to weaken the argument or the plan, ones need to pick up an option that weaken the original plan or argument, not show how an alternative is better than the original argument or a plan.

Now, in this question, E is the answer. "without repair, the satellite will malfunction" indicates an assumption that either a new satellite is launched, or the old satellite will be repaired. This is the key here because it connects the original argument with the launching new satellite.

ClassSkippa · Answer

Interesting...everyone says A is irrelevant. I actually think A is a fairly close one to E.

chesstitans · Answer

Using POE, test takers can choose E.
Veritas, beatgmat, OG all use this question.
The pattern in this question turns out to be the pattern of an assumption question that"the argument fails to consider any other possibility for satellites".

Robot satellites relay important communications and identify weather

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GMAT Critical Reasoning (CR) Questions

Robot satellites relay important communications and identify weather

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