Which of the following most logically completes the argument? United States manufacturers currently produce most of the world's solar-power generators—most of which are exported to Europe. However, European manufacturers are emerging and probably will ultimately capture much of the European market. The United States government is funding initiatives intended to encourage use of solar power within the United States. If these initiatives succeed in increasing the demand for solar-power generators in the United States, United States manufacturers will probably maintain significant production levels, since __________. (A) some United States manufacturers have been substantially increasing their output over the last several years (B) the efficiency of solar-power generators in converting energy from the Sun into electric power is not improving as fast as it once did (C) just as European manufacturers enjoy certain competitive advantages in Europe, so do United States manufacturers in the United States (D) European governments are currently undertaking initiatives to stimulate the use of solar power within Europe (E) the current market for solar-power generators in the United States is very limited My Analysis: Info – 1: United States manufacturers currently produce most of the world's solar-power generators--most of which are exported to Europe. Info – 2: However, European manufacturers are emerging and probably will ultimately capture much of the European market. (Assumption – It will reduce the US exports to Europe) Info – 3: The United States government is funding initiatives intended to encourage use of solar power within the United States. If these initiatives succeed in increasing the demand for solar-power generators in the United States, United States manufacturers will probably maintain significant production levels, since __________. Analysis: Blank space is preceded by since which is the premise indicator, hence we should identify the premise that support the argument conclusion that “United States manufacturers will probably maintain significant production levels”. Pre-think of answer: There is scope for increase in sales in US market. Hence I selected answer choice E as it says the current market is limited and with US govt. initiatives it will increase. But the correct answer choice is C and I am not able to identify the reason for the same. Please explain what I am missing in my approach.

Last visit was: 18 May 2026, 04:55

It is currently 18 May 2026, 04:55

Toolkit

Critical Reasoning (CR)

GMAT Club Daily Prep

Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.

Go to My Error Log Learn more

Request Expert Reply

Confirm Cancel

May 18
GMAT Quiz #17 - Live GMAT Practice Covering Quant, Verbal, RC, & Data Insights
10:00 AM PDT
-
11:00 AM PDT
Join us in a live GMAT practice session and solve 25 challenging GMAT questions with other test takers in timed conditions, covering GMAT Quant, Data Sufficiency, Data Insights, Reading Comprehension, and Critical Reasoning questions.
May 12
Summer savings start now on Manhattan Prep Courses!
12:00 PM EDT
-
11:59 PM EDT
Make the most of your break with the most realistic GMAT™ prep. Take up to $700 off select products. Ends 6/1
May 15
$320 Off on GMAT Focus - Get to 735+ from any starting point
01:00 PM IST
-
11:00 AM IST
Start your journey with a fully customized action plan and work with a dedicated mentor to achieve a 735+ score.
May 19
How Ashutosh Scored 329 on the GRE by Keeping the Prep Simple
12:00 PM PDT
-
01:00 PM PDT
Scoring 329 on the GRE is not always about using more books, more courses, or a longer study plan. In this episode of GRE Success Talks, Ashutosh shares his GRE preparation strategy, study plan, and test-day experience, explaining how he kept his prep....
Jun 10
MBA Spotlight Fair
06:00 AM PDT
-
06:15 PM PDT
Register for the GMAT Club Virtual MBA Spotlight Fair – the world’s premier event for serious MBA candidates. This is your chance to hear directly from Admissions Directors at nearly every Top 30 MBA program..

Back to Forum

Create Topic

United States manufacturers currently produce most of the world's sola

1 2

aidyn

Current Student

Joined: 19 Apr 2019

Last visit: 14 Sep 2024

Posts: 35

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 23

Products:

Posts: 35

Kudos: 17

27 Jun 2019, 17:19

Kudos

Bookmarks

GMATNinja

aidyn

dipeshsalvi

Which of the following most logically completes the argument?

United States manufacturers produce most of the world's solar-power generators—most of which are exported to Europe. However, European manufacturers are emerging and probably will ultimately capture much of the European market. The United States government is funding initiatives intended to encourage use of solar power within the United States. If these initiatives succeed in increasing the demand for solar-power generators in the United States, United States manufacturers will probably maintain significant production levels, since __________.

(A) some United States manufacturers have been substantially increasing their output over the last several years

(B) the efficiency of solar-power generators in converting energy from the Sun into electric power is not improving as fast as it once did

(C) just as European manufacturers enjoy certain competitive advantages in Europe, so do United States manufacturers in the United States

(D) European governments are currently undertaking initiatives to stimulate the use of solar power within Europe

(E) the current market for solar-power generators in the United States is very limited

Show Spoiler

My Analysis:

Info – 1: United States manufacturers currently produce most of the world's solar-power generators--most of which are exported to Europe.

Info – 2: However, European manufacturers are emerging and probably will ultimately capture much of the European market. (Assumption – It will reduce the US exports to Europe)

Info – 3: The United States government is funding initiatives intended to encourage use of solar power within the United States. If these initiatives succeed in increasing the demand for solar-power generators in the United States, United States manufacturers will probably maintain significant production levels, since __________.

Analysis: Blank space is preceded by since which is the premise indicator, hence we should identify the premise that support the argument conclusion that “United States manufacturers will probably maintain significant production levels”.

Pre-think of answer: There is scope for increase in sales in US market.

Hence I selected answer choice E as it says the current market is limited and with US govt. initiatives it will increase.

But the correct answer choice is C and I am not able to identify the reason for the same.

Please explain what I am missing in my approach.

Hi, can anyone explain why the answer is not (A)?
My reasoning is: (A) explains some United States manufacturers have been substantially increasing their output over the last several years. This means the supply of solar-power generators has been increasing to meet the demand from US, Europe, etc.
Should Europe demand decreases, this gap can be filled with increase of US demand due to successful government plan.

This explains why United States manufacturers will probably maintain significant production levels.

Is there any loop hole in my reasoning? Would appreciate any enlightenment from the experts.

I understand I might need to assume that Europe output demand = US output demand, but isn't (C) also assuming that European manufacturers' competitive advantages in Europe = US manufacturers' competitive advantages in US ?

We know that US manufacturers currently produce most of the world's solar-power generators and that most of those generators are exported to Europe. This describes the current situation. We are then told that "European manufacturers are emerging and probably will ultimately capture much of the European market." Okay, so that would take away much of the European demand for US-made solar generators.

At the same time, "the US government is funding initiatives intended to encourage use of solar power within the United States." If those initiatives succeed, we would expect US demand for solar generators to increase.

Who is going to supply the generators to meet that US demand? Will it be the US manufacturers? If so, then those US manufacturers "will probably maintain significant production levels." But what if the emerging European manufacturers end up supplying the solar generators to meet US demand (perhaps the generators made by the new, European manufacturers are better and/or cheaper than the ones made in the US)?

If US manufacturers LOSE their market in Europe and do NOT supply the solar generators to meet future US demand, then we would expect that US manufacturers will NOT maintain significant production levels. So we need some evidence that the US manufacturers would be the ones to supply the solar generators to the US (to meet demand that WOULD likely be created if the initiatives are successful). This is exactly what (C) gives us:

Quote:

(C) just as European manufacturers enjoy certain competitive advantages in Europe, so do United States manufacturers in the United States

(C) gives us a reason why US manufacturers would be likely to supply the generators to meet future US demand. (A), on the other hand, only gives us information related to the last several years:

Quote:

(A) some United States manufacturers have been substantially increasing their output over the last several years

That's nice, but what happens once the US manufacturers LOSE their market share in Europe? And who is going to produce the generators to meet the hypothetical future demand in the US? (A) doesn't help us answer those questions.

(C) is the best answer.

Awesome explanation! Now everything makes sense. Thanks, GMATNinja!

GMATNinja

GMAT Club Verbal Expert

Joined: 13 Aug 2009

Last visit: 15 May 2026

Posts: 7,393

Own Kudos:

70,925

[2]

Given Kudos: 2,137

Status: GMAT/GRE/LSAT tutors

Location: United States (CO)

GMAT 1: 780 Q51 V46 Verified score

GMAT 2: 800 Q51 V51 Verified score

GRE 1: Q170 V170 Verified score

GRE 2: Q170 V170 Verified score

Products:

Expert

Expert reply

GMAT 2: 800 Q51 V51 Verified score

GRE 1: Q170 V170 Verified score

GRE 2: Q170 V170 Verified score

Posts: 7,393

Kudos: 70,925

[2]

28 Jun 2019, 21:27

Kudos

Bookmarks

aidyn

Awesome explanation! Now everything makes sense. Thanks, GMATNinja!

Thank you for the kind words, aidyn! Glad we could help.

Quote:

(E) the current market for solar-power generators in the United States is very limited

DiyaDutta

Can someone help me eliminate E. Is it because even though there is a limited US market for solar power and the demand might help the US manufacturers, but European manufacturers might come and take that market from the US manufacturers in which case just having a limited market and increasing that is not helpful?

I think you are on the right track here. The current market for solar-powered generators in the US isn't that important. The US government is funding initiatives intended to encourage use of solar power within the United States. So regardless of the current demand, we expect US demand to increase.

Check out this explanation of the OA, if you haven't already.

avinash1105

Current Student

Joined: 02 Jul 2020

Last visit: 12 Nov 2022

Posts: 87

Own Kudos:

[1]

Given Kudos: 40

Location: India

Schools: Yale '24 (A$$) Ross '24 (I)

GMAT 1: 730 Q50 V39 Verified score

Schools: Yale '24 (A$$) Ross '24 (I)

GMAT 1: 730 Q50 V39 Verified score

Posts: 87

Kudos: 15

[1]

30 Dec 2020, 00:36

Kudos

Bookmarks

Here is my explanation to this question.

United States manufacturers currently produce most of the world's solar-power generators--most of which are exported to Europe. However, European manufacturers are emerging and probably will ultimately capture much of the European market. The United States government is funding initiatives intended to encourage use of solar power within the United States. If these initiatives succeed in increasing the demand for solar-power generators in the United States, United States manufacturers will probably maintain significant production levels, since __________.

In the argument it is clearly written that EM are emerging and are probably going to capture much of EU market. But just because the EM is ramping up their production or innovation doesn't mean USM are going to loose their share of the EU market. We already know that US is one of the major exporters to EU already and it takes certain conditions favourable to EM and unfavourable to USM to justify the claim that EM are going to take away the EU market from USM.

Thus option C, which states that the conditions that helped the EM can be replicated in the US to help USM. As for option E, even though the market is limited, we dont know the volume of that market. Maybe the limited market in US is big enough to replace all the exports to EU. Need a lot of assumptions to justify this option.

Hence C>E.

ChiranjeevSingh

Tutor

Joined: 22 Oct 2012

Last visit: 17 May 2026

Posts: 427

Own Kudos:

3,224

[4]

Given Kudos: 162

Status:Private GMAT Tutor

Location: India

Concentration: Economics, Finance

Schools: IIMA (A)

GMAT Focus 1: 735 Q90 V85 DI85 Verified score

GMAT Focus 2: 735 Q90 V85 DI85 Verified score

GMAT Focus 3: 735 Q88 V87 DI84 Verified score

GMAT 1: 780 Q51 V47 Verified score

GRE 1: Q170 V168 Verified score

Expert

Expert reply

Schools: IIMA (A)

GMAT Focus 3: 735 Q88 V87 DI84 Verified score

GMAT 1: 780 Q51 V47 Verified score

GRE 1: Q170 V168 Verified score

Posts: 427

Kudos: 3,224

[4]

28 Feb 2022, 21:17

Kudos

Bookmarks

dipeshsalvi

Which of the following most logically completes the argument?

United States manufacturers currently produce most of the world's solar-power generators—most of which are exported to Europe. However, European manufacturers are emerging and probably will ultimately capture much of the European market. The United States government is funding initiatives intended to encourage use of solar power within the United States. If these initiatives succeed in increasing the demand for solar-power generators in the United States, United States manufacturers will probably maintain significant production levels, since __________.

(E) the current market for solar-power generators in the United States is very limited

Let me explain why E is wrong.

Let me first start with a changed passage and a changed option E. Let's remove the "If part" of the last sentence of the passage and change option E as follows:

United States manufacturers currently produce most of the world's solar-power generators—most of which are exported to Europe. However, European manufacturers are emerging and probably will ultimately capture much of the European market. The United States government is funding initiatives intended to encourage use of solar power within the United States. United States manufacturers will probably maintain significant production levels, since __________.

E'. The current market for solar-power generators in the United States doesn't have much potential to grow.

What is the impact of the above option E'?

E' actually weakens the argument rather than strengthen it. If the current market doesn't have much potential to grow, the initiatives to encourage the use of solar power within the US may not succeed. As a result, US manufacturers may not be able to maintain significant production levels.

*************************
Now, let me reintroduce a modified "if" part in the last statement of the passage:

United States manufacturers currently produce most of the world's solar-power generators—most of which are exported to Europe. However, European manufacturers are emerging and probably will ultimately capture much of the European market. The United States government is funding initiatives intended to encourage use of solar power within the United States. If these initiatives succeed in significantly increasing the demand for solar-power generators in the United States, United States manufacturers will probably maintain significant production levels, since __________.

Now, what is the impact of option E' ?

Now, E' has no impact on the argument. Why? Because now, option E' just indicates that the "if" part is very unlikely to happen; E' doesn't impact the "if then" statement. Let me explain.

Let's say there is a statement "If you score 760 on the GMAT, you'll get into HBS."

Can you weaken this statement by saying that you're unlikely to score 760 on the GMAT?

No. Saying so will have no impact on the statement. The statement says that if X happens, Y will happen. What if X doesn't happen? That has no impact on the statement. The statement is weakened only if we say that even if X happens, Y may not happen.

Thus, E' will have no impact on this modified conclusion.

***********

Now, let's talk about the original passage:

United States manufacturers currently produce most of the world's solar-power generators—most of which are exported to Europe. However, European manufacturers are emerging and probably will ultimately capture much of the European market. The United States government is funding initiatives intended to encourage use of solar power within the United States. If these initiatives succeed in increasing the demand for solar-power generators in the United States, United States manufacturers will probably maintain significant production levels, since __________.

E'. The current market for solar-power generators in the United States doesn't have much potential to grow.

In this case, we can argue that E' is a slight weakener since it limits the upside of the increase in demand for solar power generators in the US. We can argue that even if the initiatives succeed in increasing the demand for solar-power generators in the United States, the increase may not be substantial, and thus, US manufacturers may not be able to maintain significant production levels.

********

Now, let's talk about the original passage and the original option E.

United States manufacturers currently produce most of the world's solar-power generators—most of which are exported to Europe. However, European manufacturers are emerging and probably will ultimately capture much of the European market. The United States government is funding initiatives intended to encourage use of solar power within the United States. If these initiatives succeed in increasing the demand for solar-power generators in the United States, United States manufacturers will probably maintain significant production levels, since __________.

(E) the current market for solar-power generators in the United States is very limited

As we have discussed above, whether the current market for solar-power generators has the potential to grow substantially has an impact on the argument. However, option E says that the current market is very limited. The problem is that whether a market is very limited or not very limited, it may or may not have the potential to grow. Even if a market is not very limited, it may still have significant potential to grow. Thus, option E has no impact on the argument.

Rather, one may also think that this option has a slight negative impact since if the current market is very limited, growing it may also not be able to compensate for the loss of the European market.

einstein801

Joined: 23 Jan 2024

Last visit: 18 Feb 2025

Posts: 147

Own Kudos:

237

Given Kudos: 138

Posts: 147

Kudos: 237

01 Nov 2024, 17:21

Kudos

Bookmarks

Hi Ninja, I disagree. The funding initiatives can be naught if the current demand is already at max capacity.

GMATNinja

aidyn

Awesome explanation! Now everything makes sense. Thanks, GMATNinja!

Thank you for the kind words, aidyn! Glad we could help.

Quote:

(E) the current market for solar-power generators in the United States is very limited

DiyaDutta

GMATNinja

GMAT Club Verbal Expert

Joined: 13 Aug 2009

Last visit: 15 May 2026

Posts: 7,393

Own Kudos:

70,925

[2]

Given Kudos: 2,137

Status: GMAT/GRE/LSAT tutors

Location: United States (CO)

GMAT 1: 780 Q51 V46 Verified score

GMAT 2: 800 Q51 V51 Verified score

GRE 1: Q170 V170 Verified score

GRE 2: Q170 V170 Verified score

Products:

Expert

Expert reply

GMAT 2: 800 Q51 V51 Verified score

GRE 1: Q170 V170 Verified score

GRE 2: Q170 V170 Verified score

Posts: 7,393

Kudos: 70,925

[2]

21 Nov 2024, 13:53

Kudos

Bookmarks

einstein801

Hi Ninja, I disagree. The funding initiatives can be naught if the current demand is already at max capacity.

DiyaDutta

If (E) said something like, "the current market for solar-power generators in the United States is NOT at max capacity" you might have a point.

But as written, choice (E) is irrelevant because the argument is based on a hypothetical situation: "IF these initiatives succeed in increasing the demand for solar-power generators in the United States...". We don't need to worry about WHETHER the funding initiatives will or will not succeed because, for this argument, we are assuming that they DO succeed.

I hope that helps!

krrishabh96

Joined: 26 Jun 2023

Last visit: 18 May 2026

Posts: 7

Given Kudos: 2

Products:

Posts: 7

Kudos: 0

27 Apr 2026, 01:09

Kudos

Bookmarks

Hi Karishma, I chose D over C as I thought D is saying "European manufacturer will stay in Europe, they wouldn't export to US" so US will have an advanatge.

KarishmaB

There are 4 aspects here:
US manufacturers, US market, European manufacturers, European market

Currently, US manufacturers make and export to European market. (So supply is from US and demand is in Europe.)

Now European manufacturers are emerging and will likely capture European market. (So Europe will supply to Europe demand)

The US government is encouraging US market to increase demand.

If these initiatives succeed US manufacturers will probably maintain significant production levels, since...

The argument is saying that if demand in US increases, US manufacturers will likely maintain a good supply. Why? Why is it that like European market, US market will not satisfy its demand from Europe? If European manufacturers are emerging, it is possible that they not only capture European market but US market too if US market demand increases. We need to give a reason why this may not happen. A reason why US markets may prefer to buy from US manufacturers.

(A) some United States manufacturers have been substantially increasing their output over the last several years

Doesn’t tell us why they would need to keep production high.

(B) the efficiency of solar-power generators in converting energy from the Sun into electric power is not improving as fast as it once did

This is the same for all manufacturers. It doesn't say why US manufacturers will maintain their production levels. It doesn't say why if US demand increases, US manufacturers will likely satisfy it.
saman283 - We do not know how increase in efficiency affects demand. Does higher efficiency increase demand (more people want to buy) or lower demand (once bought, people don't need to buy again and again)?

(C) just as European manufacturers enjoy certain competitive advantages in Europe, so do United States manufacturers in the United States

Correct. This is why US manufacturers may be better able to satisfy demands of the US market.

(D) European governments are currently undertaking initiatives to stimulate the use of solar power within Europe

Irrelevant. European manufacturers are likely to capture European market - whatever its size.

(E) the current market for solar-power generators in the United States is very limited

That is already given. It doesn't help.

Answer (C)

AbhishekP220108

Joined: 04 Aug 2024

Last visit: 18 May 2026

Posts: 576

Own Kudos:

259

[2]

Given Kudos: 149

GMAT Focus 1: 555 Q81 V78 DI74 Verified score

Products:

GMAT Focus 1: 555 Q81 V78 DI74 Verified score

Posts: 576

Kudos: 259

[2]

27 Apr 2026, 01:53

Kudos

Bookmarks

Hi krrishabh96 let me try to help

United States manufacturers currently produce most of the world's solar-power generators—most of which are exported to Europe.- Lets say Total world solar power generators are 100, and the US produces 80 and exports 55 to Europe.

However, European manufacturers are emerging and probably will ultimately capture much of the European market.- Intermediate conclusion: European manufacturers are probably going to capture much of the European market; some parts are covered by the US

The United States government is funding initiatives intended to encourage use of solar power within the United States.- US govt is funding initiatives intended to encourage the solar power use in the US.

If these initiatives succeed in increasing the demand for solar-power generators in the United States, United States manufacturers will probably maintain significant production levels,- If the initiatives funded succeed in raising the solar power generators demand in US, US manufacturers will probably maintain the significant production levels...but why?

since __________.

here he have to find why the significant production will be maintained- If we will look at the argument, more than 50% of the US produced SPG are exported to europe, that means, to maintain that production levels demand has to be there in US, the initiative has to work, because after european manufactures starts selling in europe lets say 35 out of 55(exported by US as assumed) in europe, to cover this loss there has to be significant demand in US

(C) just as European manufacturers enjoy certain competitive advantages in Europe, so do United States manufacturers in the United States- Option C captures the same exact thinking

(D) European governments are currently undertaking initiatives to stimulate the use of solar power within Europe- We are not worried about the european market and what govt is doing there, we have been already given this in argument as IC which is also a premise, so Irrelevant

Hope this helps

krrishabh96

Hi Karishma, I chose D over C as I thought D is saying "European manufacturer will stay in Europe, they wouldn't export to US" so US will have an advanatge.