Vermiculite is a mineral used in insulation and other products. One pa

Question

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Vermiculite is a mineral used in insulation and other products. One particular vermiculite mine is the source of the majority of vermiculite sold in the United States from 1919 to 1990. The mine also has a deposit of asbestos (another mineral that was also used in insulation), so the vermiculite extracted from that site was contaminated with asbestos. When asbestos-containing materials are damaged or disturbed, microscopic fibers become airborne and, if inhaled, can cause significant health problems. It is strongly recommended that homeowners not disturb any asbestos or asbestos-contaminated material.

Indicate which statement in the table the given information above most strongly suggests is true, and which statement in the table the given information above most strongly suggests is false. Make only two selections, one in each column.

bv8562 · Answer

Third statement from top is strongly supported by the following information in the passage :

One particular vermiculite mine is the source of the majority of vermiculite sold in the United States from 1919 to 1990. The mine also has a deposit of asbestos (another mineral that was also used in insulation), so the vermiculite extracted from that site was contaminated with asbestos. When asbestos-containing materials are damaged or disturbed, microscopic fibers become airborne and, if inhaled, can cause significant health problems.

Last statement from top is NOT supported based on the following information in the passage :

It is strongly recommended that homeowners not disturb any asbestos or asbestos-contaminated material.

ferrarce30 · Answer

But it says that absetos were also used in insulation, doesn't that mean that absetos are always present in insulation? and that would make option 1 always true

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation   
​​​​​​​
  The correct answer is (C).   The prompt says that the majority of vermiculite sold in the United States from 1919 to 1990 came from one mine, and that the vermiculite extracted from that mine was contaminated with asbestos. Therefore, the majority of vermiculite insulation sold between 1919 and 1990 was contaminated with asbestos. Further, the prompt says that asbestos, if damaged or disturbed, can cause significant health problems. Thus, the majority of vermiculite insulation sold between 1919 and 1990 can cause significant health problems if damaged or disturbed.

Choice (A) refers to any insulation material—but the passage only discusses vermiculite and asbestos. Therefore, you cannot tell whether any insulation material (regardless of what it is) that has been disturbed or damaged poses a health risk, or not. Similarly, the passage does not comment either way about vermiculite after 1990 or about vermiculite from other mines, so you cannot determine the veracity of Statements (B) or (D).

The correct answer is (E).   Statement (E) is the one that the passage most strongly suggests is false. Asbestos is dangerous if damaged or disturbed. Thus, the best thing to do is not to damage it. If there is any asbestos in wall insulation, then opening the walls could disturb it. Homeowners are advised not to disturb any asbestos, so they should not open any walls.

True	False
		Any insulation material that has been disturbed or damaged poses a health risk.
		Vermiculite insulation sold after 1990 does not pose a health risk.
		The majority of vermiculite insulation sold between 1919 and 1990 is a health risk if damaged or disturbed.
		Vermiculite insulation sold between 1919 and 1990 that came from other mines does not pose a health risk.
		Homeowners are advised to open their walls in order to check for vermiculite.

Vermiculite is a mineral used in insulation and other products. One pa

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Vermiculite is a mineral used in insulation and other products. One pa

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

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