How the pigment known as Han purple was synthesized by the ancient Chi

Question

How the pigment known as Han purple was synthesized by the ancient Chinese of the Qin and Han dynasties has puzzled scientists. The Chinese chemists employed the same chemical ingredients used for Han purple in the production of a common type of white glass during that period. Both were produced in processes that involved subjecting the mixtures to high heat and mixing in lead to decrease the melting temperature. Thus, Han purple was probably discovered by fortuitous accident during glass production.

Which one of the following, if true, would most strengthen the argument?

Which one of the following, if true, would most strengthen the argument?

(A) Chemical analysis shows that most of the known fragments of both Han purple and the white glass were produced within a small geographical radius.
(B) Han purple was used for luxury and ceremonial items, whereas the white glass was used to make certain household items.
(C) The technique used for producing Han purple was known to very few people during the Qin and Han dynasties.
(D) The ingredients used in producing both Han purple and the white glass were easily obtainable during the Qin and Han dynasties.
(E) The white glass is found in more surviving artifacts from the Qin and Han dynasties than Han purple is.

Source: LSAT

KarishmaB · Accepted Answer

The argument simply says this:

Han purple and white glass have same ingredients and same process of production. 
Thus, Han purple was probably discovered by fortuitous accident during glass production.

This is a conjecture. It is possible that both were developed independently. Or it is possible that white glass was discovered by fortuitous accident during Han purple production. 
What would strengthen the given conclusion? If we can show more connect between the two, that might strengthen our conclusion. Or that glass precedes the discovery of Han purple etc.

(A) Chemical analysis shows that most of the known fragments of both Han purple and the white glass were produced within a small geographical radius.
This links the two better. It shows that there was some connection between them since both were found within a small radius. It does make it more probable that one of them was discovered by accident during production of another. So it does strengthen our conclusion.

(B) Han purple was used for luxury and ceremonial items, whereas the white glass was used to make certain household items.
This brings forth the difference between the two. It does not strengthen our conclusion.

(C) The technique used for producing Han purple was known to very few people during the Qin and Han dynasties.
This doesn't help in establishing anything. Irrelevant.

(D) The ingredients used in producing both Han purple and the white glass were easily obtainable during the Qin and Han dynasties.
This doesn't help in establishing anything. Irrelevant.

(E) The white glass is found in more surviving artifacts from the Qin and Han dynasties than Han purple is.
The number of objects made out of either has no impact. Either could be discovered later but used extensively.

Answer (A)

broall · Answer

A tough question. I spent ~5 mins to try to understand what the question wants to say.

There are 2 things:  (A)  Han purple (a pigment, really no need to care what it is) and  (B)  chemical ingredients used in production of white glass.

Those two things have the same chemical ingredients.

The former was synthesized by the ancient Chinese of the Qin and Han dynasties.
The latter was used by the Chinese chemists during the same period.

Both of those two things were produced in processes that involved subjecting the mixtures to high heat and mixing in lead to decrease the melting temperature.

Conclusion:  Han purple was probably discovered by fortuitous accident during glass production.

How we could conclude that those two things have common connection as the argument said?

(A) Chemical analysis shows that most of the known fragments of both Han purple and the white glass were produced within a small geographical radius.
 Correct. If A was produced in the north and B was produced in the south, we can't conclude that A was discovered by accident from B.

As this choice indicates that both A and B were produced within a small geographical radius, this choice does support that those two things have some common connections so it supports the argument.

(B) Han purple was used for luxury and ceremonial items, whereas the white glass was used to make certain household items.
 This choice doesn't explain that A and B have common connection so this choice doesn't support the argument.

(C) The technique used for producing Han purple was known to very few people during the Qin and Han dynasties.
 This choice doesn't explain that A and B have common connection.

(D) The ingredients used in producing both Han purple and the white glass were easily obtainable during the Qin and Han dynasties.
 We knew that those two things are used during that period. However, how we could conclude that A was discovered by accident?

(E) The white glass is found in more surviving artifacts from the Qin and Han dynasties than Han purple is.
 This choice doesn't explain that A and B have common connection.

41396302717 · Answer

I am a bit more inclined towards B as the answer because option B gives us a reason to believe that as white glass was made for certain household items, the production of white glass would be more ubiquitous than that of han purple, hence providing a reason to believe that Han purple was probably discovered by fortuitous accident during glass production.

A on the other hand gives a kind of support that points to a starkly opposite conclusion as well, i.e. white glass might have probably been discovered by fortuitous accident, not the other way around.

Please find the flaw in the reasoning.
Thank you in advance.

CEdward · Answer

Your claim that white glass is more ubiquitous potentially weakens, not strengthens, the argument. It very slightly suggests that perhaps the two were made separately from each other. A does not solidify that the han was discovered fortuitously, but it does strengthen. Why? Because in order for the discovery to happen, it helps if the two items were made in the same proximity (and ideally exact same spot).

agrasan · Answer

Hi  MartyMurray   KarishmaB

Is (C) wrong because it  doesn't compare  techniques known to people  (for Han Purple)  vs. techniques known to people  (for glass production)?

If revised (C) was:    As compared to glass production,     the technique used for producing Han purple was known to very few people during the Qin and Han dynasties.

Can we say that revised (C) could be a strengthener based on my above logic? Or it would be still wrong?

Please help me with the correct reasoning to eliminate (C) otherwise.

guddo · Answer

How the pigment known as Han purple was synthesized by the ancient Chinese of the Qin and Han dynasties has puzzled scientists. The Chinese chemists employed the same chemical ingredients used for Han purple in the production of a common type of white glass during that period. Both were produced in processes that involved subjecting the mixtures to high heat and mixing in lead to decrease the melting temperature. Thus, Han purple was probably discovered by fortuitous accident during glass production. 
 
Which one of the following, if true, would most strengthen the argument?

The passage argues that Han purple was likely discovered by accident because it used the same ingredients and similar high-heat, lead-aided process as a commonly made white glass.

A) Chemical analysis shows that most of the known fragments of both Han purple and the white glass were produced within a small geographical radius.

This supports the accident story: if both products cluster in the same area, it is more plausible they came from the same production centers and that Han purple could have been discovered during glassmaking.  This most directly strengthens the causal link the argument needs.

B) Han purple was used for luxury and ceremonial items, whereas the white glass was used to make certain household items.

This is about how the products were used, not how Han purple was discovered.

C) The technique used for producing Han purple was known to very few people during the Qin and Han dynasties.

If anything, this leans toward deliberate, controlled production rather than accidental discovery during common glassmaking.

D) The ingredients used in producing both Han purple and the white glass were easily obtainable during the Qin and Han dynasties.

That makes both productions feasible, but it does not specifically make accidental discovery during glass production more likely.

E) The white glass is found in more surviving artifacts from the Qin and Han dynasties than Han purple is.

That may show white glass was more common, but it does not directly connect Han purple’s discovery to glass production.

Answer: (A)

MartyMurray · Answer

Your analysis appears to be overly focused on topic. It appears that, basically, you're suggesting that the reason why (C) is wrong is that it mentions only the technique used for producing Han purple without saying anything about the topic of the technique for glass production.

I guess we could say that that analysis works in a way: you did successfully eliminate (C). At the same time, the issue with your approach is the following.

Even if (C) did compare how well known the technique used in white glass production was with how well known the technique used for producing Han purple was, (C) still wouldn't strengthen the argument. After all, regardless of how well known either technique was after being discovered, it still may or may not be the case that the technique for producing Han purple was discovered by accident during glass production.

In other words, neither (C) as written nor your revised (C) works because the extents to which the two techniques were known don't indicate that the discovery of the technique for producing Han purple was connected to the production of white glass. So, your reasoning doesn't involve the main reason why (C) is incorrect.

Takeaway:  To master Critical Reasoning, we have to learn to go beyond considering the topics or the "scope" of answer choice to carefully, holistically, and thoroughly considering the implications of answer choices.

Hope that helps!

How the pigment known as Han purple was synthesized by the ancient Chi

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

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

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards

GMAT Critical Reasoning (CR) Questions

How the pigment known as Han purple was synthesized by the ancient Chi

Prep Toolkit

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

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards