Biodiesel is a fuel that can be used in most road vehicles instead of

Question

Biodiesel is a fuel that can be used in most road vehicles instead of gasoline. Its use produces significantly less air pollution. Market research predicts that as this fuel becomes more widely available over the next ten years or so, hundreds of thousands of drivers will use it. We can only conclude, then, that many people care about reducion pollution.

Which of the following if true, most strengthens this argument ?

A. Many individuals try to minimize their driving in order to reduce pollution.
B. Biodiesel fuel costs 10% to 20% more than gasoline
C. New environmental laws may require a reduction in the amount of pollution new cars produce
D. A significant amount of air pollution comes from sources other than automobiles.
E. Increased use of biodiesel will reduce the need to import gasoline from other countries

Source: Peterson

Basim2016 · Answer

Dear committed fellows,

A... Correct as it shows the anti pollution concern of the General population. 
B... Shows price concern/ money matters NOT pollution.... Wrong.
C....Law shows the government concern whereas the argument is about General people.... WRONG
D.... Source of pollution is IRRELEVANT.. WRONG.
E.... Import implications is IRRELEVANT... WRONG.

A... CORRECT.

Regards, 
Basim

Posted from my mobile device

solikon · Answer

Ehmmmmmmmmmmm I do not feel quite ok with A. I think that B should be answer. If biofuel costs more but people are buying it to run their cars, there must be any reason to doing so. If there are two equal option to fuel the car and I choose the one, which costs me more I have to have a ratiol reason to do so.

Because of the missing rationale to use more expensive fuel to ride car, I expect that people purchasing it must have a motivation to use that fuel. That motivation could be to lessen pollution so answer is  B

sampriya · Answer

the conclusion is "that many people care about reducing pollution" we need to prove that these drivers care about the conclusion

option A sounds fine so lets keep it
option B: this actually weaken the argument by stating a pro about gasoline and a con about biofuel
option C: does nothing also it specifically talks about "new cars" which doesn't really help
option D: this is out of scope and maybe kind of weakens by trying to introduce other entities into the argument .... these types of choices are common to divert us... eliminate
option E : reducing gasoline imports may benefit the economy however we are only concerned about the benefits the argument can bring to pollution and environment and "NOTHING ELSE"

option A: is correct as it shows that the drivers already care about reducing the pollution therefore they drive less which benefits the environment... now with bio diesel they would be happy and can drive as much as they want to

pulak1988 · Answer

AS per me answer is 'C'.

the question wants to strengthen the argumetn, not the conclusion. 
the argument is, as biofuel reduces pollution. when it is widely available, more cars will use it. but why?? because govt is going to make mandatory reducion in pollution..

what do you think??

thyagi · Answer

C weakens the argument, the argument wants us to find an option that conveys " people in their own interests are willing to switch from gasoline to bio diesel, resulting in low level of pollution".. whereas C is trying to convey that because of government regulations, people are forced to switch... What C does is weakening the argument...

A and B are very close...

debsnitd · Answer

IMO B doesn't weaken the argument. It would actually strengthen the argument if it stated that biodiesel will cost 10%-20% more over the next decade or so. In that case, it would imply that instead of more cost people will use bio coz they care about pollution. However, B only states the present price and doesn't indicate what would happen when bio becomes widespread.

I will go with A.

I will go with A.

Vibhatu · Answer

Answer is B.

A)  Many individuals try to minimize their driving in order to reduce pollution.  This is NOT CORRECT . This somewhat strengthen the argument but not the most. Lets look for the second one.

B)Biodiesel fuel costs 10% to 20% more than gasoline . Even-though the price is of Biodiesel is higher then gasoline, still people will use Biodiesel, which proves that people care about reducion pollution.  Doesn't matter, the price is higher, people gonna still use it.  If this true, most strengthens this argument.

Answer: B

SwethaReddyL · Answer

@Bunuel / @chetan2u / @KarishmaB /@andrewN official explanation please

guddo · Answer

Biodiesel is a fuel that can be used in most road vehicles instead of gasoline. Its use produces significantly less air pollution. Market research predicts that as this fuel becomes more widely available over the next ten years or so, hundreds of thousands of drivers will use it. We can only conclude, then, that many people care about reducion pollution.

Which of the following if true, most strengthens this argument ?

The argument assumes that if many drivers start using biodiesel, the reason must be that they care about reducing pollution.

(A) Many individuals try to minimize their driving in order to reduce pollution.

This shows that some people care about pollution, but it does not connect that concern to the predicted increase in biodiesel use.

(B) Biodiesel fuel costs 10% to 20% more than gasoline

This is the best support. If many people are willing to use a fuel that costs more, then they are less likely to be choosing it for price. That makes the  lower-pollution benefit  a much more plausible reason for their choice.

(C) New environmental laws may require a reduction in the amount of pollution new cars produce

This gives another possible reason pollution may fall, but it does not show that drivers themselves care about reducing pollution.

(D) A significant amount of air pollution comes from sources other than automobiles.

This weakens the relevance of switching fuels, if anything.

(E) Increased use of biodiesel will reduce the need to import gasoline from other countries

This gives an alternative reason people might choose biodiesel, so it weakens the argument.

Answer: (B)

Harsh_ · Answer

CR | Strengthen | Biodiesel Argument
Argument Structure first
 Premise:  Biodiesel produces less pollution. Market research predicts hundreds of thousands will use it when available.
 Conclusion:  Therefore many people CARE about reducing pollution.
 
The Gap
The argument assumes that people will choose biodiesel  because  they care about pollution. But what if they choose it for other reasons — cost savings, convenience, energy independence, government mandates?
To  strengthen  this argument, you need an answer that  closes this gap  — confirming that the choice to use biodiesel is motivated by pollution concerns, not other factors.
 
Why B is correct
 
This eliminates the most obvious alternative explanation — that people switch to biodiesel to  save money .
If biodiesel is actually MORE expensive, then the only reason hundreds of thousands would choose it anyway is because they genuinely care about the environmental benefit (reduced pollution). The cost motive is ruled out, leaving pollution concern as the driving reason.
 This directly strengthens the conclusion. 
 
Why the others fail
 
  A:  People minimizing driving shows some care about pollution, but doesn't strengthen the biodiesel argument specifically 
  C:  Laws forcing cleaner cars = external mandate, not personal care about pollution 
  D:  Other pollution sources are irrelevant to whether drivers care 
  E:  Energy independence = another non-pollution reason to use biodiesel — this actually  weakens  the argument by providing an alternative motive

Biodiesel is a fuel that can be used in most road vehicles instead of

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GMAT Critical Reasoning (CR) Questions

Biodiesel is a fuel that can be used in most road vehicles instead of

Prep Toolkit

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

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

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