A new hybrid motorcycle runs on both standard gasoline and electricity

Question

A new hybrid motorcycle runs on both standard gasoline and electricity. However, it is believed that because every automatic switch between the use of gasoline and electricity results in a massive expenditure of gasoline, driving the new motorcycle has the same detrimental effect on the environment as the average motorcycle, which runs solely on gasoline.

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

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

A. Because the motorcycling community is more ecologically minded than five years ago, it will prefer, all other things equal, to purchase a hybrid motorcycle over a regular gasoline one.

B. The production process of hybrid engines consumes a very large amount of energy, thereby negating its positive effect on the atmosphere.

C. Due to the scarcity of charging stations for the hybrid motorcycle in some cities, it has not yet reached its full potential of reducing the detrimental ecological implications of its usage.

D. A pollution tester, attached to the exhaust pipe, showed the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by a hybrid after 500 miles to be the same as that of the gasoline-consuming engine.

E. Both the gasoline-run motorcycle and the new hybrid engine can be made more environmentally friendly by the addition of cleansing agents to the petrol.

Bunuel · Accepted Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

A new hybrid motorcycle runs on both standard gasoline and electricity. However, it is believed that because every automatic switch between the use of gasoline and electricity results in a massive expenditure of gasoline, driving the new motorcycle has the same detrimental effect on the environment as the average motorcycle, which runs solely on gasoline.

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

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

A. Because the motorcycling community is more ecologically minded than five years ago, it will prefer, all other things equal, to purchase a hybrid motorcycle over a regular gasoline one.

Incorrect.

To solve this Conclusion Strengthening question, first break down the argument. The argument in this question contains two premises, yet only the first is easily identifiable. The second appears in the same sentence as the conclusion, and can be identified by the reason conjunction because that precedes it:

However, it is believed that because every automatic switch ... results in a massive expenditure of gasoline, driving the new motorcycle has the same detrimental effect ...

To make it clearer, you could rearrange the sentence this way:

However, because every automatic switch ... results in a massive expenditure of gasoline, it is believed that driving the new motorcycle has the same detrimental effect ...

The broken-down argument, therefore, looks like this:

Premise A: hybrid motorcycles run on gasoline and electricity
 +
Premise B: switching between gasoline and electricity uses a lot of gasoline
 =
Conclusion: the effects of hybrid and gasoline motorcycle engines on the environment are the same

Possible assumption: the bursts of gas that the hybrid uses ultimately create the same amount of pollution that a regular motorbike creates

Strengthening Data: ?

You are required to find data that strengthens the conclusion that the effect of both kinds of motorcycle engines on the environment are the same. The correct answer could be one that confirms the argument's assumption.

This answer choice neither weakens nor strengthens the conclusion. Since we are interested in relative petrol consumption, the preference of the motorcycling community is irrelevant and cannot help us support the conclusion.

B. The production process of hybrid engines consumes a very large amount of energy, thereby negating its positive effect on the atmosphere.

Incorrect.

This answer choice neither weakens nor strengthens the conclusion. Since we are interested in the effect of driving the hybrid engine, not producing it, the production process is irrelevant and cannot help us support the conclusion.

C. Due to the scarcity of charging stations for the hybrid motorcycle in some cities, it has not yet reached its full potential of reducing the detrimental ecological implications of its usage.

Incorrect.

This answer choice neither strengthens nor weakens the conclusion. Specific problems in the current performance of the hybrid motorcycle in certain cities are irrelevant to the argument. We are interested in a technical comparison (i.e., the potential and not the current performance) of hybrid and gasoline motorcycles.

D. A pollution tester, attached to the exhaust pipe, showed the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by a hybrid after 500 miles to be the same as that of the gasoline-consuming engine.

This answer choice supports the conclusion by confirming the assumption that the carbon dioxide emissions of both engines are the same, proving that the bikes both have the same detrimental effect on the environment.

E. Both the gasoline-run motorcycle and the new hybrid engine can be made more environmentally friendly by the addition of cleansing agents to the petrol.

Incorrect.

To solve this Conclusion Strengthening question, first break down the argument. The argument in this question contains two premises, yet only the first is easily identifiable. The second appears in the same sentence as the conclusion, and can be identified by the reason conjunction because that precedes it:

However, it is believed that because every automatic switch ... results in a massive expenditure of gasoline, driving the new motorcycle has the same detrimental effect ...

To make it clearer, you could rearrange the sentence this way:

However, because every automatic switch ... results in a massive expenditure of gasoline, it is believed that driving the new motorcycle has the same detrimental effect ...

The broken-down argument, therefore, looks like this:

Premise A: hybrid motorcycles run on gasoline and electricity
 +
Premise B: switching between gasoline and electricity uses a lot of gasoline
 =
Conclusion: the effects of hybrid and gasoline motorcycle engines on the environment are the same

Possible assumption: the bursts of gas that the hybrid uses ultimately create the same amount of pollution that a regular motorbike creates

Strengthening Data: ?

You are required to find data that strengthens the conclusion that the effect of both kinds of motorcycle engines on the environment are the same. The correct answer could be one that confirms the argument's assumption.

This answer choice presents information that neither strengthens nor weakens the conclusion. The ability to make further improvements on both kinds of engines is irrelevant to the argument since it does not help us determine whether the hybrid engine is as damaging to the environment as the standard gasoline engine.

swim2109 · Answer

C in my opinion.

Conclusion: driving the new motorcycle has the same detrimental effect on the environment as the average motorcycle

Premise: it is believed that because every automatic switch between the use of gasoline and electricity results in a massive expenditure of gasoline

Anything that strengthens the conclusion or increases the likelihood of supporting premise. Lack of charging stations would mean the car would have to be converted more frequently from Gas to Electricity (and vice versa).

shwetank07 · Answer

CONCLUSION : driving the new motorcycle has the  same detrimental effect  on the environment as the average motorcycle, which runs solely on gasoline.
PREMISE : because every automatic switch between the use of gasoline and electricity results in a massive expenditure of gasoline
ASSUMPTION : GASOLINE HAS AN ADVERSE EFFECT ON THE ENVIRONMENT ( CONSIDER IT ON NATURAL RUNNING OR ON SWITCHING)

A. Because the  motorcycling community  is more  ecologically minded  than five years ago, it will prefer, all other things equal, to purchase a hybrid motorcycle over a regular gasoline one. IRRELEVANT

B. The  production process  of hybrid engines consumes a very large amount of energy, thereby negating its positive effect on the atmosphere. OUT OF SCOPE

C. Due to the  scarcity of charging stations  for the hybrid motorcycle  in some cities , it has not yet reached its full potential of reducing the detrimental ecological implications of its usage. IRRELEVANT

D. A pollution tester, attached to the exhaust pipe, showed the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by a hybrid after 500 miles to be the same as that of the gasoline-consuming engine.  CORRECT  (SAME DETRIMENTAL EFFECT)

E. Both the gasoline-run motorcycle and the new hybrid engine  can be made more environmentally friendly  by the addition of cleansing agents to the petrol. (MORE OF A SUGGESTION ; OUT OF CONTEXT)

sidvarma · Answer

Only option D clearly strengthens the argument by providing a data proof.

Umang16 · Answer

D option provides a way to justify arguments mentioned in the above paragraph

Posted from my mobile device

ved02 · Answer

Premises: 
Hybrid motorcycle runs on both gas and electricity. 
Every automatic switch between the gas and electricity uses a lot of gas
Therefore, hybrid motorcycle as as bad for the environment as the average gasoline motorcycle

Purpose: Strengthen
 
A. Because the motorcycling community is more ecologically minded than five years ago, it will prefer, all other things equal, to purchase a hybrid motorcycle over a regular gasoline one.
Irrelevant.

B. The production process of hybrid engines consumes a very large amount of energy, thereby negating its positive effect on the atmosphere.
Trap: May be true, but irrelevant to argument.

C. Due to the scarcity of charging stations for the hybrid motorcycle in some cities, it has not yet reached its full potential of reducing the detrimental ecological implications of its usage.
Weakener.

D. A pollution tester, attached to the exhaust pipe, showed the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by a hybrid after 500 miles to be the same as that of the gasoline-consuming engine.
 Bingo! Directly proves argument.
 
E. Both the gasoline-run motorcycle and the new hybrid engine can be made more environmentally friendly by the addition of cleansing agents to the petrol.
Irrelevant.

winterschool · Answer

A new hybrid motorcycle runs on both standard gasoline and electricity. However, it is believed that because every automatic switch between the use of gasoline and electricity results in a massive expenditure of gasoline, driving the new motorcycle has the same detrimental effect on the environment as the average motorcycle, which runs solely on gasoline.

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

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

A. Because the motorcycling community is more ecologically minded than five years ago, it will prefer, all other things equal, to purchase a hybrid motorcycle over a regular gasoline one.  Incorrect

this choice is irrelevant

B.  The production process of hybrid engines consumes a very large amount of energy, thereby negating its positive effect on the atmosphere.   Correct

this can support; exhaust from production process and at the time of start could be negate exhaust from average gasoline motorcycle

C. Due to the scarcity of charging stations for the hybrid motorcycle in some cities, it has not yet reached its full potential of reducing the detrimental ecological implications of its usage.  Incorrect

it partially against argument

D. A pollution tester, attached to the exhaust pipe, showed the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by a hybrid after 500 miles to be the same as that of the gasoline-consuming engine.  Incorrect

but if before 500 miles hybrid motorcycle exhaust less, than cant say it has same effect

E. Both the gasoline-run motorcycle and the new hybrid engine can be made more environmentally friendly by the addition of cleansing agents to the petrol.  Incorrect

it can be helpful for both type of motorcycle

I think answer B

VerbalBot · Answer

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A new hybrid motorcycle runs on both standard gasoline and electricity

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