While airplanes are being repainted, only the painters, wearing specia

Question

While airplanes are being repainted, only the painters, wearing special protective gear, can go near them. A newly developed nontoxic plastic film offers an alternative to paint; it can be applied to planes in sheets and requires no special precautions. However, the film takes as long to apply as paint does, and it is neither cheaper nor more durable than paint. Clearly, therefore, airlines have little incentive for switching to the film.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?

Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?

A. While the plastic film is being applied to a plane, mechanics can perform other maintenance work on the plane.
B. The plastic film withstands extremes of temperature and corrosive chemicals such as exhaust fumes about as well as aircraft paint does.
C. The plastic film can be applied properly only by technicians who have received special training.
D. Standard techniques for detecting metal fatigue through a coat of paint cannot be used on planes covered with the plastic film.
E. No uses other than that of covering a plane’s exterior have as yet been identified for the newly developed plastic film.

Source: Skills Insight

genericUser · Answer

While airplanes are being repainted, only the painters, wearing special protective gear, can go near them. A newly developed nontoxic plastic film offers an alternative to paint; it can be applied to planes in sheets and requires no special precautions. However, the film takes as long to apply as paint does, and it is neither cheaper nor more durable than paint. Clearly, therefore,  airlines have little incentive for switching to the film.
 
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?

We should prove that the film is somehow usefull

A.  While the plastic film is being applied to a plane, mechanics can perform other maintenance work on the plane.
Correct. Parallel task  	o  less time spent  	o  film can be usefull
B. The plastic film withstands extremes of temperature and corrosive chemicals such as exhaust fumes about as well as aircraft paint does.
Incorrect. No advantage  	o  no weaken
C. The plastic film can be applied properly only by technicians who have received special training.
Incorrect. Just hire specialized technicians
D. Standard techniques for detecting metal fatigue through a coat of paint cannot be used on planes covered with the plastic film.
Incorrect. Need to develop other techniques to detect metal fatigue  	o  strenghten
E. No uses other than that of covering a plane’s exterior have as yet been identified for the newly developed plastic film.
Incorrect. Who cares of other usage?

bdc · Answer

Can you explain, how  option A  weakens the argument. 
Thanks in Advance.

btsaami · Answer

Conclusion: airlines have little incentive for switching to the film.
Premise: Alternative film takes as long to apply as paint does, and it is neither cheaper nor more durable than paint.
Assumption: No other benefit other than Time, cost and quality will provide incentive for switching to new film or manufacturers will be more motivated by cost time and quality than any other factor.
Question weakens the assumption or the conclusion (by giving additional info)
Why correct? A) Parallel maintenance work will save time. Hence, this can facilitate planes less downtime (planes fly more frequently) which might also increase revenue and in turn profit.
Why wrong? B) supports the conclusion by saying that properties to withstand temp and chemicals is similar in both. No extra benefit offered by the new film.
C)Again a supporter. Special training might give manufacturers less incentive to switch to new process
D) drawback of new film gives less incentive to switch.
E) since only one application is identified and the film has same price and durability, gives less incentive to switch to new process.

MartyMurray · Answer

While airplanes are being repainted, only the painters, wearing special protective gear, can go near them. A newly developed nontoxic plastic film offers an alternative to paint; it can be applied to planes in sheets and requires no special precautions. However, the film takes as long to apply as paint does, and it is neither cheaper nor more durable than paint. Clearly, therefore, airlines have little incentive for switching to the film.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?

Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?

To set up to get this Weaken question correct, we can note the conclusion, the support for the conclusion, and how the reasoning of the argument works.

Conclusion:

Clearly, therefore, airlines have little incentive for switching to the film.

Support:

the film takes as long to apply as paint does, and it is neither cheaper nor more durable than paint

An aspect of the argument that we may notice is that the support for the conclusion involves only three characteristics of the film, time required for application, cost, and durability, while there could be involved other factors that make the film better than paint.

Having analyzed the argument, we can now look for a correct answer that shows that, even though the supporting premise is true, the conclusion that airlines have little incentive for switching to the film may not be.

A. While the plastic film is being applied to a plane, mechanics can perform other maintenance work on the plane.

This choice is interesting.

After all the passage says, "While airplanes are being repainted, only the painters, wearing special protective gear, can go near them."

So, if, unlike while planes are being repainted, while the film is being applied, mechanics can perform other maintenance work, then airlines may be able to improve efficiency by using the film rather than paint because they can accomplish more tasks at the same time.

Thus, this choice presents an advantage of the film, weakening the case for the conclusion that airlines have little incentive to switch.

Keep.

B. The plastic film withstands extremes of temperature and corrosive chemicals such as exhaust fumes about as well as aircraft paint does.

This choice is a little tricky to eliminate because it mentions a positive quality of the film.

At the same time, this choice doesn't do what we need. After all, even if the film withstands extremes of temperature and corrosive chemicals about as well as aircraft paint does, there still isn't an incentive for airlines to switch to the film.

After all, this choice says basically that the film is about the same as paint in a certain way. The film's being the same as paint is not a reason to switch to the film.

Eliminate.

C. The plastic film can be applied properly only by technicians who have received special training.

This choice presents a challenge of using the film.

So, it strengthens, rather than weakens, the case for the conclusion that airlines have little incentive to switch to the film.

Eliminate.

D. Standard techniques for detecting metal fatigue through a coat of paint cannot be used on planes covered with the plastic film.

This choice presents a disadvantage of using the film.

So, it strengthens, rather than weakens, the case for the conclusion that airlines have little incentive to switch to the film.

Eliminate.

E. No uses other than that of covering a plane’s exterior have as yet been identified for the newly developed plastic film.

This choice has no effect on the case for the conclusion.

After all, there's no clear reason to believe that airlines would consider other uses for the film in determining whether to use the film for covering the exterior of planes.

Eliminate.

Correct answer:   A

dhairya18 · Answer

Step 1: Identify the conclusion
Airlines have little incentive for switching from paint to the new plastic film.

Step 2: Identify the structure / line of reasoning 
Type: Comparison Argument

Step 3: Core line of reasoning (Scratch Pad) 
Premise: Paint requires safety gear and isolates the plane from non-painters. 
Premise: Film requires no safety gear, but costs the same, lasts as long, and takes as long to apply as paint. 
Conclusion: Airlines have little incentive to switch. 
Link: Equal application time and cost = No operational or financial benefit.

Step 4: Paraphrase 
Goal: Weaken the comparison conclusion. 
Prediction: Show that avoiding the safety restrictions of paint provides a major operational advantage—such as allowing mechanics to work on the plane simultaneously during film application.

Step 5: Option Analysis 
(A) While the plastic film is being applied to a plane, mechanics can perform other maintenance work on the plane. 
Explanation: Correct. Matches the pre-phrase. Because painting restricts non-painters, the plane must undergo maintenance separately. Film allows parallel maintenance work, reducing downtime and offering a huge operational incentive to switch. 
(B) The plastic film withstands extremes of temperature and corrosive chemicals such as exhaust fumes about as well as aircraft paint does. 
Explanation: Proving equal durability confirms parity but does not provide a reason to switch. 
(C) The plastic film can be applied properly only by technicians who have received special training. 
Explanation: Adds a hurdle/cost, strengthening the claim that airlines lack incentive. 
(D) Standard techniques for detecting metal fatigue through a coat of paint cannot be used on planes covered with the plastic film. 
Explanation: Highlights a drawback of the film, strengthening the author's point. 
(E) No uses other than that of covering a plane’s exterior have as yet been identified for the newly developed plastic film. 
Explanation: External versatility is out of scope for evaluating exterior plane application.

While airplanes are being repainted, only the painters, wearing specia

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While airplanes are being repainted, only the painters, wearing specia

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