Critical Reasoning

Scientists believe they have discovered the wreck of the USS Harvard, sunk by Japanese torpedoes during World War II. Their conclusions are drawn from underwater searches by mini-submarines of the area about 4 miles of Midway Island in the Pacific Ocean during what started out as offshore oil platform accident procedures. These are some military historians that are skeptical about the scientists'claim, on the basis that sophisticated sonar equipment has not identified the ship as, indeed, the Harvard.

Which of the following, if true, would weaken the historians'arguments?

A) Thorough searching by divers and bathyscopes has not located the wreck.
B) Three other ships were sunk in this area during World War II.
C) The ship's last known position was 20 miles east of Midway
D) The use of sonar only enables the user to identify the shape and dimension of a wreck.
E) It is not known whether the Harvard suffered much structural damage before being sunk.

I still do not understand, why the correct answer is c. Could anyone offer some logical explanation, please? Thank you!

It looks as though the problem is missing a word. "the area about 4 miles of Midway Island" seems to need a compass point - e.g. 4 miles "west" of Midway. That is particularly likely since the answer includes a compass point.

I don't understand why it is C

Is this a LSAT CR!

When I read the passage and then the question, I looked for a choice that sided with the scientists..something that would say that the sonar is precise or a way to ensure that they did find the ship. Answers A,B,D and E all strengthen the historian's claim..leaving us with answer C which must be the only right choice. I think identifying wrong answer choices is often more helpful than finding the 1 right answer.

What is the source of this problem. The stimulus doesn't make sense. What is meant by "4 miles of Midway"?

IMO D

The question is wrong...this is the real question

Scientists believe they have discovered the wreck of the USS Harvard, sunk by Japanese torpedoes during World War II. Their conclusions are drawn from underwater searches by mini-submarine of the are about 4 miles west of Midway Island in the Pacific Ocean during what started out as offshore oil platform accident procedures. There are some military historians that are skeptical about the scientists' claim, on the basis that sophisticated sonar equipment has not identified the ship as, indeed, the Harvard.

Which of the following, if true, would weaken the historians' arguments?

(A) Thorough searching by divers and bathyscopes has not located the wreck
(B) Three other ships were sunk in this area during World War II
(C) The ship's last known position was 20 miles east of Midway
(D) The use of sonar only enables the user to identify the shape and dimension of a wreck
(E) It is not known whether the Harvard suffered much structural damage before being sunk

OA: D

Question Source is : How to prepare for the graduate management admission test: Barron's GMAT

Thank you. That is a big help!

Tani Wolff - Kaplan wrote:Thank you. That is a big help!

My Pleasure

Thanks for posting the right question. That's a big help.