airplane mechanical problems

Question

Investigators concluded that human failure was not responsible for the fatal airplane crash last August, and since that time new and more stringent rules for identifying and reporting mechanical problems have been in effect. That accounts for the fact that reports of airplane mechanical problems have increased in frequency by 50 percent since last August.
Which one of the following is an assumption underlying the argument in the passage?
(A) Airplane travel is still relatively safe, despite the increase in reported mechanical problems.
(B) Mechanical problems in airplanes have increased dramatically since last August.
(C) Mechanical problems in airplanes have not increased by 50 percent since last August.
(D) Airlines are less reluctant to report mechanical problems than they previously were.
(E) Mechanical problems in airplanes have become easier to detect since last August.

komal · Answer

daretodream wrote:Investigators concluded that human failure was not responsible for the fatal airplane crash last August, and since that time new and more stringent rules for identifying and reporting mechanical problems have been in effect. That accounts for the fact that reports of airplane mechanical problems have increased in frequency by 50 percent since last August.
Which one of the following is an assumption underlying the argument in the passage?

(A) Airplane travel is still relatively safe, despite the increase in reported mechanical problems.
Incorrect : This does not talk about the cause of increased mechanical problems. Eliminated.

(B) Mechanical problems in airplanes have increased dramatically since last August.
Incorrect : It weakens the argument by providing an alternate cause for the stated effect.

(C) Mechanical problems in airplanes have not increased by 50 percent since last August.
Correct : If it is not human error then it should be mechanical error and the number of mechanical problems should not be more than that present earlier.

(D) Airlines are less reluctant to report mechanical problems than they previously were.
Incorrect : How does it matter if airlines are less reluctant or more reluctant? Eliminated.

(E) Mechanical problems in airplanes have become easier to detect since last August.
Incorrect : Clearly out of scope

thephoenix · Answer

(A) Airplane travel is still relatively safe, despite the increase in reported mechanical problems
--> out of scope

(B) Mechanical problems in airplanes have increased dramatically since last August
--> this is a weaken

(C) Mechanical problems in airplanes have not increased by 50 percent since last August
-->best answer. You can use the Assumption negative technique in Bible critical Power score: Mechanical problems in airplanes have increased by 50 percent since last August--> this turns out to be a weaken to the argument, so this is the best choice

(D) Airlines are less reluctant to report mechanical problems than they previously were
--> this seems alright, but not as strong as (C). The reluctance is just a weak and abstract reason to decide whether to report a mechanical problem. But because the frequency increase dramatically, 50%, so the reluctance seems to play no significant role

(E) Mechanical problems in airplanes have become easier to detect since last August
--> weaken

mrinal2100 · Answer

how does the option c weaken the argument if we take the negation approach..if Mechanical problems in airplanes have increased by 50 percent since last August ,then the reports of airplane mechanical problems should also increase in frequency by 50 percent since last August...

tallazndood · Answer

mrinal2100 wrote:how does the option c weaken the argument if we take the negation approach..if Mechanical problems in airplanes have increased by 50 percent since last August ,then the reports of airplane mechanical problems should also increase in frequency by 50 percent since last August...

IMO: There're two likely situations that are causing the increase:

1. More mechanical problems that are previously NOT reported are now reported as a result of the more stringent rules.
2. There has been an increase in the number of mechanical problems since last August.

Conclusion ties the increase of 50% to Situation 1. Hence, it must be assuming that Situation 2 is NOT the case. Therefore, C is the right answer because the assumption is eliminating an alternative cause. By negating option C, it weakens the argument because Situation 2 could also be the cause of the increase (or Situation 1 is NOT necessarily the cause).

Testluv · Answer

This is another explain the phenomenon argument. The author is advancing an "accounting" for why reports of mechanical problems have increased. And his explanation--his account--is that the new rules are more stringent.

In other words:

the phenomenon: increase in number of reports of mechanical problems.

the author's explanation (conclusion): new (and more stringent) rules.

In all "explain the pheomenon" arguments, the author is assuming that there are no other explanations.

Choice C matches this prediction although rather than saying "no other explanations", it is specifically ruling out a clear competing explanation--that mechanical problems have in fact increased. Using the denial test: if mechanical problems HAVE incrased, then that would be the explanation for the greater number of reports of mechanical problems--not the more stringent rules.

Because, in the absence of choice C, the argument falls apart, the argument's reasoning depends on choice C; choice C is a necessary assumtion of the argument.

tanviet · Answer

testluv, can I say that in phenominon argumen evidence is phenominon coclusion is explanation this is to quickly realize evidence and assumption.

Testluv · Answer

duongthang wrote:testluv, can I say that in phenominon argumen evidence is phenominon coclusion is explanation this is to quickly realize evidence and assumption. yes, you can say that.

joseph32 · Answer

I believe the answer should be C

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