Critical Reasoning

Several industries have recently switched at least partly from older technologies powered by fossil fuels to new
technologies powered by electricity. It is thus evident that less fossil fuel is being used as a result of the
operations of these industries than would have been used if these industries had retained their older
technologies.
Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument above?
(A) Many of the industries that have switched at least partly to the new technologies have increased their
output.
(B) Less fossil fuel was used to manufacture the machinery employed in the new technologies than was
originally used to manufacture the machinery employed in the older technologies.
(C) More electricity is used by those industries that have switched at least partly to the new technologies than
by those industries that have not switched.
(D) Some of the industries that have switched at least partly to the new technologies still use primarily
technologies that are powered by fossil fuels.
(E) The amount of fossil fuel used to generate the electricity needed to power the new technologies is less
than the amount that would have been used to power the older technologies.



[spoiler]OA : E[/spoiler]

can anyone explain what is wrong with C?
Please explain your reason.

gauravgundal wrote:Several industries have recently switched at least partly from older technologies powered by fossil fuels to new
technologies powered by electricity. It is thus evident that less fossil fuel is being used as a result of the
operations of these industries than would have been used if these industries had retained their older
technologies.
Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument above?
(A) Many of the industries that have switched at least partly to the new technologies have increased their
output.
(B) Less fossil fuel was used to manufacture the machinery employed in the new technologies than was
originally used to manufacture the machinery employed in the older technologies.
(C) More electricity is used by those industries that have switched at least partly to the new technologies than
by those industries that have not switched.(D) Some of the industries that have switched at least partly to the new technologies still use primarily
technologies that are powered by fossil fuels.
(E) The amount of fossil fuel used to generate the electricity needed to power the new technologies is less
than the amount that would have been used to power the older technologies.
[spoiler]OA : E[/spoiler]

can anyone explain what is wrong with C?
Please explain your reason.

It is saying more electricity USED NOT PRODUCE and this is why it is actually weakening in place of strenghtening the arguement.

Why can't B be correct?

I would go with E. Option E makes it clear that the electricity used for the new technology engages less fossil fuel compared to as had been the case with older technology.

I felt Option B to be close too. But it talk about manufacturing the technology used and is hence a one time process. It doesn't give us the recent picture or any information to make sure that the amount of fossil fuel we are now using is less. Even if its true, i don't have anything to make sure on the usage of electricity and fossil fuels.

Option C talks about the usage of electricity. I need to find about the usage of fossil fuels now, compared to what it was before the new technology was adopted partly.

The in the above passage

Conclusion : Less fossil fuel is used by companies which employ new technologies

Option B : option says the fuel used in manufacturing the new technology

we are no way concerned about it all we need to do is strengthen our conclusion

Which Option E : points out correctly saying the fossil fuel used to power the new technology is less than the older technology thus resulting in lesser consumption of fossil fuel.

A. out of scope. we are not concerned abt output
B. out of scope. this talks abt new machinery powered by fossil fuels
C. no connection is given on how more electricity impacts the fossil fuels
D. weaken the argument
E. Correct

gauravgundal wrote:Several industries have recently switched at least partly from older technologies powered by fossil fuels to new
technologies powered by electricity. It is thus evident that less fossil fuel is being used as a result of the
operations of these industries than would have been used if these industries had retained their older
technologies.
Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument above?
(A) Many of the industries that have switched at least partly to the new technologies have increased their
output.
(B) Less fossil fuel was used to manufacture the machinery employed in the new technologies than was
originally used to manufacture the machinery employed in the older technologies.
(C) More electricity is used by those industries that have switched at least partly to the new technologies than
by those industries that have not switched.
(D) Some of the industries that have switched at least partly to the new technologies still use primarily
technologies that are powered by fossil fuels.
(E) The amount of fossil fuel used to generate the electricity needed to power the new technologies is less
than the amount that would have been used to power the older technologies.



[spoiler]OA : E[/spoiler]

can anyone explain what is wrong with C?
Please explain your reason.

C is out of scope. we need the answer choice to strengthen the conclusion less fossil fuel is now being used due to the change to new technology

C doesnt link the more use of electricity to fossil fuels. we do not know how the electricity is generated, whether by fossil fuels or by other sources- wind, water etc etc

The conclusion of the stimulus says -> It is thus evident that less fossil fuel is being used as a result of the operations of these industries
answer B talks about -> ess fossil fuel was used to manufacture the machinery employed
we are concerned about fossil fuel used for operations of these industries not fossil fuel used for Manufacturing the machinery

hope this helps
Hence E

I have some reservations regarding the OA:

The stimulus says that older technologies were powered by fossil fuel; whereas new technologies are powered by electricity. Now, the OA says that fossil fuel is needed to generate power for the new technologies. This is a direct contradiction with the stimulus.

Please explain.

Thanks.

Yeah, I have the same confusion as the previous person about the phrasing of (E) - the amount of fossil fuel used to generate the electricity needed to power the new technologies. Isn't electricity replacing fossil fuel? Fossil fuel is used to power the technologies from what the first sentence of the premise says, not generate electricity to power them. Why would "new technologies powered by electricity" need fossil fuel to generate the power?

None of the answers look right to me unless someone can resolve this contradiction in (E). The only explanation I can think of is that the modifying clause "used to generate the electricity needed to power the new technologies" was placed there to confuse you and that it's basically saying zero fossil fuels are used to generate the electricity for the new tech compared to the old tech.

A more logical answer would've said "The amount of fossil fuel used to power the new tech...." which eliminates "generate the electricity needed to"

bigge2win wrote: Why would "new technologies powered by electricity" need fossil fuel to generate the power?

Because the electricity has to come from somewhere.

Essentially, E says that converting fossil fuels to electricity to power the new technologies is more efficient than directly using fossil fuels to power the old technologies.