Ethanol

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vscid: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 212; Joined: Sat Dec 01, 2007 4:19 pm; Thanked: 5 times

by vscid » Sat Feb 20, 2010 11:42 am

Ethanol is a derivative of corn and other grains. When burned as fuel, it emits significantly lower levels of carbon monoxide, a major atmospheric pollutant, than does gasoline. For that reason, environmentalists claim that ethanol is a better source of energy than gasoline.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the environmentalists' claim?

1]When burned as fuel, ethanol does not release any pollutants at higher levels than does gasoline.
2]Ethanol is comparable in price to gasoline.
3]Available supplies of corn are sufficient to supply several years' worth of ethanol.
4]Most gasoline companies already possess the technology to produce ethanol.
5]Ethanol can be used as heating fuel.

The GMAT is indeed adaptable. Whenever I answer RC, it proficiently 'adapts' itself to mark my 'right' answer 'wrong'.

Source: Beat The GMAT — Critical Reasoning | Sat Feb 20, 2010 11:42 am

komal: Legendary Member; Posts: 777; Joined: Fri Jan 01, 2010 4:02 amFollowed by: 47 members; Location: Mumbai, India; Thanked: 117 times

by komal » Sat Feb 20, 2010 12:35 pm

vscid wrote:Ethanol is a derivative of corn and other grains. When burned as fuel, it emits significantly lower levels of carbon monoxide, a major atmospheric pollutant, than does gasoline. For that reason, environmentalists claim that ethanol is a better source of energy than gasoline.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the environmentalists' claim?

1]When burned as fuel, ethanol does not release any pollutants at higher levels than does gasoline.
Correct : Argument is based on the premise that ethanol emits lower levels of a major pollutant than gasoline. This answer choice supports the conclusion by adding that ethanol does not release ANY pollutants at higher levels than does gasoline.

2]Ethanol is comparable in price to gasoline.
Incorrect : Does not help strengthen the conclusion.

3]Available supplies of corn are sufficient to supply several years' worth of ethanol.
Incorrect : Availability of corn for ethanol is not an issue here.

4]Most gasoline companies already possess the technology to produce ethanol.
Incorrect : Ethanol production technology is clearly out of scope.

5]Ethanol can be used as heating fuel.
Incorrect : Irrelevant.

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thephoenix: Legendary Member; Posts: 1560; Joined: Tue Nov 17, 2009 2:38 amFollowed by: 5 members; Thanked: 137 times

by thephoenix » Sat Feb 20, 2010 8:34 pm

vscid wrote:Ethanol is a derivative of corn and other grains. When burned as fuel, it emits significantly lower levels of carbon monoxide, a major atmospheric pollutant, than does gasoline. For that reason, environmentalists claim that ethanol is a better source of energy than gasoline.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the environmentalists' claim?

1]When burned as fuel, ethanol does not release any pollutants at higher levels than does gasoline.
2]Ethanol is comparable in price to gasoline.
3]Available supplies of corn are sufficient to supply several years' worth of ethanol.
4]Most gasoline companies already possess the technology to produce ethanol.
5]Ethanol can be used as heating fuel.

conclusion:
ethanol is a better source of energy than gasoline.

premise:Ethanol,When burned as fuel emits significantly lower levels of carbon monoxide, a major atmospheric pollutant, than does gasoline

supposting statment will support either con or prem or bth

a)correct supposts premise
b)price is out of scope
c)supply of corn is out of scope
d)no effect
e)no effect

reply2spg: Legendary Member; Posts: 1261; Joined: Sun Sep 14, 2008 3:46 am; Thanked: 27 times; GMAT Score:570

by reply2spg » Mon Mar 15, 2010 1:00 pm

Don't you think that A is already specified in passage. Why B is wrong? what if gasoline price is $2/gallon and ethanol price is $10/gallon. In that case how come the ethanol could become better source of energy?

komal wrote:
vscid wrote:Ethanol is a derivative of corn and other grains. When burned as fuel, it emits significantly lower levels of carbon monoxide, a major atmospheric pollutant, than does gasoline. For that reason, environmentalists claim that ethanol is a better source of energy than gasoline.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the environmentalists' claim?

1]When burned as fuel, ethanol does not release any pollutants at higher levels than does gasoline.
Correct : Argument is based on the premise that ethanol emits lower levels of a major pollutant than gasoline. This answer choice supports the conclusion by adding that ethanol does not release ANY pollutants at higher levels than does gasoline.

2]Ethanol is comparable in price to gasoline.
Incorrect : Does not help strengthen the conclusion.

3]Available supplies of corn are sufficient to supply several years' worth of ethanol.
Incorrect : Availability of corn for ethanol is not an issue here.

4]Most gasoline companies already possess the technology to produce ethanol.
Incorrect : Ethanol production technology is clearly out of scope.

5]Ethanol can be used as heating fuel.
Incorrect : Irrelevant.

dbaner1: Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts; Posts: 10; Joined: Thu Feb 11, 2010 8:39 am

by dbaner1 » Mon Mar 15, 2010 1:17 pm

I choose A

B is not in the scope of this question. Nowhere does it mention anything about prices

harshavardhanc: Legendary Member; Posts: 526; Joined: Sat Feb 21, 2009 11:47 pm; Location: India; Thanked: 68 times; GMAT Score:680

by harshavardhanc » Mon Mar 15, 2010 1:23 pm

reply2spg wrote:Don't you think that A is already specified in passage. Why B is wrong? what if gasoline price is $2/gallon and ethanol price is $10/gallon. In that case how come the ethanol could become better source of energy? [/color]

nopes. The stimulus only tells us about Carbon monoxide. Not about any other pollutant. And that is the exact reason why option A becomes a supporter to the claim.

Imagine, if Ethanol emitted every major pollutant, other than Carbon Monoxide, in larger quantities than gasoline does.

would environmentalists, who only gauge a fuel based on the pollutants it emits, make this claim about Ethanol?

Got the point?

Price doesn't matter to these people. As long as the fuel emits less of pollutants, the fuel is "good".

Regards,
Harsha

gmatmachoman: Legendary Member; Posts: 2326; Joined: Mon Jul 28, 2008 3:54 amFollowed by: 2 members; Thanked: 173 times; GMAT Score:710

by gmatmachoman » Mon Mar 15, 2010 1:23 pm

dbaner1 wrote:I choose A

B is not in the scope of this question. Nowhere does it mention anything about prices

well said..thats the way to start!!

R&D on GMAT algorithm:

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carrillo1228: Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts; Posts: 13; Joined: Mon Nov 30, 2009 9:34 am; Thanked: 1 times

by carrillo1228 » Tue Mar 16, 2010 7:20 am

what threw me off was the fact that the question says,

...it emits significantly lower levels of carbon monoxide, ..."

where as answer choice A refers to 'any'

1]When burned as fuel, ethanol does not release any pollutants at higher levels than does gasoline.

can someone help me understand this? (Probably an occupational hazard since we are always told, 'never use definitive words like, never, all, everything, blah blah blah)....

is the word 'any' negated by the fact that the sentence later states 'at higher levels' which implies that it does release pollutants at lower levels?

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