For over two centuries, no one had been able to make Damascus blades - blades with a distinctive serpentine surface pattern - but a contemporary sword maker may just have rediscovered how. Using iron with trace impurities that precisely matched those present in the iron used in historic Damascus blades, this contemporary sword maker seems to have finally hit on an intricate process by which he can produce a blade indistinguishable from a true Damascus blade.
Which of the following, if true, provides the strongest support for the hypothesis that trace impurities in the iron are essential for the production of Damascus blades?
A) There are surface features of every Damascus blade-including the blades produced by the contemporary sword maker-that are unique to that blade.
B) The iron with which the contemporary sword maker made Damascus blades came from a source of iron that was unknown two centuries ago.
C) Almost all the tools used by the contemporary sword maker were updated versions of tools that were used by sword makers over two centuries ago.
D) Production of Damascus blades by sword makers of the past ceased abruptly after those sword makers' original source of iron became exhausted.
E) Although Damascus blades were renowned for maintaining a sharp edge, the blade made by the contemporary sword maker suggests that they may have maintained their edge less well than blades made using what is now the standard process for making blades.
OA: D
Source: OG Verbal 2016,CR Qs.67
@Verbal Experts - Not able to understand why EXACTLY Option B is wrong and how OA is better choice than Option B ? Could you please share your explanation on this CR ?
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For over two centuries, no one had been able to make Damascu
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ceilidh.erickson
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When we're asked to STRENGTHEN an argument, we want to first determine what information is missing / what logical gaps are present.
Conclusion: trace impurities in the iron are essential for the production of Damascus blades
Premises:
- For over two centuries, no one had been able to make Damascus blades
- Using iron with trace impurities that precisely matched those present in the iron used in historic Damascus blades, this contemporary sword maker seems to have finally hit on [the right process]
Missing information:
- did this swordmaker do anything else to replicate the original process that the failed attempts did not?
i.e. is there any other explanation to account for his success and other people's failures?
If we want to STRENGTHEN the argument that the trace impurities are the sole explanation, we want an answer choice that rules out some other possibility.
A) There are surface features of every Damascus blade - including the blades produced by the contemporary sword maker - that are unique to that blade.
We don't care if there are features that are always unique. We only care about what makes this swordmaker's sword similar to the original ones, but different from the failed attempts.
B) The iron with which the contemporary sword maker made Damascus blades came from a source of iron that was unknown two centuries ago.
This would WEAKEN the argument. If the source of iron is different, then other features (besides trace impurities that we're told perfectly match) might be different. This would not then explain the similarity to the original Damascus blades, so the argument would be weakened - there is likely some other explanation. Or perhaps the iron, though coming from a different source, is effectively identical to the original, and then this would have no effect on the argument.
C) Almost all the tools used by the contemporary sword maker were updated versions of tools that were used by sword makers over two centuries ago.
If they are updated versions, they be similar to the originals, or they might be different in some important way. We don't know what effect this would have on the blades, and it gives us no reason to believe that TRACE IMPURITIES account for the success of these attempts.
D) Production of Damascus blades by sword makers of the past ceased abruptly after those sword makers' original source of iron became exhausted.
If this were true, it would explain why subsequent attempts to make these blades had failed. If other swordmakers had to use different sources of iron, they may have had different trace impurities. If this swordmaker was then the first to recreate those trace impurities, that would explain the difference between his success and others' failures.
E) Although Damascus blades were renowned for maintaining a sharp edge, the blade made by the contemporary sword maker suggests that they may have maintained their edge less well than blades made using what is now the standard process for making blades.
Sharpness of the blade is totally irrelevant to how they were made.
The correct answer is D.
Does this help?
Conclusion: trace impurities in the iron are essential for the production of Damascus blades
Premises:
- For over two centuries, no one had been able to make Damascus blades
- Using iron with trace impurities that precisely matched those present in the iron used in historic Damascus blades, this contemporary sword maker seems to have finally hit on [the right process]
Missing information:
- did this swordmaker do anything else to replicate the original process that the failed attempts did not?
i.e. is there any other explanation to account for his success and other people's failures?
If we want to STRENGTHEN the argument that the trace impurities are the sole explanation, we want an answer choice that rules out some other possibility.
A) There are surface features of every Damascus blade - including the blades produced by the contemporary sword maker - that are unique to that blade.
We don't care if there are features that are always unique. We only care about what makes this swordmaker's sword similar to the original ones, but different from the failed attempts.
B) The iron with which the contemporary sword maker made Damascus blades came from a source of iron that was unknown two centuries ago.
This would WEAKEN the argument. If the source of iron is different, then other features (besides trace impurities that we're told perfectly match) might be different. This would not then explain the similarity to the original Damascus blades, so the argument would be weakened - there is likely some other explanation. Or perhaps the iron, though coming from a different source, is effectively identical to the original, and then this would have no effect on the argument.
C) Almost all the tools used by the contemporary sword maker were updated versions of tools that were used by sword makers over two centuries ago.
If they are updated versions, they be similar to the originals, or they might be different in some important way. We don't know what effect this would have on the blades, and it gives us no reason to believe that TRACE IMPURITIES account for the success of these attempts.
D) Production of Damascus blades by sword makers of the past ceased abruptly after those sword makers' original source of iron became exhausted.
If this were true, it would explain why subsequent attempts to make these blades had failed. If other swordmakers had to use different sources of iron, they may have had different trace impurities. If this swordmaker was then the first to recreate those trace impurities, that would explain the difference between his success and others' failures.
E) Although Damascus blades were renowned for maintaining a sharp edge, the blade made by the contemporary sword maker suggests that they may have maintained their edge less well than blades made using what is now the standard process for making blades.
Sharpness of the blade is totally irrelevant to how they were made.
The correct answer is D.
Does this help?
Ceilidh Erickson
EdM in Mind, Brain, and Education
Harvard Graduate School of Education
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Let me focus on option B.
B) The iron with which the contemporary sword maker made Damascus blades came from a source of iron that was unknown two centuries ago.
This is not the case as the Damascus blades were manufactured more than 2 centuries ago.
This means the iron source was always known.
Hence this option is incorrect.
Option D says that the original source of iron used to make Damascus blades was exhausted.
This gives us a reason as to why the Damascus blades were not manufactured in between.
Hence the correct answer.
Does this help?
B) The iron with which the contemporary sword maker made Damascus blades came from a source of iron that was unknown two centuries ago.
This is not the case as the Damascus blades were manufactured more than 2 centuries ago.
This means the iron source was always known.
Hence this option is incorrect.
Option D says that the original source of iron used to make Damascus blades was exhausted.
This gives us a reason as to why the Damascus blades were not manufactured in between.
Hence the correct answer.
Does this help?
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Hi Ceilidh,ceilidh.erickson wrote: B) The iron with which the contemporary sword maker made Damascus blades came from a source of iron that was unknown two centuries ago.
This would WEAKEN the argument. If the source of iron is different, then other features (besides trace impurities that we're told perfectly match) might be different. This would not then explain the similarity to the original Damascus blades, so the argument would be weakened - there is likely some other explanation. Or perhaps the iron, though coming from a different source, is effectively identical to the original, and then this would have no effect on the argument.
While now I understand why D is the OA, still got some doubt on Option B:
1. Not able to get your above explanation that how B would WEAKEN the argument and how it implies that "the source of iron is different...", as you've mentioned above ?
2. Could you please let me know whether my following analysis of B is correct to mark it as an INCORRECT choice ?
-- For a STRENGTHEN CR in GMAT, the CORRECT option MUST be a new piece of information within the SCOPE of the CR and MUST NOT be given in the ARGUMENT. Am I correct ?
If yes, then Option B is NOT a new piece of information because the source of iron,mentioned in B, from which the contemporary sword maker has made Damascus blades was OBVIOUSLY NOT known to the sword makers two centuries ago. And I guess, this logic is reinforced by the ARGUMENT that uses the term "rediscovered" by the contemporary sword maker.
So, basically the point is Option B doesn't mention anything that is NOT given in the ARGUMENT.
Curious to know whether this analysis stands good to eliminate B ?
P.S: Can we really classify this CR as an CAUSAL ARGUMENT ? I think, it's a BIT unconventional in terms of CAUSAL ARGUMENT!
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To support the conclusion that trace impurities in the iron are essential for the production of Damascus blades, the correct answer choice must strengthen the link between the iron used to make the contemporary sword maker's blades and that used to make Damascus blades.
B: The iron with which the contemporary sword maker made Damascus blades came from a source of iron that was unknown two centuries ago.
If the contemporary sword maker's source of iron was unknown to Damascus sword makers, then the contemporary sword maker and Damascus sword makers must have obtained iron from DIFFERENT SOURCES, breaking the link between the iron used to make the contemporary sword maker's blades and that used to make Damascus blades and WEAKENING the conclusion that trace impurities in the iron are essential for the production of Damascus blades.
Eliminate B.
B: The iron with which the contemporary sword maker made Damascus blades came from a source of iron that was unknown two centuries ago.
If the contemporary sword maker's source of iron was unknown to Damascus sword makers, then the contemporary sword maker and Damascus sword makers must have obtained iron from DIFFERENT SOURCES, breaking the link between the iron used to make the contemporary sword maker's blades and that used to make Damascus blades and WEAKENING the conclusion that trace impurities in the iron are essential for the production of Damascus blades.
Eliminate B.
Last edited by GMATGuruNY on Sun May 29, 2016 11:46 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Getting confused here...!GMATGuruNY wrote:To support the conclusion that the contemporary sword maker has rediscovered how to make Damascus blades, the correct answer choice must strengthen the link between the blades made by the contemporary sword maker and those made by Damascus sword makers.
I guess, CONCLUSION is trace impurities in the iron are essential for the production of Damascus blades as given in the Qs. stem.
Isn't it ?
NOT able to get this straight...GMATGuruNY wrote:B: The iron with which the contemporary sword maker made Damascus blades came from a source of iron that was unknown two centuries ago.
If the contemporary sword maker's source of iron was unknown to Damascus sword makers, then the contemporary sword maker and Damascus sword makers must have obtained iron from DIFFERENT SOURCES, breaking the link between the blades made by the contemporary sword maker and those made by Damascus sword makers and WEAKENING the conclusion that the contemporary sword maker has rediscovered how to make Damascus blades.
Eliminate B.
Mainly my doubt is with the very first statement of your above quote "If the contemporary sword maker's source of iron was unknown to Damascus sword makers" -- how we can say that two centuries ago implies the time when historic Damascus sword makers were present ? Because, the ARGUMENT says that for over two centuries, no one had been able to make Damascus blades. And at the same time ARGUMENT mentions that contemporary sword maker rediscovered how historic Damascus blades were made (by then Damascus blades sword makers - most likely well before two centuries ago).
So, doesn't that mean Option B seems NOT to refer to the historic Damascus sword makers, rather to the sword makers two centuries ago who FAILED to make historic Damascus blades.
(Don't get it how this logic is wrong ?)
Now, as this information is ALREADY implied in the ARGUMENT through the term "rediscovered" by the contemporary sword maker, so NO NEW INFORMATION is obtained from B. Hence, B is eliminated.
Where I'm getting this wrong ? Please help.
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Good catch.RBBmba@2014 wrote:Getting confused here...!GMATGuruNY wrote:To support the conclusion that the contemporary sword maker has rediscovered how to make Damascus blades, the correct answer choice must strengthen the link between the blades made by the contemporary sword maker and those made by Damascus sword makers.
I guess, CONCLUSION is trace impurities in the iron are essential for the production of Damascus blades as given in the Qs. stem.
Isn't it ?
I've amended my post accordingly.
Passage:Mainly my doubt is with the very first statement of your above quote "If the contemporary sword maker's source of iron was unknown to Damascus sword makers" -- how we can say that two centuries ago implies the time when historic Damascus sword makers were present ? Because, the ARGUMENT says that for over two centuries, no one had been able to make Damascus blades. And at the same time ARGUMENT mentions that contemporary sword maker rediscovered how historic Damascus blades were made (by then Damascus blades sword makers - most likely well before two centuries ago).
So, doesn't that mean Option B seems NOT to refer to the historic Damascus sword makers, rather to the sword makers two centuries ago who FAILED to make historic Damascus blades.
(Don't get it how this logic is wrong ?)
For over two centuries, no one had been able to make Damascus blades.
Implication:
Damascus sword makers produced all of their blades more than two centuries ago.
B:
The iron with which the contemporary sword maker made Damascus blades came from a source of iron that was unknown two centuries ago.
Implication:
Since the contemporary sword maker's source of iron was UNKNOWN two centuries ago -- in other words, since this source had not yet been discovered two centuries ago -- it could not have been used by Damascus sword makers, whose blades were produced MORE than two centuries ago.
To rediscover means to find something that has been lost for a long time.Now, as this information is ALREADY implied in the ARGUMENT through the term "rediscovered" by the contemporary sword maker, so NO NEW INFORMATION is obtained from B. Hence, B is eliminated.
Passage:
A contemporary sword maker may just have rediscovered how to make Damascus blades.
Here, the usage of rediscovered indicates that the contemporary sword maker has figured out the correct way to make Damascus blades -- a process that had been lost for over two centuries.
Answer choice B does not restate this information.
Quite the opposite.
In asserting that the contemporary sword maker used iron from a source unknown to Damascus sword makers, B seems to CONTRADICT the contention that the contemporary sword maker has learned the correct way to make Damascus blades.
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Hi Mitch,
I hear you here...but STILL some doubt remains on this -
LITTLE BIT confused with these two TIME-words you used above : two centuries ago and MORE than two centuries ago.
As To rediscover means to find something that has been lost for a long time, it's EVIDENT that this is NOT the first time that the correct way to make Damascus blades has been DISCOVERED. Clearly, MORE than two centuries ago, Damascus sword makers used this METHOD to make Damascus blades and then it got lost for over two centuries UNTIL the contemporary sword maker may just have REdiscovered it...
Right ?
Now,from the Passage it's clear that Damascus sword makers produced all of their blades MORE than two centuries ago. Now B implies that the contemporary sword maker's source of iron was UNKNOWN two centuries ago.
So, DOUBT remains that how exactly B AFFECTS the HISTORIC Damascus sword makers who made Damascus blades MORE than two centuries ago because B indicates a time around early 1800s ONLY -- two centuries ago -- whereas, the passage suggests that the HISTORIC Damascus sword makers made Damascus blades prior to that time frame!
Am I able convey the doubt BIT more clearly ?
I hear you here...but STILL some doubt remains on this -
LITTLE BIT confused with these two TIME-words you used above : two centuries ago and MORE than two centuries ago.
As To rediscover means to find something that has been lost for a long time, it's EVIDENT that this is NOT the first time that the correct way to make Damascus blades has been DISCOVERED. Clearly, MORE than two centuries ago, Damascus sword makers used this METHOD to make Damascus blades and then it got lost for over two centuries UNTIL the contemporary sword maker may just have REdiscovered it...
Right ?
Now,from the Passage it's clear that Damascus sword makers produced all of their blades MORE than two centuries ago. Now B implies that the contemporary sword maker's source of iron was UNKNOWN two centuries ago.
So, DOUBT remains that how exactly B AFFECTS the HISTORIC Damascus sword makers who made Damascus blades MORE than two centuries ago because B indicates a time around early 1800s ONLY -- two centuries ago -- whereas, the passage suggests that the HISTORIC Damascus sword makers made Damascus blades prior to that time frame!
Am I able convey the doubt BIT more clearly ?
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X was unknown Y years ago.RBBmba@2014 wrote:Hi Mitch,
I hear you here...but STILL some doubt remains on this -
LITTLE BIT confused with these two TIME-words you used above : two centuries ago and MORE than two centuries ago.
As To rediscover means to find something that has been lost for a long time, it's EVIDENT that this is NOT the first time that the correct way to make Damascus blades has been DISCOVERED. Clearly, MORE than two centuries ago, Damascus sword makers used this METHOD to make Damascus blades and then it got lost for over two centuries UNTIL the contemporary sword maker may just have REdiscovered it...
Right ?
Now,from the Passage it's clear that Damascus sword makers produced all of their blades MORE than two centuries ago. Now B implies that the contemporary sword maker's source of iron was UNKNOWN two centuries ago.
So, DOUBT remains that how exactly B AFFECTS the HISTORIC Damascus sword makers who made Damascus blades MORE than two centuries ago because B indicates a time around early 1800s ONLY -- two centuries ago -- whereas, the passage suggests that the HISTORIC Damascus sword makers made Damascus blades prior to that time frame!
Am I able convey the doubt BIT more clearly ?
Even though this wording refers explicitly only to Y years ago, it conveys the following:
Y years ago, X had NOT YET BEEN DISCOVERED and thus was UNKNOWN.
Now, X is known.
Example:
The cause of the disease was unknown ten years ago.
Conveyed meaning:
Ten years ago, the cause of the disease had not yet been discovered and thus was unknown.
Now, the cause of the disease is known.
Answer choice B:
The iron with which the contemporary sword maker made Damascus blades came from a source of iron that was unknown two centuries ago.
Conveyed meaning:
Two centuries ago, the contemporary sword maker's source of iron had not yet been discovered and thus was unknown.
Now, the contemporary sword maker's source of iron is known.
Since two centuries ago the contemporary sword maker's source of iron HAD NOT YET BEEN DISCOVERED, no sword makers prior to two centuries ago -- including Damascus sword makers -- could have obtained iron from this source.
Thus, B indicates that the contemporary sword maker and Damascus sword makers used iron from DIFFERENT SOURCES, weakening the conclusion that the trace impurities in the contemporary sword maker's iron are essential for the production of Damascus blades.
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By this LOGIC, I can understand your complete explanation in your last post.GMATGuruNY wrote: X was unknown Y years ago.
Even though this wording refers explicitly only to Y years ago, it conveys the following:
Y years ago, X had NOT YET BEEN DISCOVERED and thus was UNKNOWN.
Now, X is known.
That said, my DOUBT still prevails on the REdiscovery aspect of the iron source by the contemporary sword maker.
REOCCUR means occurring AGAIN ; that means it's NOT the FIRST TIME Occurrence - something is taking place for the SECOND time, AT LEAST. Therefore, similar explanation should be applied in case of REdiscovery as well. So, REdiscovery should mean DISCOVERED AGAIN.
Isn't it ? (Not really getting that how this can be wrong!)
So, on the basis of the above MEANING of REdiscovery, eventually REdiscovery here should imply that AT LEAST a SECOND time DISCOVERY of the iron source by the contemporary sword maker to make similar HISTORIC Damascus blades.
In other words, this iron source was EARLIER DISCOVERED (and used) by HISTORIC Damascus sword makers MORE than two centuries ago and then this iron source somehow got lost for over two centuries (and that is why Option B states that it was UNKNOWN two centuries ago) UNTIL the contemporary sword maker may just have DISCOVERED it AGAIN or REdiscovered it...
Could you please clarify where is the FLAW in my above ANALYSIS/LOGIC on the basis of REdiscovery aspect of the iron source?
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The passage does NOT state that the contemporary sword maker rediscovered the IRON SOURCE used by historic Damascus sword makers.RBBmba@2014 wrote:That said, my DOUBT still prevails on the REdiscovery aspect of the iron source by the contemporary sword maker.
So, on the basis of the above MEANING of REdiscovery, eventually REdiscovery here should imply that AT LEAST a SECOND time DISCOVERY of the iron source by the contemporary sword maker to make similar HISTORIC Damascus blades.
It states the following:
By using iron with trace impurities that precisely matched those present in historic Damascus blades, the contemporary sword maker may have rediscovered HOW TO MAKE DAMASCUS BLADES.
It is possible that the contemporary sword maker and Damascus sword makers used iron samples that have the SAME TRACE IMPURITIES but that come from DIFFERENT SOURCES.
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RBBmba@2014
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GMATGuruNY - Getting more confused now!GMATGuruNY wrote: The passage does NOT state that the contemporary sword maker rediscovered the IRON SOURCE used by historic Damascus sword makers.
It states the following:
By using iron with trace impurities that precisely matched those present in historic Damascus blades, the contemporary sword maker may have rediscovered HOW TO MAKE DAMASCUS BLADES.
It is possible that the contemporary sword maker and Damascus sword makers used iron samples that have the SAME TRACE IMPURITIES but that come from DIFFERENT SOURCES.
With reference to your above post (in RED), it seems to be slightly CONTRADICTING to what you said in your earlier posts (re FIRST one & the SECOND LAST in this thread) that if the contemporary sword maker and Damascus sword makers used iron from DIFFERENT SOURCES, then the conclusion is weakened. (As of now, we discussed that these two SOURCES should be SAME, I guess. Wasn't it so ?)
Am I missing something ? Please help!
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Swords made by the contemporary sword maker contain the same trace impurities as those made by Damascus sword makers.RBBmba@2014 wrote:GMATGuruNY - Getting more confused now!GMATGuruNY wrote: The passage does NOT state that the contemporary sword maker rediscovered the IRON SOURCE used by historic Damascus sword makers.
It states the following:
By using iron with trace impurities that precisely matched those present in historic Damascus blades, the contemporary sword maker may have rediscovered HOW TO MAKE DAMASCUS BLADES.
It is possible that the contemporary sword maker and Damascus sword makers used iron samples that have the SAME TRACE IMPURITIES but that come from DIFFERENT SOURCES.
With reference to your above post (in RED), it seems to be slightly CONTRADICTING to what you said in your earlier posts (re FIRST one & the SECOND LAST in this thread) that if the contemporary sword maker and Damascus sword makers used iron from DIFFERENT SOURCES, then the conclusion is weakened. (As of now, we discussed that these two SOURCES should be SAME, I guess. Wasn't it so ?)
Am I missing something ? Please help!
It is not stated where the contemporary sword maker obtained his iron.
The conclusion is that the making of Damascus blades depends on usage of the proper type of iron.
If the contemporary sword maker obtained his iron from the SAME SOURCE as Damascus sword makers, this conclusion is STRENGTHENED.
Conversely, this conclusion is WEAKENED if the contemporary sword maker and Damascus sword makers used iron from DIFFERENT SOURCES.
Option B indicates that the contemporary sword maker and Damascus sword makers used iron from different sources, WEAKENING the conclusion that the making of Damascus blades depends on the usage of a particular type of iron.
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RBBmba@2014
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OK. So,per the ARGUMENT, it appears thatGMATGuruNY wrote: Swords made by the contemporary sword maker contain the same trace impurities as those made by Damascus sword makers.
It is not stated where the contemporary sword maker obtained his iron.
1. Contemporary sword maker and Damascus sword makers use same trace impurities, but NOT necessarily used the "same iron" or "iron from same source".
2. Contemporary sword maker rediscovered ONLY the PROCESS of making HISTORIC Damascus swords -- NOT the IRON SOURCE used by historic Damascus sword makers -- by using iron with SAME trace impurities as used in HISTORIC Damascus swords.
And this IRON used by Contemporary sword maker may or may not be from SAME SOURCE of IRON used by HISTORIC Damascus sword makers.
Right ?
First , CONCLUSION is I guess, trace impurities in the iron are essential for the production of Damascus blades - in other words, WITHOUT these trace impurities Damascus blades PROBABLY can't be produced. Isn't it ?GMATGuruNY wrote:The conclusion is that the making of Damascus blades depends on usage of the proper type of iron.
If the contemporary sword maker obtained his iron from the SAME SOURCE as Damascus sword makers, this conclusion is STRENGTHENED.
Conversely, this conclusion is WEAKENED if the contemporary sword maker and Damascus sword makers used iron from DIFFERENT SOURCES.
Option B indicates that the contemporary sword maker and Damascus sword makers used iron from different sources, WEAKENING the conclusion that the making of Damascus blades depends on the usage of a particular type of iron.
Secondly, your above post is still somewhat confusing to me on the aspect of IRON SOURCE because this statement -- "conclusion is WEAKENED if the contemporary sword maker and Damascus sword makers used iron from DIFFERENT SOURCES" -- seems to CONTRADICT what is asserted above that whether contemporary sword maker obtained his iron from the SAME SOURCE or DIFFERENT SOURCE as Damascus sword makers is IRRELEVANT ? ONLY thing is that BOTH of them use same trace impurities.
Am I able to make it clear where I'm getting confused ?
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GMATGuruNY
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The passage states that the same trace impurities are PRESENT in the iron used to make Damascus blades.RBBmba@2014 wrote:OK. So,per the ARGUMENT, it appears thatGMATGuruNY wrote: Swords made by the contemporary sword maker contain the same trace impurities as those made by Damascus sword makers.
It is not stated where the contemporary sword maker obtained his iron.
1. Contemporary sword maker and Damascus sword makers use same trace impurities, but NOT necessarily used the "same iron" or "iron from same source".
It is not stated HOW or WHEN these impurities came to be present in the iron.
It is possible that these impurities came to be present in the iron many years AFTER the blades were produced.
Correct.2. Contemporary sword maker rediscovered ONLY the PROCESS of making HISTORIC Damascus swords -- NOT the IRON SOURCE used by historic Damascus sword makers.
As noted above, it is not stated how the trace impurities came to be present in the iron used to make Damascus blades.First , CONCLUSION is I guess, trace impurities in the iron are essential for the production of Damascus blades - in other words, WITHOUT these trace impurities Damascus blades PROBABLY can't be produced. Isn't it ?GMATGuruNY wrote:The conclusion is that the making of Damascus blades depends on usage of the proper type of iron.
If the contemporary sword maker obtained his iron from the SAME SOURCE as Damascus sword makers, this conclusion is STRENGTHENED.
Conversely, this conclusion is WEAKENED if the contemporary sword maker and Damascus sword makers used iron from DIFFERENT SOURCES.
Option B indicates that the contemporary sword maker and Damascus sword makers used iron from different sources, WEAKENING the conclusion that the making of Damascus blades depends on the usage of a particular type of iron.
Secondly, your above post is still somewhat confusing to me on the aspect of IRON SOURCE because this statement -- "conclusion is WEAKENED if the contemporary sword maker and Damascus sword makers used iron from DIFFERENT SOURCES" -- seems to CONTRADICT what is asserted above that whether contemporary sword maker obtained his iron from the SAME SOURCE or DIFFERENT SOURCE as Damascus sword makers is IRRELEVANT ? ONLY thing is that BOTH of them use same trace impurities.
Am I able to make it clear where I'm getting confused ?
If the contemporary sword maker and Damascus sword makers used iron from different sources, it is possible that Damascus sword makers did NOT use iron with these trace impurities but that these trace impurities came to be present in the blades LATER -- WEAKENING the conclusion that trace impurities in the iron are essential to the making of Damascus blades.
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Followed here and elsewhere by over 1900 test-takers.
I have worked with students based in the US, Australia, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia -- a long list of countries.
My students have been admitted to HBS, CBS, Tuck, Yale, Stern, Fuqua -- a long list of top programs.
As a tutor, I don't simply teach you how I would approach problems.
I unlock the best way for YOU to solve problems.
For more information, please email me (Mitch Hunt) at [email protected].
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