Critical Reasoning

Source: GMAT prep

Which if the following most logically completes the argument?

United states manufacturers currently produce most of the world's solar-power generators-most of which are exported to Europe. However, European manufacturers are emerging and probably will ultimately capture much of the European market. The United States government is funding initiatives intended to encourage use of solar power within the United States. If these initiatives succeed in increasing the demand for solar-power generators in the United States,United States manufacturers will probably maintain significant production levels, since---------------

A) some United States manufacturers have been substantially increasing their output over the last several years.
B) the efficiency of solar-power generators in converting energy from the Sun into electric power is not improving as fast as it once did
c) Just sa European manufacturerenjoy certain advantages in Europe, so do united States manufacturers in the United States.
d) European government are currently undertaking initiatives to stimulate the use of solar power within Europe
e) the current market for solar-power generators in the United States is very limited.

Hi guys, this type of question stem is certainly one of my weakest areas and surprisingly in my last attempt i got 3 questions testing this same concept. I would really appreciate if someone suggest a proper strategy to solve such questions.

Hi, Fill in the blank questions appear very frequently in the GMAT these days. I suggest you just approach these questions methodically. I follow what I learnt from the power score.

If the blank starts with "since,because,in that" then we need to find an assumption on which the argument depends. Usually we will look for the supporter assumtion- i'e filling in the GAP. This is equivalent to saying that we need an additional premise.


If the black starts with therefore, hence, thus- we have a must be true(inference) or a main point question. There is 1 question in OG-12 which is a fill in the black Main point question. Else its usually inference and most often supporter assumption(gap filling)


Back to the question :

here the gap is HOW the heck will US companies continue decent production levels despite a decrease in sales in Europe market ?

a>talks about increase in production- we have to find HOW production increases - wrong
b>efficiency of solar power will not let us fill in the gap as to how will decent production level continue ?
d>we dont care whats happening within europe and affecting europe- if it were affecting USA we could consider this option.
e>current market is bad does not guarantee that it will improve later

C> correct - some advantages such as government subsidy or any crap will help US markets within US.


Final note-> always determine what is the question type :
a>assumption- most frequent
b>inference- rare
c>main point- very rare


Then u might answer these question much better.

gmat25 wrote:Source: GMAT prep

Which if the following most logically completes the argument?

United states manufacturers currently produce most of the world's solar-power generators-most of which are exported to Europe. However, European manufacturers are emerging and probably will ultimately capture much of the European market. The United States government is funding initiatives intended to encourage use of solar power within the United States. If these initiatives succeed in increasing the demand for solar-power generators in the United States,United States manufacturers will probably maintain significant production levels, since---------------

A) some United States manufacturers have been substantially increasing their output over the last several years.
Out of scope, since we have to reason why manufacturers will be able to maintain prodcution levels.
B) the efficiency of solar-power generators in converting energy from the Sun into electric power is not improving as fast as it once did
Out of scope. Efficiency of solar generators is not discussed.
c) Just sa European manufacturerenjoy certain advantages in Europe, so do united States manufacturers in the United States.
This statement talks much about the advantages enjoyed by a local company but doesnot consider about that if the products manufactured are consumed locally or not. Thus, eliminate.
d) European government are currently undertaking initiatives to stimulate the use of solar power within Europe
We are concerned over the production of US not Europe. Thus, out of scope.
e) the current market for solar-power generators in the United States is very limited.
This point focusses on how the initiatives can help increase the demand of solar generators in US and consequently help manufactures to maintain their current production levels in future even though there exports fall.

IMO E

I do not think C is the correct answer
i am between 2 options.Then I figured out E is correct :

d) European government are currently undertaking initiatives to stimulate the use of solar power within Europe --> If we know that europeans will not stimulate sale in the US, then domestic initiatives will have the chance to boast!But what about if there is not room to go in the market? what happens if market is not limited!

e) the current market for solar-power generators in the United States is very limited. --> because the market is very limited, it means there is room to go, there is opportunities to stimulate!

Hi Guys,
This is a GMAT Prep question and the OA is C. E is a trap. I think bblast has already explained.

yes Frank. on my second view, E seems as a weakener more than an assumption.

yup OA is Op C....isn't this a very tough question????

gmat25 wrote:yup OA is Op C....isn't this a very tough question????

Yup...It is... at least for me

Got a PM on this one, (a couple of days ago...)

There is not "category" of questions that are "fill-in-the-blank."

As BBlast indicates above, fill-in-the-blank questions can actually be strengthen, weaken, inference, and even some other types as well.

The key is the wording that leads into the blank.

By the way, the reason that they do this on the GMAT is that they know you are looking for the key words in the question stem to tell you how to attack, so as you notice they really do not give you a question stem on these problems!!!

As David said. We must look for trigger words and what the argument is intending. Below example from GMAT prep requires an assumption that will actually weaken the conclusion of the argument.

from gmat prep :

https://www.beatthegmat.com/gmatprep-whi ... 88471.html

Only E seems relevant .
I thought a lot on the OA i.e. C , but C did not make sense to me .
Need some expert to say OA is E , before concluding that answer is E .

Although E confuses, but even though unsure i would go with C.

ewww.... Why E is a trap here. Atleast when it is mentioned as trap,it should be convincing enough to be a trap.Any takers Why E is a trap.

I have no reason to eliminate C though.

sandy217 wrote:ewww.... Why E is a trap here. Atleast when it is mentioned as trap,it should be convincing enough to be a trap.Any takers Why E is a trap.

I have no reason to eliminate C though.

Hi,
If you picked C, then it is great. No need to worry about trap. E is trap for the reason some of the posters here felt that was the answer and the rationale behind it has been posted already. Btw, E is trap only for some, need not be to all. If it were convincing enough for all it would be OA, not trap.

I am still confused as to why the OA is C . My stand point is -

1. US is exporting generators to Europe.
2. Europe is emerging as a great market
3. US is making plans for more initiatives to develop such generators

Now we need to find an answer that can reply to this - If these initiatives succeed in increasing the demand for solar-power generators in the United States,United States manufacturers will probably maintain significant production levels, since--------------- '

Why will this happen ?

There is a reason for roping in the European market . Since it is emerging and also importing the US developed generators , the US market will maintain dramatic production if the European markets can import more of such generators and this is told in D.

What am I missing ?

I really dotn see the point here . Please help!