Nuclear Power Plants

Expert replies

goelmohit2002: Legendary Member; Posts: 1799; Joined: Wed Dec 24, 2008 3:03 amFollowed by: 2 members; Thanked: 36 times

by goelmohit2002 » Mon Mar 16, 2009 10:59 pm

Hi All,

Can somebody please help me in the following question ? I will post OA after some discussion..so that people's reasoning do not get biased by looking at the OA.

If the check valves in nuclear power plants do not function properly, other parts of the plants’ piping systems can be critically damaged. Check valves cannot be tested in actual operation, but they are disassembled as part of routine annual maintenance and any flawed parts are replaced. Therefore, power plant accidents attributable to malfunctioning check valves are unlikely to occur.
Which of the following, if true, most weakens the argument above?

(A) Approximately 80 percent of accidents in nuclear power plants are attributable to failures in piping systems.
(B) Check valves in nuclear power plants tend to wear out after a few years in operation.
(C) Disassembling check valves can expose workers to radiation if precautions are not taken.
(D) Flaws in any part of a check valve can be identified when the valve is disassembled.
(E) Errors made in the reassembly of check valves can go undetected.

Thanks
Mohit

Source: Beat The GMAT — Critical Reasoning | Mon Mar 16, 2009 10:59 pm

PAB2706: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 260; Joined: Sun Oct 12, 2008 8:10 pm; Thanked: 4 times

by PAB2706 » Tue Mar 17, 2009 12:42 am

confused between C and E

for E my reasoning is this...

conclusion is plant accidents due to check valve malfunctioning is unlikely.

to weaken i wud find an asnwer tht tell me tht it is likely tht accidents can happen due to malfunctioning check valves. wht if they are not reassembled properly.

for C

plant accidents need not necessarily be blowing up of the plant. even the employees being exposed to radiation is an accident which happens bcos of malfunctioning check valve.

If i have to choose i wud go with C.

cramya: Legendary Member; Posts: 2467; Joined: Thu Aug 28, 2008 6:14 pmFollowed by: 11 members; Thanked: 331 times

by cramya » Tue Mar 17, 2009 5:09 am

I would go with E

Conclusion: Therefore, power plant accidents attributable to malfunctioning check valves are unlikely to occur

If choice e were true the check valve has the potential to affect other parts of the piping system also leading to possibly more power plant accidents

Choice C is

Disassembling check valves can expose workers to radiation if precautions are not taken

It is within the control of the power plant employees to prevent this from happenning. It does not weaken the argument as much as E does.

ssilver0210: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 33; Joined: Sun Feb 22, 2009 4:19 pm; Thanked: 5 times

by ssilver0210 » Tue Mar 17, 2009 7:45 am

Answer: E

Focus on the conclusion:

Accidents due to malfunctioning check valves are unlikely.

Why?--Premise

When doing annual maintenance, any problems with the check valves will be repaired, so that they will function properly during operation.

You want to find an answer choice which weakens the conclusion stating that accidents are unlikely. If E were true, and errors made in re-assembling the valves could go unnoticed, then accidents due to malfunctioning valves would not be unlikely, because those accidents could be caused by the errors made in re-assembling the check valves.

So, I like E.

--Sean

I provide GMAT (verbal) tutoring in NYC, and over Skype/E-mail. Please contact [email protected] for further information, or if you have any questions at all.

quocbao: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 88; Joined: Tue Mar 03, 2009 8:10 am; Thanked: 3 times

by quocbao » Tue Mar 17, 2009 7:56 am

I will choose E because we're talking about Plant accidents while C only concerns about worker dangerous environment, not about accidents caused by valves.

mbadrew: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 198; Joined: Tue Feb 12, 2008 10:16 am; Location: San Francisco; Thanked: 14 times

by mbadrew » Tue Mar 17, 2009 8:25 am

Mohit,

Use the w(weaken)-s(strengthen)-slash(slash the irrelevant choice) method to solve this problem. If you read the question, the summary is, because of annual maintenence faulty valves are identified and replaced. Therefore, chances of accidents are less.

A. Talks about piping system itself. We're talking about the valves only. So, slash it.

B. This actually strengthens the argument. The whole purpose of performing annual maintenence is to identify valves that need to be replaced. So eliminate this one.

C. This has nothing to do with the topic. So eliminate it.

D. Also strengthens the arguement. So eliminate it.

E. aah yes! This is a logical possibility that can lead to accidents. Therefore, it weakens the arguement. So, I'll pick this answer.

S0laris: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 131; Joined: Wed Feb 25, 2009 7:02 am; Location: Azerbaijan/Baku; Thanked: 2 times

by S0laris » Tue Mar 17, 2009 9:51 am

IMO
A - is correct

I feel this way because there is the indication that if check valves failes - other parts of the plants’ piping systems can be critically damaged.
Thus, if piping is damaged, as A states, then "check valves" was the reason.

we are the champions !

goelmohit2002: Legendary Member; Posts: 1799; Joined: Wed Dec 24, 2008 3:03 amFollowed by: 2 members; Thanked: 36 times

by goelmohit2002 » Tue Mar 17, 2009 10:25 am

Thanks Guys.

OA is "E"....

I will understand all the reasonings of you guys and will come back with any queries.

nicolette: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 197; Joined: Tue Apr 22, 2014 4:03 am

by nicolette » Sun May 15, 2016 8:00 am

I totally agree. Answer should be C

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