Safety-code

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by bupbebeo » Fri May 21, 2010 1:29 am
crackgmat007 wrote:Editorial: The roof of Northtown Council�s equipment-storage building collapsed under
the weight of last week�s heavy snowfall. The building was constructed recently and met
local building-safety codes in every particular, except that the nails used for attaching
roof supports to the building�s columns were of a smaller size than the codes specify for
this purpose. Clearly, this collapse exemplifies how even a single, apparently
insignificant, departure from safety standards can have severe consequences.
Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the editorial�s argument?
A. The only other buildings whose roofs collapsed from the weight of the snowfall
were older buildings constructed according to less exacting standards than those
in the safety codes.
B. Because of the particular location of the equipment-storage building, the weight
of snow on its roof was greater than the maximum weight allowed for in the
safety codes.
C. Because the equipment-storage building was not intended for human occupation,
some safety-code provisions that would have applied to an office building did not
apply to it.
D. The columns of the building were no stronger than the building-safety codes
required for such a building.
E. Because the equipment-storage building was where the council kept snowremoval
equipment, the building was almost completely empty when the roof
collapsed.

Next time, please post your source. there are many bad sources in the market. I am not sure whether your source is a good one.

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by Prashant Ranjan » Mon Aug 20, 2012 9:01 am
Among all the answer choices given (A) seems to be the better (but not the best) answer. Choice (C) is incorrect. The central issue to the argument here is that the roof fell due to the smaller size of the nails -- because the safety code wasn't followed. Choice (C) gives a reason that why the safety code wasn't followed - which is irrelevant to the argument. It adds no support to the conclusion that even a single apparently insignificant ignorance can lead to severe consequences.
We are not concerned why the safety standards weren't followed. So that doesn't strengthen the argument.
(D) says that columns were no stronger that what safety codes required. That means either they were built as per the specifications or they were less strong. In earlier case, it means they were not responsible for the collapse - which still leaves the case open, whether the nails were the reason for collapse. In the latter case, they weaken the argument, since it was not the nails but the columns that caused the collapse.
Choice (A) certainly is not the best answer because we still don't know where the buildings collapsed because they were old or whether they were not built as per specifications.

Thanks
Prashant

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by tisrar02 » Mon Aug 20, 2012 9:18 am
I would say A because it does strengthen the argument presented. Answer choice C merely states that there are two types of safety standards, one for human occupational structures and one for non-human occupational structures.

Evidence: A building with smaller screws collapsed because even the slightest alteration to the safety standards can be deadly

Conclusion: Safety standards should be met in every way possible to ensure that the building can withstand any type of weather condition

Assumption: Buildings that are not constructed to safety standards to the point can collapse.
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by hjafferi » Thu Aug 23, 2012 6:30 am
IMO A.

Others are out of context.

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by ankit0411 » Mon Oct 01, 2012 8:58 am
Putting an end to the discussion about the right answer, the OA is A. Period.
This is from the retired GMAT sets.
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