high jet fuel costs

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high jet fuel costs

by himu » Sun Nov 18, 2012 7:29 pm
Due to high jet fuel costs, airline carriers are looking for new ways to increase revenues and thereby counteract declining profits. Airline A has proposed increasing the number of passengers that can fit on its airplanes by creating several standing room only "seats" in which passengers would be propped against a padded backboard and held in place with a harness. This proposal, since it relates to passenger safety, cannot be implemented without prior approval by the Federal Aviation Administration.

The above statements, if true, indicate that Airline A has made which of the following conclusions?


The addition of standing room only "seats" will generate more revenue than the cost of ensuring that these seats meet safety standards.

The Federal Aviation Administration will approve Airline A's specific proposal.

The revenue generated by the addition of standing room only "seats" is greater than the current cost of jet fuel.

There are no safer ways in which Airline A can increase revenues.

Passenger safety is less important than increasing revenue.
Source: — Critical Reasoning |

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by Bill@VeritasPrep » Sun Nov 18, 2012 7:59 pm
When drawing a conclusion, we're looking for the one answer that must be true based on the evidence provided.

B--we have no way of knowing if the FAA will approve it; just that they must approve it for the Airline to put the plan into action.

C--the standing room seats do not have to be greater than the current cost of jet fuel for them to bring in enough revenue to be worthwhile

D--we have no way of knowing if there are other plausible methods of adding revenue

E--there is nothing about the relative priorities of the airline

That leaves us with A. If the airline believe that adding standing room seats will counteract declining profits, then those seats must bring in more revenue than they cost to implement.
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by himu » Sun Nov 18, 2012 8:35 pm
Hi Bill,


Thanks for your reply.
Your ans is correct !

But can u pls help me understand why C is wrong?
If we negate C then the conclusion falls apart - If the revenue generated by the addition of standing room only "seats" is not greater than the current cost of jet fuel then implementing them will not help ?
.Or we negate only in case of weakeners? Pls let me know.

Thanks & Regards,
~Himu.

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by Bill@VeritasPrep » Sun Nov 18, 2012 9:28 pm
The negation technique only applies when we are adding a premise (specifically an assumption), not when we are drawing the conclusion ourselves.
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