A certain electric utility is considering exactly two designs (Designs 1 and 2) for a new power generation plant. Each...

GMAT Multi Source Reasoning : (MSR) Questions

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Multi Source Reasoning

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Pollutants by Phase

A certain electric utility is considering exactly two designs (Designs 1 and 2) for a new power generation plant. Each design would result in a plant that would generate the same amount of power annually; but Design 1 would use a single Type A power generator, whereas Design 2 would use three Type B power generators.

Type A generators cost less than Type B generators to fuel per unit of power generated and vent through taller chimneys, which better prevent pollutants from concentrating near the plant. However, Type A generators produce solid waste that is difficult and expensive to dispose of safely.

Type B generators produce no solid waste and, as compared to Type A generators, vent approximately half as much Pollutant X, and even less Pollutant Y, per unit of power generated annually. However, Type B generators vent through much shorter chimneys.

Ques. 1/3

Suppose that the utility chooses Design 1 over Design 2. For each of the following motivations, select Yes if the information in the tabs suggests that it would help explain this choice. Otherwise, select No

Yes

A desire to use the type of generator that costs less to fuel per unit of power generated

Yes

A desire to avoid having to dispose of solid waste

Yes

A desire to emit less Pollutant X per unit of power generated annually

Solution

OWNING THE DATASET

Understanding Source A: Text - Power Plant Design Comparison

Information from Dataset	Analysis
""Each design would result in a plant that would generate the same amount of power annually; but Design 1 would use a single Type A power generator, whereas Design 2 would use three Type B power generators""	Both designs produce equal annual power Design 1 = 1 Type A generator Design 2 = 3 Type B generators Inference: Type A generators have higher individual capacity than Type B
""Type A generators cost less than Type B generators to fuel per unit of power generated""	Type A has lower fuel costs per power unit Inference: Design 1 would have lower ongoing fuel expenses
""Type A generators...vent through taller chimneys, which better prevent pollutants from concentrating near the plant""	Taller chimneys = better pollutant dispersion Inference: Design 1 would have better local air quality management through physical dispersion
""Type A generators produce solid waste that is difficult and expensive to dispose of safely""	Type A creates problematic solid waste Inference: Design 1 involves additional waste management challenges and costs not present in Design 2
""Type B generators produce no solid waste and...vent approximately half as much Pollutant X, and even less Pollutant Y, per unit of power generated annually""	Type B has no solid waste issues Type B emits ~50% less Pollutant X Type B emits even more reduction in Pollutant Y Inference: ""Even less"" suggests Pollutant Y reduction is greater than 50%
""Type B generators vent through much shorter chimneys""	Type B has shorter chimneys Inference: Design 2's shorter chimneys mean less effective pollutant dispersion, potentially leading to higher local ground-level concentrations despite lower emissions

Summary: This design comparison reveals key tradeoffs
Design 1 (single Type A generator): lower fuel costs and better pollutant dispersion but creates difficult solid waste
Design 2 (three Type B generators): eliminates solid waste and reduces air emissions but has poorer dispersion due to shorter chimneys

Understanding Source B: Table with Text - Pollutant Y Emissions by Operational Phase

Information from Dataset	Analysis
""Both Type A and Type B generators emit (vent) significantly more of Pollutant Y during the startup phase—when a generator is brought to its normal power-generating phase from nonoperation""	Startup = transition from off to normal operation Both types have higher emissions during startup Inference: Startup is a temporary but problematic phase Connection to Source A: Source A didn't mention this critical startup issue that affects both generator types
""During startup, unhealthy levels of Pollutant Y can become concentrated at ground level near the power plant""	Startup creates health risks nearby Ground-level concentration is the key concern Inference: Startup timing and frequency are important operational considerations
Type A startup: 744 kg/hr emissions, 61 mcg/m³ concentration increase	Type A has extremely high startup emissions Inference: Startup emissions are about 3.4x higher than normal operation Connection to Source A: Despite taller chimneys mentioned in Source A, Type A still creates significant ground-level concentration during startup
Type A normal: 218 kg/hr emissions, 13 mcg/m³ concentration increase	Type A normal operation still has substantial emissions Inference: The concentration increase is proportionally lower due to tall chimney dispersion Connection to Source A: Confirms Source A's claim about better dispersion with taller chimneys
Type B startup: 203 kg/hr emissions, 47 mcg/m³ concentration increase	Type B startup emissions < 1/3 of Type A startup Inference: Despite lower emissions, ground-level concentration is still 77% of Type A's due to shorter chimneys Connection to Source A: Design 2 would triple this problem with three generators starting up
Type B normal: 6 kg/hr emissions, 3 mcg/m³ concentration increase	Type B normal emissions are <3% of Type A Inference: Dramatic emission advantage in normal operation Connection to Source A: Quantifies Source A's ""even less Pollutant Y"" claim - it's a 97% reduction!

Summary: Source B reveals a critical operational detail missing from Source A
Both generator types have significantly elevated Pollutant Y emissions during startup
Type A produces extreme levels (744 kg/hr) during startup
Type B's three generators in Design 2 would compound the startup pollution problem despite much lower individual emissions

Overall Summary

The complete dataset reveals complex tradeoffs between the two power plant designs
Design 2 advantages: No solid waste and 97% less Pollutant Y emissions during normal operation
Design 2 challenge: All three generators would create concentrated ground-level pollution during startup phases
Design 1 features: Single Type A generator has extremely high emissions but better dispersion through taller chimneys, plus operational simplicity of starting only one unit
Key finding: The startup phase pollution problem, completely absent from the initial design comparison, represents a critical operational consideration that could significantly impact the choice between designs

Question Analysis

In plain terms: If the utility picks Design 1 (single Type A generator) instead of Design 2 (three Type B generators), would each given motivation help explain why they made that choice?
Key constraints:
- Evaluating motivations for choosing Design 1 OVER Design 2
- Must answer Yes or No for each statement
- Answer based on information in the provided sources
Answer type needed: Comparative evaluation - determining if stated motivations align with choosing Design 1

Connecting to Our Analysis

The collated analysis contains all needed information about generator differences: fuel costs, solid waste production, and pollutant emissions
Source A provides the key comparisons between Type A and Type B generators
Can answer from analysis alone: YES - All three motivations can be evaluated using the existing analysis

Statement Evaluations

Context: Evaluating each motivation against the choice of Design 1 (Type A) over Design 2 (Type B)
Design 1: Uses one Type A generator
Design 2: Uses three Type B generators

Statement 1 Evaluation

Motivation: Wanting to use the cheaper-to-fuel generator type
Finding: Type A generators cost less to fuel per unit of power generated
Analysis: This favors Design 1 (Type A)
Result: Choosing Design 1 aligns with wanting lower fuel costs
YES - This motivation explains choosing Design 1

Statement 2 Evaluation

Motivation: Wanting to avoid dealing with solid waste disposal
Finding: Type A generators produce difficult and expensive solid waste; Type B produces none
Analysis: This favors Design 2 (Type B), not Design 1
Result: Choosing Design 1 contradicts avoiding solid waste
NO - This motivation would favor Design 2, not Design 1

Statement 3 Evaluation

Motivation: Wanting to emit less Pollutant X annually per unit of power
Finding: Type B generators emit about half as much Pollutant X per unit of power
Analysis: This favors Design 2 (Type B), not Design 1
Result: Choosing Design 1 means more Pollutant X emissions
NO - This motivation would favor Design 2, not Design 1

Verification

Fuel cost advantage clearly stated in Source A for Type A generators
Solid waste issue explicitly mentioned as Type A disadvantage in Source A
Pollutant X reduction (~50%) confirmed for Type B in Source A
All three evaluations are directly supported by explicit source statements

Final Answer

Statement 1: Yes
Statement 2: No
Statement 3: No

Answer Choices Explained

Yes

A desire to use the type of generator that costs less to fuel per unit of power generated

Yes

A desire to avoid having to dispose of solid waste

Yes

A desire to emit less Pollutant X per unit of power generated annually

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