In order to achieve self-sufficiency in electricity production, the Hasarian government proposes to construct eleven huge hydroelectric power plants. ...
GMAT Critical Reasoning : (CR) Questions
Source: Official Guide
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In order to achieve self-sufficiency in electricity production, the Hasarian government proposes to construct eleven huge hydroelectric power plants. Although this is a massive project, it is probably not massive enough to achieve the goal. It is true that adding the projected output of the new hydroelectric plants to the output that Hasaria can achieve now would be enough to meet the forecast demand for electricity. It will, however, take at least fifteen years to complete the project and by then the majority of Hasaria's current power plants will be too old to function at full capacity.
In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?
Solution
Understanding the Passage
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
| (Boldface 1) "the Hasarian government proposes to construct eleven huge hydroelectric power plants" |
|
| "Although this is a massive project, it is probably not massive enough to achieve the goal." |
|
| "It is true that" |
|
| (Boldface 2) "adding the projected output of the new hydroelectric plants to the output that Hasaria can achieve now would be enough to meet the forecast demand for electricity" |
|
| "It will, however, take at least fifteen years to complete the project and by then the majority of Hasaria's current power plants will be too old to function at full capacity." |
|
Overall Structure
The author is rejecting the adequacy of a government proposal by showing that while it appears sufficient on paper, it fails to account for a crucial timing factor. The logic flows from proposal → initial rejection → apparent supporting evidence → explanation of why the evidence is misleading.
Main Conclusion: The Hasarian government's plan to build eleven hydroelectric plants is probably not sufficient to achieve energy self-sufficiency.
Boldface Segments
- Boldface 1: the Hasarian government proposes to construct eleven huge hydroelectric power plants
- Boldface 2: adding the projected output of the new hydroelectric plants to the output that Hasaria can achieve now would be enough to meet the forecast demand for electricity
Boldface Understanding
Boldface 1 Analysis:
- Function: Presents the government's proposed solution that the author will evaluate
- Direction: Opposite direction - this represents the plan that the author concludes is inadequate
Boldface 2 Analysis:
- Function: Provides evidence that superficially supports the government's plan but will be undermined by subsequent reasoning
- Direction: Opposite direction - while this seems to support the plan, the author uses it to show why the plan appears adequate but actually isn't
Structural Classification
Boldface 1:
- Structural Role: The proposal or plan being evaluated and ultimately rejected by the author
- Predicted Answer Patterns: "a proposal that the argument concludes is inadequate" or "a plan that the argument argues will not achieve its intended goal"
Boldface 2:
- Structural Role: Apparent supporting evidence that the author acknowledges but then shows to be misleading due to an overlooked factor
- Predicted Answer Patterns: "evidence that appears to support the proposal but is shown to be insufficient" or "a consideration that seemingly favors the plan but overlooks a crucial factor"
Answer Choices Explained
A
The first introduces a proposed course of action for which the argument provides support; the second gives evidence in support of that course of action.
"The first introduces a proposed course of action for which the argument provides support" - ✗ WRONG - The argument actually concludes this plan is inadequate, not supportive of it
"the second gives evidence in support of that course of action" - ✗ WRONG - While the second boldface seems supportive on the surface, the author uses it to show why the plan appears adequate but is actually insufficient
"the second gives evidence in support of that course of action" - ✗ WRONG - While the second boldface seems supportive on the surface, the author uses it to show why the plan appears adequate but is actually insufficient
B
The first introduces a proposed course of action for which the argument provides support; the second gives a reason for not adopting a possible alternative course of action.
"The first introduces a proposed course of action for which the argument provides support" - ✗ WRONG - The argument concludes this plan is probably not sufficient to achieve the goal
"the second gives a reason for not adopting a possible alternative course of action" - ✗ WRONG - The second boldface doesn't discuss alternatives; it provides a calculation about the proposed plan itself
"the second gives a reason for not adopting a possible alternative course of action" - ✗ WRONG - The second boldface doesn't discuss alternatives; it provides a calculation about the proposed plan itself
C
The first introduces a plan that the argument evaluates; the second provides evidence that is used to support that plan against possible alternatives.
"The first introduces a plan that the argument evaluates" - ✓ CORRECT - The government's hydroelectric project is indeed evaluated by the author
"the second provides evidence that is used to support that plan against possible alternatives" - ✗ WRONG - The second boldface doesn't compare the plan to alternatives; it provides a calculation that the author acknowledges but then undermines
"the second provides evidence that is used to support that plan against possible alternatives" - ✗ WRONG - The second boldface doesn't compare the plan to alternatives; it provides a calculation that the author acknowledges but then undermines
D
The first introduces a proposed plan for achieving a certain goal; the second is a claim that has been used in support of the plan but that the argument maintains is inaccurate.
"The first introduces a proposed plan for achieving a certain goal" - ✓ CORRECT - The hydroelectric project aims to achieve electricity self-sufficiency
"the second is a claim that has been used in support of the plan but that the argument maintains is inaccurate" - ✗ WRONG - The author explicitly states the second boldface is true ("It is true that"), not inaccurate
"the second is a claim that has been used in support of the plan but that the argument maintains is inaccurate" - ✗ WRONG - The author explicitly states the second boldface is true ("It is true that"), not inaccurate
E
The first introduces a proposed plan for achieving a certain goal; the second provides evidence that is used to support the argument's evaluation of that plan.
"The first introduces a proposed plan for achieving a certain goal" - ✓ CORRECT - The government's plan aims to achieve electricity self-sufficiency
"the second provides evidence that is used to support the argument's evaluation of that plan" - ✓ CORRECT - The author uses this true calculation to show why the plan appears adequate but overlooks the crucial timing factor with aging infrastructure
"the second provides evidence that is used to support the argument's evaluation of that plan" - ✓ CORRECT - The author uses this true calculation to show why the plan appears adequate but overlooks the crucial timing factor with aging infrastructure
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