Ythex has developed a small diesel engine that produces 30 percent less particulate pollution than the engine made by its...

GMAT Critical Reasoning : (CR) Questions

Source: Official Guide

Critical Reasoning

Assumption

MEDIUM

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Ythex has developed a small diesel engine that produces 30 percent less particulate pollution than the engine made by its main rival, Onez, now widely used in Marania; Ythex's engine is well-suited for use in the thriving warehousing businesses in Marania, although it costs more than the Onez engine. The Maranian government plans to ban within the next two years the use of diesel engines with more than 80 percent of current diesel engine particulate emissions in Marania, and Onez will probably not be able to retool its engine to reduce emissions to reach this target. So if the ban is passed, the Ythex engine ought to sell well in Marania after that time.

Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument above depends?

Marania's warehousing and transshipment business buys more diesel engines of any size than other types of engines.

Ythex is likely to be able to reduce the cost of its small diesel engine within the next two years.

The Maranian government is generally favorable to anti-pollution regulations.

The government's ban on high levels of pollution caused by diesel engines, if passed, will not be difficult to enforce.

The other manufacturers of small diesel engines in Marania, if there are any, have not produced an engine as popular and clean-running as Ythex's new engine.

Solution

Passage Analysis:

Text from Passage	Analysis
Ythex has developed a small diesel engine that produces 30 percent less particulate pollution than the engine made by its main rival, Onez, now widely used in Marania	What it says: Ythex's engine creates 30% less pollution than Onez's engine, which is popular in Marania What it does: Sets up a comparison showing Ythex has a cleaner engine than the current market leader What it is: Author's factual claim Visualization: Onez engine pollution: 100 units → Ythex engine pollution: 70 units
Ythex's engine is well-suited for use in the thriving warehousing businesses in Marania, although it costs more than the Onez engine	What it says: Ythex's engine works great for warehouses in Marania but is pricier than Onez's What it does: Adds both a positive (good fit for market) and negative (higher cost) about Ythex's engine What it is: Author's factual claim Visualization: Onez engine: $5,000 → Ythex engine: $7,000 (but perfect for warehouses)
The Maranian government plans to ban within the next two years the use of diesel engines with more than 80 percent of current diesel engine particulate emissions in Marania	What it says: Government will ban engines that pollute more than 80% of current levels within 2 years What it does: Introduces a game-changing regulation that could affect both engines we've been discussing What it is: Government policy announcement Visualization: Current emissions: 100 units → Ban limit: 80 units (Onez at 100, Ythex at 70)
Onez will probably not be able to retool its engine to reduce emissions to reach this target	What it says: Onez likely can't modify their engine to meet the new 80% limit What it does: Suggests Onez will be eliminated from the market by the ban What it is: Author's prediction Visualization: Onez needs: 100 → 80 units (20% reduction) but probably can't achieve it
So if the ban is passed, the Ythex engine ought to sell well in Marania after that time	What it says: When the ban happens, Ythex should have strong sales in Marania What it does: Draws the main conclusion based on all the previous facts What it is: Author's conclusion

Argument Flow:

The argument starts by comparing two engines (Ythex vs Onez), then introduces a government ban that will eliminate high-polluting engines, explains why Onez won't survive the ban, and concludes that Ythex will benefit from this situation.

Main Conclusion:

Ythex engines should sell well in Marania after the pollution ban takes effect.

Logical Structure:

The argument uses elimination reasoning: since Ythex's engine already meets the pollution standards while Onez's doesn't and can't be fixed, Ythex will dominate the market once the ban removes its main competitor.

Prethinking:

Question type:

Assumption - We need to find what the author must believe to be true for their conclusion to hold. Think of it as finding the hidden bridges in the author's logic.

Precision of Claims

The argument makes precise quantitative claims (30% less pollution, 80% emission limit) and specific predictions about market performance and regulatory compliance.

Strategy

We'll look for ways the conclusion could fall apart while keeping all the given facts intact. The author concludes Ythex will sell well after the ban, so we need to find what must be true for this to happen. We can't question that Ythex has 30% less pollution, costs more, or that the ban is planned - these are stated facts.

Answer Choices Explained

Marania's warehousing and transshipment business buys more diesel engines of any size than other types of engines.

This choice discusses what types of engines warehousing businesses prefer to buy (diesel vs. other types). However, the argument already establishes that Ythex's engine is well-suited for warehouses and that there's an existing market for diesel engines (since Onez engines are widely used). Whether warehouses buy more diesel engines than other types doesn't affect whether Ythex will succeed once Onez is banned. The argument's conclusion depends on Ythex having a competitive advantage in the diesel engine market specifically, not on the overall size of the diesel market relative to other engine types.

Ythex is likely to be able to reduce the cost of its small diesel engine within the next two years.

The argument mentions that Ythex's engine costs more than Onez's, but this doesn't undermine the conclusion. Even if Ythex doesn't reduce its costs, the argument suggests Ythex will sell well because it will be one of the few compliant options available after the ban. When regulatory compliance eliminates most competitors, price becomes less of a barrier. The argument's logic works even if Ythex maintains its higher price point, so this cost reduction isn't a necessary assumption.

The Maranian government is generally favorable to anti-pollution regulations.

The government's general attitude toward anti-pollution regulations isn't relevant to this specific argument. The argument takes as a given fact that the government 'plans to ban' these high-polluting engines. Whether this stems from a generally favorable attitude toward anti-pollution measures or from some other motivation doesn't affect the logical chain leading to Ythex's anticipated success. The assumption isn't about why the government acts, but about the market consequences of their stated plan.

The government's ban on high levels of pollution caused by diesel engines, if passed, will not be difficult to enforce.

Enforcement difficulty doesn't impact the argument's conclusion. The argument's logic is that once the ban eliminates Onez from the legal market, Ythex will benefit from reduced competition. Whether the ban is easy or difficult to enforce, businesses will still need compliant engines for legal operations. If anything, difficult enforcement might mean some businesses continue using non-compliant engines illegally, but this doesn't prevent Ythex from succeeding in the legal market among compliance-conscious businesses.

The other manufacturers of small diesel engines in Marania, if there are any, have not produced an engine as popular and clean-running as Ythex's new engine.

This is the correct answer because it addresses a critical gap in the argument's reasoning. The argument concludes that Ythex will sell well after Onez is eliminated by the ban. However, this conclusion only follows if Ythex doesn't face significant competition from other manufacturers who also have clean, popular engines. If there were other manufacturers with engines as clean and popular as Ythex's, then eliminating Onez alone wouldn't guarantee Ythex's success. The argument must assume that Ythex has a unique or superior position among all manufacturers, not just compared to Onez. This assumption is necessary for the conclusion to hold.

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