Test: Conclusion - GMAT MCQ

A. Regionalist party members have organized to oppose industrial interests on several other issues.
This statement suggests that members of the Regionalist party have a history of opposing industrial interests on various issues. While this information may provide some context about the party's stance on industrial interests, it does not directly address the specific issue of the new recycling law. Therefore, it does not invalidate the conclusion.

B. Industrial interests need not oppose the protection of the environment.
This statement suggests that industrial interests may not necessarily be opposed to environmental protection. It implies that there could be industrial interests that support the bill for a new recycling law. Since the conclusion assumes that opposition to the bill comes solely from industrial interests, this statement weakens the conclusion and shows that it is possible for industrial interests to be in favor of the law.

C. Past attempts to protect the environment through recycling laws have failed.
This statement provides information about the outcome of past recycling laws aimed at environmental protection. However, it does not directly address the specific issue of the new recycling law or the Regionalist party's stance on it. Therefore, it does not invalidate the conclusion.

D. It is possible that some Regionalist party members may not oppose the bill for a new recycling law.
This statement suggests that there may be members within the Regionalist party who do not oppose the bill for a new recycling law. It directly contradicts the conclusion's assumption that all members of the Regionalist party would oppose the bill. Therefore, this option invalidates the conclusion by presenting the possibility of exceptions within the party.

E. Ellen has attended programs and distributed literature prepared by the Regionalist party.
This statement provides information about Ellen's involvement with the Regionalist party, but it does not directly address the party's stance on the new recycling law. Therefore, it does not invalidate the conclusion.

In summary, option D is the one that invalidates the conclusion by pointing out the possibility of some Regionalist party members not opposing the bill for a new recycling law.

A. Adding salt to water lowers its freezing point.
This statement is not directly supported by the information given. The freezing point of water is stated as 32 degrees Fahrenheit, but there is no mention of how adding salt affects the freezing point. Therefore, this option cannot be supported as a conclusion based on the provided information.

B. Captains of boats, which can only sail in water when it is liquid, had better make sure that the temperature of the water they wish to sail in hasn't dropped below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, especially during the winter and in cold regions.
This conclusion is directly supported by the information given. It states that water is solid below 32 degrees Fahrenheit and that boats can only sail in liquid water. Therefore, it is logical for captains to ensure that the temperature of the water they want to sail in does not drop below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, especially during winter and in cold regions.

C. Though water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit, it starts to evaporate long before it reaches such heat.
This statement introduces the concept of water evaporating before reaching its boiling point of 212 degrees Fahrenheit. However, there is no direct support for this conclusion in the provided information. The information only mentions the boiling point of water and does not address the evaporation process. Therefore, this option cannot be supported as a conclusion based on the given information.

D. Since water is a liquid between 32 and 212 degrees Fahrenheit, within this range, with a safety range of 20 degrees Fahrenheit below boiling point, it can be used as an alternative energy force.
This conclusion goes beyond the information provided. While it correctly states that water is a liquid between 32 and 212 degrees Fahrenheit, it introduces the idea of using water as an alternative energy force without any supporting evidence or explanation. The information given does not provide any basis for this conclusion. Therefore, this option cannot be supported as a conclusion based on the given information.

E. The higher the temperature of the water above 212 degrees Fahrenheit, the less time it will take to evaporate.
This conclusion introduces a relationship between the temperature of water above 212 degrees Fahrenheit and its evaporation time. However, there is no direct support for this conclusion in the provided information. The information only mentions the boiling point of water but does not provide any information about the relationship between temperature and evaporation time. Therefore, this option cannot be supported as a conclusion based on the given information.

In summary, option B is the one that is best supported as a conclusion based on the provided information.

The passage above supports all of the conclusions except for option (C) "The piano is the only instrument that both children and adults can learn to play well."

The passage discusses the differences between children and adults when learning a new musical instrument, specifically focusing on the piano. It highlights that children and adults face different challenges and develop certain skills at different rates. It also mentions that children are more likely to remember the details of the pieces they learn, while adults are more likely to retain muscle memory for reproducing the correct notes.

(A) Adult minds learn the skills required to play the piano differently than children's minds. - This is supported by the statement that children and adults have differences in mind development and face different challenges when learning the piano.

(B) Adults might not recall the exact details of the piece they learned, but the muscle memory in their fingers makes them very likely to remember the notes. - This conclusion is supported by the statement that adults are more likely to retain muscle memory for reproducing the correct notes.

(D) Learning the piano is not limited to children because adults can learn to play well. - This conclusion is supported by the statement that adults face challenges when learning the piano but can still attain musical skills successfully.

(E) Adults are more likely to learn hand and finger movements on the piano faster than children do. - This conclusion is supported by the statement that children's learning speed on the piano is limited by their motor skills, suggesting that adults may have an advantage in learning hand and finger movements faster.

Therefore, the conclusion that cannot be supported is option (C) "The piano is the only instrument that both children and adults can learn to play well." The passage does not provide any information about other instruments or compare the piano to other instruments in terms of learning abilities for children and adults.

A. The proposed plant in Kanjing province will generate profits, despite war.
This option aligns with the reasoning presented in the argument. The author argues that the previous plant opened in a revolutionary environment has been successful in generating profits. Therefore, the author intends the reader to conclude that the proposed plant in Kanjing province, despite being in a war-torn area, will also be profitable. This conclusion is directly supported by the information provided.

B. Kanjing province is a more stable nation than Yangon presidency.
The argument does not provide any direct comparison between the stability of Kanjing province and the Yangon presidency. The focus is on the success of the plant in Yangon presidency, but it does not imply that Kanjing province is more stable. Therefore, this option cannot be reasonably concluded based on the provided information.

C. Critics of the proposed plant in Yangon presidency are likely to be biased.
The argument mentions that there are critics of the strategy to set up a plant in the civil war-torn Kanjing province. However, it does not provide any information or reasoning to suggest that the critics of the proposed plant in Yangon presidency are biased. Therefore, this option cannot be reasonably concluded based on the provided information.

D. Wars are profitable for the author's particular business.
This option goes beyond what is stated in the argument. While the author mentions opening a successful plant in a revolutionary environment, it does not necessarily imply that wars in general are profitable for the author's business. Therefore, this option cannot be reasonably concluded based on the provided information.

E. The proposed plant in Kanjing province will be more successful than in Yangon presidency.
The argument does not provide any direct comparison between the proposed plant in Kanjing province and the one in Yangon presidency in terms of success. The focus is on the success of the Yangon presidency plant, but there is no evidence or reasoning to suggest that the Kanjing province plant will be more successful. Therefore, this option cannot be reasonably concluded based on the provided information.

In summary, based on the information provided, option (A) is the one that the author most reasonably intends the reader to conclude: The proposed plant in Kanjing province will generate profits, despite war.

(A) The Ploutos National Bank still has reason to suspect more embezzlers beyond the seven apprehended by Federal investigators.
This conclusion can be drawn from the information provided. The passage states that a ring of seven embezzlers from among the bank's employees was apprehended. However, it also mentions that the funds embezzled by these individuals only account for about two-thirds of the total amount missing. This implies that there may be more individuals involved in the embezzlement or that there are additional embezzlers yet to be apprehended. Therefore, the Ploutos National Bank still has reason to suspect more embezzlers.

(B) In the past, no employee had ever embezzled funds from Ploutos National Bank.
The passage does not provide any information about the past history of employee embezzlement at Ploutos National Bank. It only mentions the recent apprehension of a ring of seven embezzlers. Therefore, this conclusion cannot be drawn from the information provided.

(C) Federal investigators have the means at their disposal to detect any large illegal transfers of money.
The passage does not provide information about the specific means or methods used by federal investigators to detect illegal transfers of money. It only mentions that federal investigators were called in by the bank management when they were unable to account for missing funds. Therefore, this conclusion cannot be reasonably drawn from the information provided.

(D) The seven embezzlers would have wound up with longer prison sentences if they had not plea-bargained.
The passage does not provide any specific information about the potential prison sentences for the seven embezzlers if they had not plea-bargained. It only mentions that they plea-bargained to avoid trial and are now serving reduced sentences. Therefore, this conclusion cannot be reasonably drawn from the information provided.

(E) In initiating a federal investigation of their own company, the managers of Ploutos National Bank were subject to no fees from the federal government.
The passage does not provide any information about the fees or costs associated with initiating a federal investigation. It focuses on the apprehension of the embezzlers and the return of the embezzled funds. Therefore, this conclusion cannot be reasonably drawn from the information provided.

In summary, based on the information provided, the only conclusion that can be properly drawn is that the Ploutos National Bank still has reason to suspect more embezzlers beyond the seven apprehended by federal investigators (option A).

(A) Labor costs in Atlantis are 10 percent below those in Utopia.
The statement does not provide any information about labor costs in Atlantis or Utopia. It only mentions that the cost of producing nuclear submarines in Atlantis is 10 percent less than in Utopia. Therefore, this option cannot be reasonably concluded based on the provided information.

(B) Importing nuclear submarines from Atlantis to Utopia will eliminate 10 percent of the manufacturing jobs in Utopia.
The statement does not provide any information about the impact on manufacturing jobs in Utopia due to importing nuclear submarines from Atlantis. It focuses on the cost advantage of importing rather than the potential job impact. Therefore, this option cannot be reasonably concluded based on the provided information.

(C) The tariff on a nuclear submarine imported from Atlantis to Utopia is less than 10 percent of the cost of manufacturing the nuclear submarine in Utopia.
This option aligns with the statements provided. The passage states that even after transportation fees and tariff charges are added, it is still cheaper to import nuclear submarines from Atlantis to Utopia than to produce them in Utopia. Based on this, it can be reasonably concluded that the tariff on the imported submarines must be less than the 10 percent cost difference between producing them in Atlantis and Utopia.

(D) The fee for transporting a nuclear submarine from Atlantis to Utopia is more than 10 percent of the cost of manufacturing the nuclear submarine in Atlantis.
The statement does not provide any information about the transportation fee for importing nuclear submarines from Atlantis to Utopia. It only mentions that after transportation fees and tariff charges are added, importing is still cheaper. Therefore, this option cannot be reasonably concluded based on the provided information.

(E) It takes 10 percent less time to manufacture a nuclear submarine in Atlantis than it does in Utopia.
The statement does not provide any information about the time required to manufacture nuclear submarines in Atlantis or Utopia. It focuses solely on the cost comparison between the two locations. Therefore, this option cannot be reasonably concluded based on the provided information.

In summary, based on the information provided, option (C) is the best assertion that can be drawn from the statements: The tariff on a nuclear submarine imported from Atlantis to Utopia is less than 10 percent of the cost of manufacturing the nuclear submarine in Utopia.

(A) The audiovisual market is growing faster than is the home appliance division.
The statement does not provide any information about the growth rates of the audiovisual market or the home appliance division. It only states the sales and profit proportions of each division over the last two years. Therefore, this option cannot be inferred from the provided information.

(B) The home appliance division has realized lower profits per dollar of sales than has the audiovisual division.
This option aligns with the statement. The passage states that the audiovisual department accounted for roughly 30 percent of the company's sales and 70 percent of the company's profits over the period, while the home appliance division accounted for the balance. Based on this information, it can be inferred that the home appliance division has realized lower profits per dollar of sales compared to the audiovisual division.

(C) Total dollar sales for each division has remained roughly constant for the last five years.
The statement only provides information about the last two years, not the last five years. Therefore, this option cannot be inferred from the provided information.

(D) The company has devoted more money to research and development efforts in the audiovisual division than in the home appliance division.
The statement does not provide any information about the allocation of research and development resources between the audiovisual division and the home appliance division. It focuses on the sales and profit proportions of each division. Therefore, this option cannot be inferred from the provided information.

(E) To maximize profitability, the company should focus its resources on the home appliance division.
The statement does not provide any information about which division the company should focus its resources on to maximize profitability. It only presents the sales and profit proportions of each division over the last two years. Therefore, this option cannot be inferred from the provided information.

In summary, based on the information provided, the only option that can be reasonably inferred is option (B): The home appliance division has realized lower profits per dollar of sales than has the audiovisual division.

A. Computer parts are fifteen percent cheaper in Borneland than they are in Astonburgh.
The statement does not provide any information about the cost of computer parts in Borneland or Astonburgh. It only mentions that the production process in Borneland allows them to make computers fifteen percent below the cost of computers produced locally in Astonburgh. Therefore, this option cannot be reasonably concluded based on the provided information.

B. Importing computers from Borneland to Astonburgh will result in the loss of fifteen percent of Astonburgh's manufacturing jobs.
The statement does not provide any information about the impact on manufacturing jobs in Astonburgh due to importing computers from Borneland. It focuses on the cost advantage of importing rather than the potential job impact. Therefore, this option cannot be reasonably concluded based on the provided information.

C. The tariff Astonburgh imposes on computers from Borneland is less than fifteen percent of the cost of manufacturing computers in Astonburgh.
This option aligns with the statements provided. The passage states that even when shipping costs and tariffs are included, it is still less expensive to import computers from Borneland than to make them in Astonburgh. Based on this, it can be reasonably inferred that the tariff imposed by Astonburgh on computers from Borneland must be less than fifteen percent of the cost of manufacturing computers in Astonburgh.

D. The transportation of a computer from Borneland to Astonburgh costs more than fifteen percent of the cost of manufacturing a computer in Astonburgh.
The statement does not provide any information about the transportation costs for importing computers from Borneland to Astonburgh. It only mentions that even when shipping costs and tariffs are included, importing is still less expensive. Therefore, this option cannot be reasonably concluded based on the provided information.

E. A computer can be manufactured in Borneland in eighty-five percent of the time it takes to manufacture one in Astonburgh.
The statement does not provide any information about the time required to manufacture computers in Borneland or Astonburgh. It focuses solely on the cost comparison between the two locations. Therefore, this option cannot be reasonably concluded based on the provided information.

In summary, based on the information provided, option (C) is the assertion that can be reasonably inferred from the statements: The tariff Astonburgh imposes on computers from Borneland is less than fifteen percent of the cost of manufacturing computers in Astonburgh.

A. Some commentators have attributed the decline in visitors to national parks to people's growing absorption in television and video games.
This option states a premise that is discussed in the editorial, but it is not the main point of the argument. The editorial challenges this explanation as implausible based on the fact that the number of visitors to national parks actually rose during earlier decades when television and video games were growing in popularity. Therefore, this option is not the main point of the argument.

B. The number of annual visitors to national parks has steadily declined over the past twenty years even though the national population has grown.
This option restates a fact that is mentioned in the editorial, but it is not the main point of the argument. The main point is to challenge the explanation that attributes the decline in visitors solely to the growing absorption in television and video games. Therefore, this option is not the main point of the argument.

C. People's growing absorption in television and video games does not plausibly explain the decline in visitors to national parks over the past twenty years.
This option accurately captures the main point of the editorial's argument. The editorial argues against the plausibility of the explanation that attributes the decline in visitors to national parks to people's growing absorption in television and video games. It presents evidence from earlier decades when the number of visitors to national parks actually rose despite the growing popularity of television and video games. Therefore, this option is the main point of the argument.

D. The number of visitors to national parks rose during earlier decades even as the popularity of television and video games grew rapidly.
This option restates a fact mentioned in the editorial, but it does not capture the main point of the argument. The main point is to challenge the explanation of the decline in visitors based on the growing absorption in television and video games, not to highlight the previous rise in visitors. Therefore, this option is not the main point of the argument.

E. Many people who have been increasingly absorbed in television and video games have nonetheless continued to visit national parks.
This option presents a counterargument that contradicts the main point of the argument. The main point of the argument is that the growing absorption in television and video games does not plausibly explain the decline in visitors to national parks. This option suggests that many people absorbed in television and video games still visit national parks, which goes against the main point of the argument. Therefore, this option is not the main point of the argument.

In summary, option C accurately captures the main point of the argument: People's growing absorption in television and video games does not plausibly explain the decline in visitors to national parks over the past twenty years.

A) Natural gas is the most efficient source of energy and should be used instead of hydrogen for this purpose.
This option goes beyond the scope of the passage. The passage does not explicitly state that natural gas is the most efficient source of energy. It only argues against using natural gas to produce hydrogen due to the lower overall efficiency and increased emissions associated with the process. Therefore, this option cannot be inferred from the passage.

B) To reduce greenhouse gas emissions, we should drive hybrid cars because they are powered partly by electricity.
This option introduces a new topic that is not discussed in the passage. The passage focuses on the efficiency and environmental impact of hydrogen production, but it does not address the use of hybrid cars or their impact on greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, this option cannot be inferred from the passage.

C) Generating hydrogen is prohibitively expensive to be worthwhile as a way to provide for our energy needs.
The passage does not provide any information about the cost of generating hydrogen. It primarily focuses on the efficiency and environmental impact of hydrogen production. Therefore, this option goes beyond the information provided in the passage and cannot be inferred.

D) Using hydrogen as an energy source is not the most environmentally sound means of meeting our energy needs.
This option accurately reflects the main point of the passage. The passage argues that consuming natural gas to produce hydrogen lowers overall efficiency and increases greenhouse gas emissions. It suggests that using hydrogen as an energy source is not the most environmentally sound choice based on the information presented. Therefore, this option can be inferred from the passage.

E) Producing hydrogen requires the consumption of fuels such as natural gas, which are in too short supply to accommodate our energy needs.
The passage does not mention any shortage of fuels such as natural gas. It focuses on the efficiency and environmental impact of hydrogen production but does not address the supply of natural gas or other fuels. Therefore, this option goes beyond the scope of the passage and cannot be inferred.

In summary, option (D) is the conclusion that can be inferred from the passage: Using hydrogen as an energy source is not the most environmentally sound means of meeting our energy needs.