GMAT Exam  >  GMAT Questions  >  During the Civil War, railroads were the quic... Start Learning for Free
During the Civil War, railroads were the quickest way to transport troops across locations. However, the railroads were originally used to transport agricultural products, particularly wheat, from their place of production to their place of sale. Clearly, the militarization of the railroads must have affected the transport of agricultural goods during the war, thereby also impacting the sales of such products. So, sales of wheat during the Civil War must have been considerably lower than sales of wheat before the war.
Which of the following is an assumption made by the author?
  • a)
    Sales of wheat after the war were greater than sales of wheat during the war.
  • b)
    The amount of wheat produced in the country during the war was less than the amount produced before the war.
  • c)
    The railroads were set up for the purpose of transporting agricultural goods.
  • d)
    Before the war, a significant amount of the wheat that was sold was transported via the railroads.
  • e)
    Wheat that could not be sold could not be utilized in any other way.
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?
Verified Answer
During the Civil War, railroads were the quickest way to transport tro...
During the Civil War, railroads were the quickest way to transport troops across locations. However, the railroads were originally used to transport agricultural products, particularly wheat, from their place of production to their place of sale. Clearly, the militarization of the railroads must have affected the transport of agricultural goods during the war, thereby also impacting the sales of such products. So, sales of wheat during the Civil War must have been considerably lower than sales of wheat before the war.
Which of the following is an assumption made by the author?
Argument Analysis
Pre-Thinking
Conclusion Clarification
N/A
Pre-Thinking Approach
To pre-think assumptions, we will falsify the conclusion / intermediate conclusion (IC) or look for scenarios under which they are no longer valid; i.e. conditions under which sale of wheat wouldn’t have been lower during CW than before it. The assumption then will be that such conditions don’t exist.
Linkage 1
  • Falsification condition 1:What if there was an expansion of RR before CW? Then the IC won’t be valid that militarization of RR would have affected the transportation and sale of AP as there might have been enough RR capacity to cater to both military and agricultural needs.
    • Assumption 1: There wasn’t spare RR capacity which could fulfil agricultural needs post militarization.
Linkage 2
  • Falsification condition 2:What if, even if RR originally transported AP, before the CW the primary means of transportation of AP, especially wheat, wasn’t RR? Then, even if the militarization of RR affected the transport and sale of AP, it is not necessary that the effect was significant or considerable.
    • Assumption 2: Significant amount of wheat used to be transported by RR before the CW.
  • Falsification condition 3: What if wheat was eventually being grown across the country so that there was little or no need to transport it through RR? Then the conclusion won’t be valid that a problem with transportation of AP affected the sales of wheat.
    • Assumption 3:There was a need to transport wheat using RR during the CW.
With this understanding in mind, let’s take a look at the option statements.
 
Answer Choices
A
Sales of wheat after the war were greater than sales of wheat during the war.
Incorrect - Irrelevant
This is not relevant as it talks about sales of wheat after the war, which we are not interested in.
B
The amount of wheat produced in the country during the war was less than the amount produced before the war.
Incorrect - Irrelevant
A comparison of amount of wheat produced isn’t relevant.
C
The railroads were set up for the purpose of transporting agricultural goods.
Incorrect - Irrelevant
The passage only mentions that RR were originally used for transporting AP; their original purpose could have been anything.
D
Before the war, a significant amount of the wheat that was sold was transported via the railroads.
Correct
This choice is written along the lines of our pre-thinking per Linkage #2, Assumption # 2.
E
Wheat that could not be sold could not be utilized in any other way.
Incorrect - Irrelevant
The passage isn’t concerned with the utilization of unsold wheat at all.
 
 
View all questions of this test
Explore Courses for GMAT exam

Top Courses for GMAT

Question Description
During the Civil War, railroads were the quickest way to transport troops across locations. However, the railroads were originally used to transport agricultural products, particularly wheat, from their place of production to their place of sale. Clearly, the militarization of the railroads must have affected the transport of agricultural goods during the war, thereby also impacting the sales of such products. So, sales of wheat during the Civil War must have been considerably lower than sales of wheat before the war.Which of the following is an assumption made by the author?a)Sales of wheat after the war were greater than sales of wheat during the war.b)The amount of wheat produced in the country during the war was less than the amount produced before the war.c)The railroads were set up for the purpose of transporting agricultural goods.d)Before the war, a significant amount of the wheat that was sold was transported via the railroads.e)Wheat that could not be sold could not be utilized in any other way.Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? for GMAT 2025 is part of GMAT preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the GMAT exam syllabus. Information about During the Civil War, railroads were the quickest way to transport troops across locations. However, the railroads were originally used to transport agricultural products, particularly wheat, from their place of production to their place of sale. Clearly, the militarization of the railroads must have affected the transport of agricultural goods during the war, thereby also impacting the sales of such products. So, sales of wheat during the Civil War must have been considerably lower than sales of wheat before the war.Which of the following is an assumption made by the author?a)Sales of wheat after the war were greater than sales of wheat during the war.b)The amount of wheat produced in the country during the war was less than the amount produced before the war.c)The railroads were set up for the purpose of transporting agricultural goods.d)Before the war, a significant amount of the wheat that was sold was transported via the railroads.e)Wheat that could not be sold could not be utilized in any other way.Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for GMAT 2025 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for During the Civil War, railroads were the quickest way to transport troops across locations. However, the railroads were originally used to transport agricultural products, particularly wheat, from their place of production to their place of sale. Clearly, the militarization of the railroads must have affected the transport of agricultural goods during the war, thereby also impacting the sales of such products. So, sales of wheat during the Civil War must have been considerably lower than sales of wheat before the war.Which of the following is an assumption made by the author?a)Sales of wheat after the war were greater than sales of wheat during the war.b)The amount of wheat produced in the country during the war was less than the amount produced before the war.c)The railroads were set up for the purpose of transporting agricultural goods.d)Before the war, a significant amount of the wheat that was sold was transported via the railroads.e)Wheat that could not be sold could not be utilized in any other way.Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?.
Solutions for During the Civil War, railroads were the quickest way to transport troops across locations. However, the railroads were originally used to transport agricultural products, particularly wheat, from their place of production to their place of sale. Clearly, the militarization of the railroads must have affected the transport of agricultural goods during the war, thereby also impacting the sales of such products. So, sales of wheat during the Civil War must have been considerably lower than sales of wheat before the war.Which of the following is an assumption made by the author?a)Sales of wheat after the war were greater than sales of wheat during the war.b)The amount of wheat produced in the country during the war was less than the amount produced before the war.c)The railroads were set up for the purpose of transporting agricultural goods.d)Before the war, a significant amount of the wheat that was sold was transported via the railroads.e)Wheat that could not be sold could not be utilized in any other way.Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? in English & in Hindi are available as part of our courses for GMAT. Download more important topics, notes, lectures and mock test series for GMAT Exam by signing up for free.
Here you can find the meaning of During the Civil War, railroads were the quickest way to transport troops across locations. However, the railroads were originally used to transport agricultural products, particularly wheat, from their place of production to their place of sale. Clearly, the militarization of the railroads must have affected the transport of agricultural goods during the war, thereby also impacting the sales of such products. So, sales of wheat during the Civil War must have been considerably lower than sales of wheat before the war.Which of the following is an assumption made by the author?a)Sales of wheat after the war were greater than sales of wheat during the war.b)The amount of wheat produced in the country during the war was less than the amount produced before the war.c)The railroads were set up for the purpose of transporting agricultural goods.d)Before the war, a significant amount of the wheat that was sold was transported via the railroads.e)Wheat that could not be sold could not be utilized in any other way.Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? defined & explained in the simplest way possible. Besides giving the explanation of During the Civil War, railroads were the quickest way to transport troops across locations. However, the railroads were originally used to transport agricultural products, particularly wheat, from their place of production to their place of sale. Clearly, the militarization of the railroads must have affected the transport of agricultural goods during the war, thereby also impacting the sales of such products. So, sales of wheat during the Civil War must have been considerably lower than sales of wheat before the war.Which of the following is an assumption made by the author?a)Sales of wheat after the war were greater than sales of wheat during the war.b)The amount of wheat produced in the country during the war was less than the amount produced before the war.c)The railroads were set up for the purpose of transporting agricultural goods.d)Before the war, a significant amount of the wheat that was sold was transported via the railroads.e)Wheat that could not be sold could not be utilized in any other way.Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?, a detailed solution for During the Civil War, railroads were the quickest way to transport troops across locations. However, the railroads were originally used to transport agricultural products, particularly wheat, from their place of production to their place of sale. Clearly, the militarization of the railroads must have affected the transport of agricultural goods during the war, thereby also impacting the sales of such products. So, sales of wheat during the Civil War must have been considerably lower than sales of wheat before the war.Which of the following is an assumption made by the author?a)Sales of wheat after the war were greater than sales of wheat during the war.b)The amount of wheat produced in the country during the war was less than the amount produced before the war.c)The railroads were set up for the purpose of transporting agricultural goods.d)Before the war, a significant amount of the wheat that was sold was transported via the railroads.e)Wheat that could not be sold could not be utilized in any other way.Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? has been provided alongside types of During the Civil War, railroads were the quickest way to transport troops across locations. However, the railroads were originally used to transport agricultural products, particularly wheat, from their place of production to their place of sale. Clearly, the militarization of the railroads must have affected the transport of agricultural goods during the war, thereby also impacting the sales of such products. So, sales of wheat during the Civil War must have been considerably lower than sales of wheat before the war.Which of the following is an assumption made by the author?a)Sales of wheat after the war were greater than sales of wheat during the war.b)The amount of wheat produced in the country during the war was less than the amount produced before the war.c)The railroads were set up for the purpose of transporting agricultural goods.d)Before the war, a significant amount of the wheat that was sold was transported via the railroads.e)Wheat that could not be sold could not be utilized in any other way.Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? theory, EduRev gives you an ample number of questions to practice During the Civil War, railroads were the quickest way to transport troops across locations. However, the railroads were originally used to transport agricultural products, particularly wheat, from their place of production to their place of sale. Clearly, the militarization of the railroads must have affected the transport of agricultural goods during the war, thereby also impacting the sales of such products. So, sales of wheat during the Civil War must have been considerably lower than sales of wheat before the war.Which of the following is an assumption made by the author?a)Sales of wheat after the war were greater than sales of wheat during the war.b)The amount of wheat produced in the country during the war was less than the amount produced before the war.c)The railroads were set up for the purpose of transporting agricultural goods.d)Before the war, a significant amount of the wheat that was sold was transported via the railroads.e)Wheat that could not be sold could not be utilized in any other way.Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? tests, examples and also practice GMAT tests.
Explore Courses for GMAT exam

Top Courses for GMAT

Explore Courses
Signup for Free!
Signup to see your scores go up within 7 days! Learn & Practice with 1000+ FREE Notes, Videos & Tests.
10M+ students study on EduRev