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- Fri May 06, 2016 9:24 am
#24024
Complete Question Explanation
Weaken. The correct answer choice is (C)
In being aggressive with the stimulus and applying the Power Score 5-step approach to Logical Reasoning questions, we will pre-form a correct answer and seek confirmation of that pre-formed answer in the Answer Choices. What is the author trying to prove? What techniques is he using? Is the argument persuasive? Is there any causal or conditional reasoning used? By addressing these questions, the test-taker is equipped to aggressively approach the Question Stem and Answer Choices quickly and decisively.
The stimulus addresses a concern about nuclear waste. It begins by stating that there is no suitable plan for the safe permanent storage of such, and then proceeds to assert that because there is no plan, some people are proposing that all present nuclear plants be shut down and no new nuclear plants should be built. Even before getting to the question stem, an alert test taker will see that the conclusion of some folks (shutting down all nuclear power plants) is an extreme conclusion and the test taker should anticipate a question that addresses this weak inference.
There is an obvious hole in this reasoning that should become apparent when aggressively attacking the stimulus: what about the existing waste? The proposed solution resolves the problem about future nuclear waste storage problems, but it does nothing about resolving current problems, which is the initial premise.
The Question Stem is a weaken question, although it is not one of the typical weaken questions. Do not be confused by this; simply read the question and realize that it is looking for the weakness in the stimulus.
Our pre-formed answer immediately is confirmed by Answer Choice (C), but it is important to examine all of the other choices and eliminate them or list them as another contender.
Answer Choice (A) states that the proposal in the Stimulus (a complete moratorium on nuclear plants) is weak because it prevents the development of safe technologies for producing electric power. The Stimulus does no such thing, even assuming that nuclear power is a safe technology for producing electric power. This Answer Choice is overly broad because the Stimulus only dealt with nuclear power.
Answer Choice (B) discusses the differences between nuclear power plants that have a reputation for operating safely and those that do not. However, the Stimulus does not make such a distinction. The proposal calls for shutting down ALL nuclear plants, regardless of their reputation for safety, and for building no new ones. This Answer Choice should be eliminated.
Answer Choice (C) is the correct answer choice. As mentioned above in the discussion involving pre-forming an answer, the problem presented is long-term storage of radioactive waste. The proposal in the Stimulus prevents this problem from getting worse, but it does not address the nuclear waste that already exists and that is temporarily stored on-site. This is the weakness of the proposal.
Answer Choice (D) should also be quickly eliminated. So what if the generation of electric power from fossil fuels is relatively safe? The problem is the long-term safe storage of nuclear waste. This Answer Choice does not address the proposal and thus, should not be considered.
Answer Choice (E) might be considered attractive only in its confusion. It states that the risks of unsafe disposal of nuclear waste lie in the future but the benefits of nuclear power generation occur presently. This may be true but it does not address the present problem of a safe long-term solution. Had one not aggressively attacked the Stimulus and pre-formed an answer to this question, it is possible that this Answer Choice would have been retained as a contender, but because Answer Choice (C) so closely parallels the pre-formed answer, one can quickly determine that Answer Choice (C) is a much better choice than Answer Choice (E).
Weaken. The correct answer choice is (C)
In being aggressive with the stimulus and applying the Power Score 5-step approach to Logical Reasoning questions, we will pre-form a correct answer and seek confirmation of that pre-formed answer in the Answer Choices. What is the author trying to prove? What techniques is he using? Is the argument persuasive? Is there any causal or conditional reasoning used? By addressing these questions, the test-taker is equipped to aggressively approach the Question Stem and Answer Choices quickly and decisively.
The stimulus addresses a concern about nuclear waste. It begins by stating that there is no suitable plan for the safe permanent storage of such, and then proceeds to assert that because there is no plan, some people are proposing that all present nuclear plants be shut down and no new nuclear plants should be built. Even before getting to the question stem, an alert test taker will see that the conclusion of some folks (shutting down all nuclear power plants) is an extreme conclusion and the test taker should anticipate a question that addresses this weak inference.
- Premise #1:
Radioactive waste from nuclear plants is temporarily stored on-site.
Conclusion #1: This is not a satisfactory solution.
There is an obvious hole in this reasoning that should become apparent when aggressively attacking the stimulus: what about the existing waste? The proposed solution resolves the problem about future nuclear waste storage problems, but it does nothing about resolving current problems, which is the initial premise.
The Question Stem is a weaken question, although it is not one of the typical weaken questions. Do not be confused by this; simply read the question and realize that it is looking for the weakness in the stimulus.
Our pre-formed answer immediately is confirmed by Answer Choice (C), but it is important to examine all of the other choices and eliminate them or list them as another contender.
Answer Choice (A) states that the proposal in the Stimulus (a complete moratorium on nuclear plants) is weak because it prevents the development of safe technologies for producing electric power. The Stimulus does no such thing, even assuming that nuclear power is a safe technology for producing electric power. This Answer Choice is overly broad because the Stimulus only dealt with nuclear power.
Answer Choice (B) discusses the differences between nuclear power plants that have a reputation for operating safely and those that do not. However, the Stimulus does not make such a distinction. The proposal calls for shutting down ALL nuclear plants, regardless of their reputation for safety, and for building no new ones. This Answer Choice should be eliminated.
Answer Choice (C) is the correct answer choice. As mentioned above in the discussion involving pre-forming an answer, the problem presented is long-term storage of radioactive waste. The proposal in the Stimulus prevents this problem from getting worse, but it does not address the nuclear waste that already exists and that is temporarily stored on-site. This is the weakness of the proposal.
Answer Choice (D) should also be quickly eliminated. So what if the generation of electric power from fossil fuels is relatively safe? The problem is the long-term safe storage of nuclear waste. This Answer Choice does not address the proposal and thus, should not be considered.
Answer Choice (E) might be considered attractive only in its confusion. It states that the risks of unsafe disposal of nuclear waste lie in the future but the benefits of nuclear power generation occur presently. This may be true but it does not address the present problem of a safe long-term solution. Had one not aggressively attacked the Stimulus and pre-formed an answer to this question, it is possible that this Answer Choice would have been retained as a contender, but because Answer Choice (C) so closely parallels the pre-formed answer, one can quickly determine that Answer Choice (C) is a much better choice than Answer Choice (E).