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Difficulty: EasyDrawing Logical Conclusions

Modern naval vessels use automated oil-water separators to process bilge water before discharging it overboard. The system's optical sensors continuously measure oil concentration in the separation chamber. If the oil concentration exceeds fifteen parts per million, an emergency diverter valve immediately routes the mixture back into the waste holding tank rather than the ocean outlet. During a routine post-maintenance test, the optical sensor registered twenty-two parts per million. Based on the passage, which of the following is the most logical conclusion regarding the tested liquid?

  1. A
    The optical sensor experienced a severe hardware failure that triggered an automatic shutdown of the entire vessel.
  2. B
    The system discharged the processed mixture overboard through the standard ocean outlet.
  3. The diverter valve redirected the tested mixture back into the waste holding tank.Answer
  4. D
    The maintenance crew manually added chemical dispersants into the bilge to break down the excess oil.

Answer

The diverter valve redirected the tested mixture back into the waste holding tank.
The passage establishes a direct conditional rule: any oil concentration exceeding fifteen parts per million triggers the diverter valve to send the liquid back into the waste holding tank instead of releasing it overboard. Because the test registered twenty-two parts per million, which is above the threshold, the system necessarily redirected the mixture into the holding tank.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the operating rule and threshold established in the passage.
Any mixture with an oil concentration higher than fifteen parts per million is routed back into the waste holding tank rather than being discharged.
This establishes the conditional logic governing the automated separator system.
2
Apply the specific measurement obtained during the test.
The sensor registered twenty-two parts per million, which is greater than the fifteen parts per million threshold.
Comparing the measured value to the rule dictates the specific outcome.
3
Draw the required logical conclusion.
Because the threshold was exceeded, the emergency diverter valve sent the mixture back into the waste holding tank.
This deduction directly and exclusively follows from combining the threshold rule with the test data.

Key Concept

Applying conditional rules stated in a passage to specific numerical data to deduce a factual outcome.
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Drawing Logical Conclusions

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