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Difficulty: MediumDistinguishing Supported and Unsupported Inferences

Modern naval vessels utilize electrolytic oxygen generators to produce breathable air from deionized feedwater during prolonged submergence. While the electrolysis process cleanly separates water into hydrogen and oxygen gases, the generated hydrogen poses a severe combustion hazard if allowed to accumulate. To prevent explosive concentrations, the system continuously vents separated hydrogen overboard through high-pressure discharge lines, while routing the oxygen through catalytic scrubbers into the ship's internal atmosphere. If the external discharge manifold experiences backpressure or blockage, automatic fail-safe sensors immediately halt electrolysis before hydrogen levels in the generating cell can rise.

Which of the following conclusions is most logically supported by the passage?

  1. A
    The automatic fail-safe sensors activate only after hydrogen concentrations reach dangerous levels.
  2. An obstruction in the external discharge system will cause the generation of breathable oxygen to stop.Answer
  3. C
    Hydrogen gas is routed through catalytic scrubbers into the vessel's internal atmosphere.
  4. D
    Electrolytic generators serve as the crew's exclusive source of breathable air throughout an entire mission.

Answer

An obstruction in the external discharge system will cause the generation of breathable oxygen to stop.
The conclusion stating that an obstruction in the external discharge system halts oxygen generation is directly supported. The text establishes that an external blockage triggers automatic sensors to halt electrolysis, and since electrolysis is the process creating both oxygen and hydrogen, stopping the process necessarily stops oxygen production.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the causal chain described in the text regarding system blockages.
The text states that backpressure or blockage in the external discharge manifold immediately causes sensors to halt electrolysis.
Understanding the immediate consequence of a blocked hydrogen line is critical to determining subsequent operational effects.
2
Connect the stoppage of electrolysis to the production of oxygen.
Electrolysis produces both hydrogen and breathable oxygen from water; stopping electrolysis stops the generation of both gases.
A supported inference must follow strictly from the combined stated facts without requiring outside assumptions.
3
Evaluate the plausibility and textual basis of the remaining choices.
Other choices either introduce unsupported exclusivity, misattribute components, or contradict stated timeline details.
Distinguishing supported inferences requires eliminating options that distort facts or assume unstated conditions.

Key Concept

Distinguishing logically supported deductions from unsupported assumptions and detail distortions.
Estimated Time:1m 5s
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Distinguishing Supported and Unsupported Inferences

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