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Difficulty: MediumCompleting the Passage Logically

A global shipping line recently introduced smart refrigerated containers equipped with automated sensors that adjust cooling levels based on cargo respiration rates, reducing energy consumption by 25 percent during ocean transit. The company expected this innovation to significantly cut total operational expenses for shipping perishable produce. However, logistics analysts point out that refrigerated containers spend over 60 percent of their total voyage time idling at port terminals or waiting at customs checkpoints, where power is supplied by third-party grid connections at fixed hourly tariffs rather than generated by the vessel's engines. Consequently, analysts conclude that the adoption of these smart containers will __________.

Which of the following statements most logically fills the blank in the argument above?

  1. yield a significantly smaller percentage reduction in total shipping expenses than the company anticipated.Answer
  2. B
    cause port terminals to raise their fixed hourly tariffs to offset lost electricity revenues.
  3. C
    increase the total proportion of voyage time that refrigerated containers spend waiting at customs checkpoints.
  4. D
    fail to lower energy consumption during the ocean transit portion of the voyage.
  5. E
    eliminate all operational expenses incurred while connected to third-party power grids at port terminals.

Answer

The statement asserting that the adoption of smart containers will yield a significantly smaller percentage reduction in total shipping expenses than the company anticipated.
The correct option correctly synthesizes two key facts: the 25 percent energy savings apply only during ocean transit, but ocean transit constitutes less than 40 percent of total voyage time (since over 60 percent is spent at port under fixed hourly tariffs). Therefore, applying a partial savings rate to less than half of the total voyage time leads to a much smaller total percentage reduction in costs than anticipated.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the main premises and key contrast in the passage
Premise 1: Smart containers cut energy consumption by 25% during ocean transit. Premise 2: Over 60% of total voyage time occurs at ports under fixed hourly tariffs, meaning transit represents less than 40% of voyage time.
Understanding the distribution of time and costs is necessary to evaluate the total financial impact.
2
Synthesize the premises to draw the logical conclusion
Because energy efficiency applies to less than 40% of the trip time while 60%+ remains bound by fixed port tariffs, the overall reduction in total trip expenses will be diluted.
The conclusion must logically bridge the gap created by the contrast word 'However'.

Key Concept

Completing the Passage Logically (Synthesis of Quantitative Trade-offs)
Estimated Time:1m 50s
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Completing the Passage Logically

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