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Difficulty: MediumStrengthening Arguments

To reduce long-term infrastructure expenses, the coastal transit authority of Metropolis plans to install continuous ultrasonic vibration sensors on the underwater concrete pillars of its main commuter bridges. Engineers argue that by detecting micro-fractures in real time, maintenance crews can perform minor localized patch repairs before major structural fatigue occurs, thereby significantly lowering total repair expenditures over the next decade.

Which of the following, if true, provides the strongest support for the engineers' argument?

  1. The cost to purchase, install, and maintain the ultrasonic sensors is substantially lower than the net financial savings produced by preventing even a single major structural overhaul.Answer
  2. B
    Ambient underwater noise from nearby commercial shipping channels routinely causes ultrasonic monitoring systems to log false readings, necessitating costly diver deployments to perform manual verifications.
  3. C
    Total vehicular traffic across the commuter bridges is expected to expand by nearly twenty percent over the coming decade due to regional population growth.
  4. D
    The transit authority has already successfully integrated ultrasonic monitoring technology to track track-bed shifts along its above-ground light rail network.
  5. E
    Most surface roadway damage on coastal bridges stems from chemical de-icing salts rather than structural issues originating in underwater support pillars.

Answer

The statement establishing that the cost of purchasing, installing, and maintaining the ultrasonic sensors is substantially lower than the net financial savings produced by preventing a major structural overhaul.
The correct answer provides the missing piece of economic logic necessary for the plan's success. The author claims that performing minor localized repairs guided by sensors will lower total repair expenditures over ten years. However, if buying and maintaining these continuous sensors costs more than the money saved by preventing major overhauls, overall expenditures would increase. Confirming that sensor acquisition and maintenance expenses are substantially lower than the savings from avoiding overhauls directly supports the conclusion.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the core argument structure
Premise: Installing ultrasonic sensors allows detection of micro-fractures so minor patch repairs can be made early. Conclusion: This plan will significantly lower total repair expenditures over the next decade.
Identifying the premise-to-conclusion leap reveals the underlying assumption needed to reach the conclusion.
2
Identify logical gaps in the plan
The argument assumes that the financial savings from avoiding major overhauls will exceed the costs of buying, installing, and servicing the sensors.
If the technology itself is excessively expensive to run, overall expenditures could rise despite avoiding major overhauls.
3
Evaluate the choices to find the one that confirms the assumption
The option stating that sensor costs are substantially lower than savings from preventing a major overhaul directly bridges this financial gap and confirms net savings.
Providing evidence that net savings are positive strongly reinforces the conclusion that expenditures will decline.

Key Concept

Strengthening Arguments by Supplying Missing Financial Link / Cost-Benefit Viability
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Strengthening Arguments

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