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Difficulty: HardCompleting the Passage Logically

In an effort to lower operational expenses, several transatlantic cargo carriers retrofitted their fleets with automated wind-assisted propulsion sails. Although these sails reduce fuel consumption by up to 12 percent during open-ocean transit, deploying and recalibrating them in heavily congested coastal waters requires keeping two additional certified deck officers on shift. In port-dense maritime corridors where coastal navigation accounts for over 60 percent of total voyage time, the cumulative wage premiums for these extra officers exceed the total monetary value of fuel saved throughout the journey. Adopting this wind-assist technology will therefore fail to reduce overall voyage costs on port-dense routes unless ______.

Which of the following most logically completes the passage?

  1. the operational requirement for extra certified deck officers during coastal navigation can be eliminated through automated sail adjustmentsAnswer
  2. B
    the monetary value of fuel saved during open-ocean transit increases due to projected rises in global oil prices
  3. C
    vessels equipped with wind-assisted sails increase their speed during coastal navigation to minimize total transit time
  4. D
    cargo carriers pass the higher operational expenses of retrofitted vessels onto customers through premium freight surcharges
  5. E
    open-ocean transit segments account for a smaller proportion of total voyage time than coastal navigation segments

Answer

Adopting the wind-assist technology will fail to reduce overall voyage costs unless the operational requirement for extra certified deck officers during coastal navigation can be eliminated through automated sail adjustments.
The argument establishes a clear financial equation: wind-assisted sails reduce fuel costs, but using them in coastal waters imposes an officer wage premium. On port-dense routes, coastal navigation dominates the journey (>60%), causing officer wage premiums to exceed total fuel savings. Therefore, the technology cannot achieve its goal of reducing overall voyage costs unless the primary cost obstacle—the requirement for extra officers during coastal transit—is eliminated.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the premises and identify the core financial trade-off.
Fuel savings (up to 12% in open ocean) vs. Officer wage costs (2 extra officers needed during coastal navigation).
Understanding what drives costs establishes what must change for the conclusion to hold.
2
Evaluate the specific condition on port-dense routes.
Coastal navigation is >60% of voyage time, making officer wage premiums greater than total fuel savings.
The net result on port-dense routes is currently a net financial loss due specifically to extra officer wages.
3
Deduce the necessary condition to complete the conclusion logically.
To turn a net loss into a net cost reduction, the factor causing the excess expense (extra officer requirement during coastal transit) must be removed or neutralized.
The conclusion states the technology will fail to reduce overall costs 'unless [X]'; [X] must directly overcome or remove the cost impediment.

Key Concept

Completing an argument by identifying a necessary condition that resolves an operational trade-off.
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Completing the Passage Logically

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