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Difficulty: EasySingle-Sentence Inferences

Read the following excerpt from a historical study on industrial chemistry: "In his monograph on chemical manufacturing in the Rhine Basin, historian Ernst Wessel observed that while major coal-tar dye firms aggressively patented synthetic indigo synthesis processes, smaller regional distilleries nevertheless dominated the lucrative niche market for alizarin derivative mordants because their modular distillation retorts allowed rapid reconfiguration for small-batch chemical customization."

Based on the statement above, which of the following can be properly inferred about chemical manufacturing in the Rhine Basin?

  1. The distillation apparatus utilized by smaller regional distilleries provided flexibility for small-batch customization that supported their success in the alizarin derivative mordant market.Answer
  2. B
    Major coal-tar dye firms were prevented from securing patents for synthetic indigo because smaller regional distilleries developed superior retort technologies.
  3. C
    Smaller regional distilleries achieved a greater overall commercial revenue than major coal-tar dye firms across the entire chemical sector.
  4. D
    Major coal-tar dye firms relied primarily on modular distillation retorts to maintain their control over the synthetic indigo market.
  5. E
    Smaller regional distilleries entirely eliminated major coal-tar dye firms from participating in any sector of synthetic dye production.

Answer

The distillation apparatus utilized by smaller regional distilleries provided flexibility for small-batch customization that supported their success in the alizarin derivative mordant market.
The correct answer accurately reflects the direct causal connection stated in the passage: smaller regional distilleries dominated the alizarin derivative mordant market because their modular distillation retorts permitted rapid reconfiguration for small-batch chemical customization. This demonstrates that their equipment provided flexibility supporting their niche market success.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the target sentence for explicit facts and logical relationships.
The sentence states that major firms patented synthetic indigo, but smaller distilleries dominated the alizarin derivative mordant niche market due to their modular distillation retorts allowing rapid reconfiguration for small-batch customization.
Single-sentence inference requires extracting only what is strictly guaranteed by the text without outside assumptions.
2
Evaluate the answer choices against the facts established in the sentence.
The option identifying that the distillation equipment of smaller distilleries provided flexibility that aided their market niche dominance matches the explicit causal link ('because their modular distillation retorts allowed rapid reconfiguration...').
A valid GMAT inference must be a necessary logical consequence of the stated premise.

Key Concept

Single-Sentence Inference
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Topics

Single-Sentence Inferences

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