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Completing the Passage Logically

15 questions

All types15Multiple choice7Fill in the blank8
Question 1Question →

Historically, municipal water utilities facing severe drought conditions have implemented tier-based pricing structures that dramatically increase per-gallon rates for high-volume consumers. Economists reasoned that raising the marginal cost of excess usage would compel households to reduce discretionary consumption, such as lawn irrigation. Recent empirical data, however, reveals that in municipalities where tier-based pricing was instituted alongside subsidies for water-efficient household appliances, overall water consumption decreased significantly less than in municipalities that implemented tier-based pricing alone. This disparity occurs because the financial savings produced by the subsidized appliances effectively buffer households against the higher marginal cost of discretionary water use. Therefore, a municipal policy intended to maximize water conservation by combining tier pricing with appliance subsidies will likely prove ineffective unless ________.

Which of the following most logically completes the passage?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: the marginal rates for high-volume water consumption are set high enough to outweigh the monetary savings generated by the appliance subsidies

Answer

The correct completion is that the marginal rates for high-volume water consumption are set high enough to outweigh the monetary savings generated by the appliance subsidies.
The passage establishes that the combined policy fails because the monetary savings from appliance subsidies offset the higher marginal rates of tier-based pricing, eliminating the economic disincentive to conserve discretionary water. To prevent this failure (i.e. 'unless...'), the financial penalty imposed by the high-volume marginal rate must exceed the savings gained from the appliance subsidies, ensuring that excess water usage remains net-costly to the household.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the core argument structure and premises in the stimulus.
Premise 1: Tiered pricing increases marginal costs to reduce discretionary water use. Premise 2: Adding appliance subsidies resulted in LESS overall water reduction than tiered pricing alone. Premise 3 (Mechanism): Financial savings from subsidized appliances offset the higher cost of discretionary water use.
Understanding the causal conflict is necessary to identify what missing condition restores the policy's effectiveness.
2
Identify the logical gap created by the conclusion stem ending in 'unless'.
The passage asserts the combined policy will fail 'unless' a specific condition neutralizes the offsetting mechanism.
The word 'unless' introduces a necessary condition to prevent the stated failure.
3
Synthesize the mechanism to find the necessary condition.
Since failure occurs because appliance savings >= price increase penalty, success requires price increase penalty > appliance savings.
If the marginal rate penalty is greater than the financial savings from the subsidy, households will no longer have a net buffer to finance discretionary water use.

Key Concept

Completing the Passage via Paradox Neutralization / Mathematical Balance in Arguments
Question 2Question →

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?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: yield a significantly smaller percentage reduction in total shipping expenses than the company anticipated.

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
Question 3Question →

Fill in the blank to logically complete the passage based on the premises provided.

Fill in the blanks below

To reduce overall regional water consumption, an agricultural district mandated that farmers replace traditional overhead sprayers with subterranean drip irrigation systems, which deliver water directly to plant roots with minimal evaporative loss. Following the mandate, total volume of water withdrawn for agriculture in the district actually increased, even though no new cropland was developed and climate conditions remained identical. This outcome occurred because the increased water delivery efficiency encouraged farmers to replace drought-tolerant grains with high-value, water-intensive fruit crops. Therefore, the mandate failed to reduce overall water consumption because .
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Answer

The total increase in water usage resulting from switching to water-intensive fruit crops exceeded the amount of water saved through the implementation of drip irrigation.
The correct logical completion must bridge the premises to explain why total regional water withdrawals rose. Since drip irrigation saves water per unit delivered but prompted a switch to crops that require significantly more water overall, total consumption will only increase if the extra water consumed by the new crops is greater than the water saved by the technology.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the paradox presented in the passage.
Drip irrigation increases water application efficiency, yet overall regional agricultural water withdrawals increased.
Understanding the premise conflict is necessary to determine what missing piece of evidence completes the causal explanation.
2
Analyze the explanatory premise provided in the text.
Farmers switched from drought-tolerant grains to high-value, water-intensive fruit crops due to the improved irrigation efficiency.
The change in crop selection introduces a factor that increases total water demand per acre.
3
Synthesize the premises to complete the logical conclusion.
For total water usage to rise despite reduced evaporation loss, the additional water required by the fruit crops must outweigh the physical water savings achieved by drip technology.
A net increase in total volume withdrawn requires that the consumption increase from crop switching is larger than the efficiency savings.

Key Concept

Completing the passage by synthesizing premises to explain a net quantitative outcome
Question 4Question →

Which of the following most logically completes the passage below?

Fill in the blanks below

Biotechnology startups developing treatments for ultra-rare pediatric conditions rely almost exclusively on early-stage venture funding, which investors typically recoup when established pharmaceutical conglomerates acquire these startups prior to costly Phase III clinical trials. To incentivize innovation, a regulatory body extended patent protection for ultra-rare disease therapies from 10 to 15 years. However, early-stage venture investment in these startups subsequently declined by 35%. Industry analysts explain that the prolonged exclusivity window allows prospective corporate acquirers to postpone acquisitions until after startups independently navigate late-stage trial risks without fearing that generic competitors will enter the market prematurely. Because major firms now defer buyouts until Phase III completion, early-stage venture investors .
Show answer & explanation

Answer

must bear uncompensated late-stage clinical risks and extended capital lockup periods, rendering early-stage investments far less attractive
The passage sets up a paradox: extending patent protection was intended to increase innovation, but early-stage funding dropped. The explanation given is that extended patent life allows large pharma acquirers to wait longer before buying startups, forcing startups to bear Phase III trial risks on their own. The option stating that early-stage investors face prolonged capital lockup and heightened risk before acquisition logically completes the causal chain explaining why venture investment declined.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the premises and structural flow of the argument
Premise 1: Venture capitalists fund early biotech startups expecting acquisition before Phase III trials. Premise 2: Patent extension increased exclusivity from 10 to 15 years. Premise 3: The longer exclusivity allows big pharma to delay acquiring startups until AFTER Phase III trials without losing market window advantages. Result: Startups must now fund expensive, risky Phase III trials themselves before an acquisition occurs.
Completing a passage logically requires synthesizing all given premises to find the unstated necessary result.
2
Evaluate the financial consequence for early-stage venture investors
Since acquisition is delayed past Phase III trials, venture capitalists can no longer exit early and must absorb the capital lockup and high clinical failure rates of late-stage trials.
The blank follows 'Because major firms now defer buyouts until Phase III completion, early-stage venture investors...' requiring a conclusion that directly links delayed buyouts to reduced investor incentive.

Key Concept

Completing the Passage Logically
Question 5Question →

Which phrase logically completes the passage below?

Fill in the blanks below

A commercial bakery recently replaced its gas-powered ovens with high-efficiency electric ovens that consume 30 percent less energy per batch of goods. Although electricity costs more per unit of energy than natural gas does in this region, the bakery's total monthly expenditure on oven energy decreased immediately after the replacement. Assuming energy prices and production volume remained constant, this financial outcome indicates that .
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Answer

the reduction in energy consumption was large enough to offset the higher unit cost of electricity
Total energy spending is determined by multiplying total energy consumed by the price per unit of energy. The passage states that the per-unit price of electricity is higher than that of gas, yet overall spending decreased. The only logical explanation for total spending falling under a higher unit rate is that the 30 percent reduction in energy consumption was large enough to outweigh the higher unit cost of electricity.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the given premises in the passage
1. Electric ovens use 30% less energy per batch than gas ovens.
2. Electricity costs more per unit of energy than natural gas.
3. Total monthly energy spending decreased after switching to electric ovens.
Understanding the factual foundation of the argument is required before completing the logical bridge.
2
Analyze the relationship between unit cost, usage volume, and total expenditure
Total Expenditure = (Energy Consumed) × (Cost Per Unit of Energy).
Since the cost per unit increased, total expenditure could only decrease if the decrease in energy consumed was substantial enough to outweigh the price increase.
3
Formulate the logical completion
The lower volume of energy consumed was sufficient to overcome the higher per-unit rate of electricity.
This directly explains how total spending fell despite paying a higher unit price.

Key Concept

Completing the Passage Logically
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 6Question →

Agricultural researchers recently developed a genetically modified strain of wheat designed to emit a synthetic distress pheromone whenever attacked by aphids, thereby attracting native parasitic wasps that prey on the aphids. In initial trials, aphid infestation levels fell by 75 percent without requiring synthetic insecticides. However, subsequent ecological monitoring revealed that because the wheat continuously synthesizes the pheromone throughout its entire growth cycle—even when aphid density is negligible—local parasitic wasp populations suffer severe energy depletion from futile search behaviors, leading to a complete population collapse by the third harvest. Therefore, to sustain the efficacy of this biological pest management strategy across multiple growing seasons, farm managers should __________.

Which of the following choices most logically completes the passage?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: alternate the bio-engineered wheat with non-pheromone-emitting crop varieties to ensure periods during which parasitic wasps are not exposed to constant, unrewarded foraging cues

Answer

To sustain the efficacy of this biological pest management strategy across multiple growing seasons, farm managers should alternate the bio-engineered wheat with non-pheromone-emitting crop varieties to ensure periods during which parasitic wasps are not exposed to constant, unrewarded foraging cues.
The correct response logically completes the passage by directly counteracting the biological mechanism causing wasp population collapse. The passage states that wasps suffer energy depletion because the wheat continuously emits distress pheromones even when aphids are scarce. Alternating the bio-engineered wheat with non-emitting crops breaks this continuous false signal, giving wasp populations periods without futile foraging cues so they can survive across consecutive seasons.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the primary goal and core problem presented in the stimulus
Goal: Sustain the efficacy of the bio-engineered wheat pest management system over multiple seasons. Problem: Continuous pheromone emissions exhaust wasp energy during periods of low aphid density, causing wasp population collapse by season three.
Completing the argument requires finding a measure that directly eliminates the root cause of the wasp population collapse without undermining the biological pest control objective.
2
Analyze the cause-and-effect relationship established by the premises
Continuous emission during low aphid periods → Futile wasp foraging → Energy depletion → Wasp population crash.
To prevent the wasp population crash, the continuous false signaling during periods without aphids must be interrupted or mitigated.
3
Evaluate the option choices against the required logical completion
Alternating with non-emitting crop varieties provides resting periods where wasps are not subjected to unrewarded foraging cues, directly addressing the mechanism of energy depletion.
Only an option that resolves the unrewarded foraging mechanism while maintaining the biological control strategy logically completes the manager's action statement.

Key Concept

Logical Completion through Cause-and-Effect Synthesis
Question 7Question →

Which of the following most logically completes the argument below?

A city recently installed automated solar-powered traffic signals at several busy intersections to reduce municipal electricity costs. Although the initial purchase price of these solar signals was higher than that of standard signals, the solar units generate all their own electricity and require minimal ongoing maintenance. Because the long-term savings on electricity and routine maintenance will exceed the higher upfront installation costs, city officials concluded that adopting these solar signals will ultimately ________.

Show answer & explanation

Answer: reduce the city's overall financial expenditures for operating these traffic signals over their lifetime.

Answer

The correct completion is that adopting the solar signals will ultimately reduce the city's overall financial expenditures for operating these traffic signals over their lifetime.
The argument sets up a financial comparison: higher upfront costs balanced against even greater operational and maintenance savings over time. Summing these factors leads strictly to a net savings over the signals' operational lifetime, making the option regarding reduced overall lifetime expenditures the only logically sound completion.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the given premises.
Premise 1: Upfront purchase costs for solar signals are higher than standard signals. Premise 2: Solar signals generate their own power and require minimal maintenance. Premise 3: Accumulated savings on electricity and maintenance will exceed the higher initial cost.
Understanding all premises is essential to determining the net logical conclusion.
2
Synthesize the premises to find the direct logical outcome.
If total lifetime savings exceed the initial excess cost, the net financial result is an overall reduction in total lifetime operating costs.
The conclusion of a 'completing the passage' item must strictly follow from the combination of stated premises without requiring external assumptions.

Key Concept

Completing the Passage Logically
Question 8Question →

Which phrase logically completes the passage below?

Fill in the blanks below

Over the past decade, several major semiconductor manufacturers transitioned from 28nm to 7nm lithography processes, expecting dramatic reductions in unit production costs. However, while 7nm chips offer superior power efficiency and transistor density, the capital expenditure required for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography equipment and cleanroom upgrades increased exponentially rather than linearly with smaller node sizes. Consequently, unless a semiconductor manufacturer operates at an exceptionally high production volume capable of amortizing these massive upfront equipment investments, transitioning to 7nm lithography will .
Show answer & explanation

Answer

The transition to 7nm lithography will result in higher per-unit production costs overall than remaining on older fabrication nodes.
The passage establishes that transitioning to 7nm lithography involves exponentially higher upfront capital costs. These high fixed costs must be amortized over a high volume of units to reduce average cost per unit. Therefore, without exceptionally high volume, the amortized fixed costs per unit will outweigh operational savings, resulting in higher per-unit costs compared to older nodes.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the premises provided in the passage.
Manufacturers expected node shrinkage (28nm to 7nm) to lower unit costs. However, upfront capital costs for equipment increased exponentially.
Establishing the premise relationships helps determine what logically follows.
2
Synthesize the conditional relationship regarding production volume.
Massive upfront capital expenditures can only be amortized across very high unit volumes. Without such exceptionally high volume, fixed capital costs per unit remain very large.
High fixed costs distributed over a smaller volume increase the average cost per unit.
3
Deduce the logical continuation of the final sentence.
Since the sentence begins with 'unless a manufacturer operates at an exceptionally high production volume...', the outcome for low-to-moderate volume producers must be an increase in total per-unit costs compared to staying on older nodes.
The conclusion directly completes the logical contrast established by the premises without introducing external assumptions.

Key Concept

Completing the Passage Logically
Question 9Question →

Complete the passage logically by providing the missing conclusion.

Fill in the blanks below

During the late nineteenth century, transoceanic telegraph cable networks relied on gutta-percha—a natural latex resin—for underwater insulation. Because gutta-percha harvested from tropical trees degraded rapidly when exposed to ambient air and sunlight, storing it in land-based facilities often rendered it unusable before manufacturing began. However, when continuously submerged in cold water, the material retained its chemical stability and structural flexibility indefinitely. Consequently, cable suppliers realized that rather than constructing costly climate-controlled land storage warehouses, they could preserve harvested resin prior to shipping simply by .
Show answer & explanation

Answer

Submerging the harvested resin in cold water reservoirs or local aquatic basins prior to shipping.
The passage establishes two key facts: exposure to air and sunlight degrades harvested gutta-percha, whereas continuous submersion in cold water preserves it indefinitely. Therefore, to avoid the high cost of climate-controlled land warehouses, the most direct and logical solution is to store the harvested material submerged in cold water.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the main problem and the contrasting condition presented in the premises.
Air and sunlight degrade gutta-percha rapidly, rendering land storage costly and problematic, whereas continuous submersion in cold water preserves its properties indefinitely.
The conclusion must directly bridge the problem (air exposure causes decay) with the natural solution provided by the physical property (cold water submersion prevents decay).
2
Synthesize the contrast into a operational recommendation that completes the 'consequently' statement.
Instead of building expensive climate-controlled land warehouses, suppliers should store the harvested resin underwater in cold water environments prior to processing.
This directly completes the logical chain without introducing unstated assumptions or extrapolations.

Key Concept

Completing the Passage Logically
Question 10Question →

Which of the following phrases most logically completes the passage below?

Fill in the blanks below

In recent years, several major pharmaceutical firms have transitioned from fixed-fee manufacturing contracts to outcome-based pricing models for newly approved rare-disease therapies, reimbursing healthcare providers if a drug fails to produce measurable clinical efficacy within six months. While proponents argued that this shift would incentivize drugmakers to release only highly effective treatments, industry analysts note that developing diagnostic tests to reliably verify six-month clinical efficacy requires substantial upfront capital that small biotech firms cannot afford. Consequently, if third-party insurers demand outcome-based pricing across all rare-disease therapies, small biotech developers will likely be forced to license their experimental compounds to large pharmaceutical conglomerates long before clinical trials conclude, thereby .
Show answer & explanation

Answer

The passage is most logically completed by indicating that mandatory outcome-based pricing will consolidate market dominance and commercialization control within large pharmaceutical conglomerates while preventing small biotechs from bringing therapies to market independently.
The correct logical completion must bridge the shift from biotechs being unable to fund diagnostic testing to their forced licensing of compounds to large pharmaceutical conglomerates. Early licensing deprives small biotechs of direct commercialization, thereby entrenching and consolidating market control of innovative rare-disease treatments within large pharmaceutical conglomerates.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify and break down the premise chain in the passage.
Premise 1: Outcome-based pricing requires costly diagnostic tests to verify clinical efficacy. Premise 2: Small biotech firms lack the capital required to develop these diagnostic tests. Premise 3: Mandatory outcome-based pricing forces small biotechs to license their compounds to large pharmaceutical conglomerates early in clinical development.
Establishing the causal sequence of constraints described in the stimulus.
2
Synthesize the premise chain to infer the final unstated consequence.
Because small biotechs must hand over their experimental therapies early to large conglomerates, commercial control and market presence shifts heavily away from independent biotechs toward large pharmaceutical corporations.
Completing the argument logically requires drawing the direct result of forced early-stage licensing without introducing outside assumptions.

Key Concept

Completing the Passage Logically
Question 11Question →

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?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: the operational requirement for extra certified deck officers during coastal navigation can be eliminated through automated sail adjustments

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.
Question 12Question →

Municipal planners in City X recently replaced traditional asphalt in high-density commercial zones with permeable interlocking concrete pavers to reduce storm runoff and mitigate the urban heat island effect. Although the pavers successfully absorbed rainfall and lowered surface temperatures, routine road maintenance costs rose significantly because traditional mechanical rotary sweepers dislodged the stabilizing joint sand between the pavers, requiring frequent re-sanding. To eliminate these extra maintenance expenses while preserving the environmental benefits, the city plans to replace its mechanical sweepers with high-pressure suction vacuum sweepers. However, this plan is unlikely to achieve its intended cost-saving goal because __________

Which of the following most logically completes the passage?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: high-pressure suction sweepers pull joint sand from between interlocking pavers at a rate equal to or greater than mechanical rotary sweepers do

Answer

The passage is most logically completed by the statement that high-pressure suction sweepers pull joint sand from between interlocking pavers at a rate equal to or greater than mechanical rotary sweepers do.
The correct answer completes the logical chain of the passage. The passage identifies the root cause of increased maintenance costs as the dislodgement of joint sand by sweeping equipment. If high-pressure suction sweepers dislodge or extract joint sand at an equal or higher rate than mechanical rotary sweepers, switching to suction sweepers will not resolve the sand loss issue, thus failing to lower maintenance costs.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the premises and identify the core argument structure
Goal: Reduce road maintenance costs caused by lost joint sand while preserving environmental benefits of permeable pavers. Plan: Replace mechanical rotary sweepers with high-pressure suction vacuum sweepers.
The conclusion begins with 'However, this plan is unlikely to achieve its intended cost-saving goal because...', which requires a premise that explains why the new sweepers will fail to reduce joint sand maintenance costs.
2
Evaluate the mechanism of failure needed to complete the argument
The problem with the old sweepers was that they dislodged joint sand. For the new sweepers to fail at reducing costs, they must also dislodge joint sand to a similar or greater extent.
Completing a passage logically requires closing the gap between the proposed intervention and its stated failure mechanism.
3
Match against the option choices
The option stating that suction sweepers extract joint sand at an equal or greater rate directly demonstrates why switching equipment will not reduce re-sanding maintenance expenses.
This is the only choice that strictly builds upon the explicit premises without introducing unstated external factors.

Key Concept

Completing the Passage Logically
Estimated Time:1m 45s
Question 13Question →

Agricultural firms operating large commercial orchards recently replaced periodic manual inspections by agronomists with autonomous drone swarms equipped with hyperspectral cameras to detect fungal infections. Although the drone swarms identify fungal outbreaks several days earlier than human agronomists can, farms employing the drones ultimately suffered higher seasonal crop losses from fungal disease. This unexpected result is largely explained by the fact that manual agronomists routinely pruned infected branches immediately upon detection during their walkthroughs, whereas drone detection relies on scheduled follow-up spraying teams, so...

Which of the following most logically completes the passage above?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: the delay between drone detection and the arrival of spraying teams allowed fungal spores to spread to adjacent healthy trees before any corrective action took place.

Answer

The passage is logically completed by explaining that the delay between drone detection and the deployment of spraying teams allowed fungal spores to spread to adjacent healthy trees before any corrective action took place.
The correct option provides the missing causal link that bridges the premise gap: manual inspectors contained the disease instantly via immediate pruning, whereas the delay inherent in scheduling spraying teams after drone detection allowed fungal spores to spread to nearby healthy trees before treatment occurred. This directly explains why earlier detection by drones still resulted in higher overall crop loss.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the core paradox presented in the stimulus premises.
Drones detect infection earlier than humans, yet drone-monitored farms suffer higher total crop losses.
Completing the passage requires resolving why earlier detection failed to yield better crop protection.
2
Examine the differentiating factor provided right before the blank.
Human inspectors performed immediate physical removal (pruning) upon detection, whereas drones trigger delayed follow-up treatments (spraying teams).
The sentence ending in 'so...' must connect this operational contrast to the negative outcome.
3
Synthesize the contrast to deduce the logical conclusion.
The lapse of time between automated drone detection and actual treatment allows the disease to spread further than it did under immediate manual pruning.
This provides a complete, self-contained causal explanation without introducing extraneous assumptions.

Key Concept

Completing the Passage Logically
Question 14Question →

Complete the passage logically by filling in the blank with the phrase that best concludes the argument.

Fill in the blanks below

To combat the growing hazard of orbital debris in Low Earth Orbit, space safety regulators have proposed requiring all commercial satellite operators to install heavy, automated de-orbit propulsion modules that force satellites into the atmosphere at the end of their operational life. However, environmental analysts point out that manufacturing and launching these heavy modules significantly increases rocket fuel consumption and atmospheric pollutant emissions during launch. Given that existing lightweight maneuvering thrusters already enable operational satellites to prevent over 98 percent of potential debris collisions during their active lifespan, mandating the inclusion of dedicated de-orbit modules will likely fail to achieve its net environmental risk reduction goal, because .
Show answer & explanation

Answer

the atmospheric pollution generated during launch exceeds the marginal reduction in orbital risk provided after decommissioning
The correct completion logically synthesizes the two conflicting factors presented in the stimulus: the high environmental penalty of launching heavy de-orbit modules and the minimal marginal benefit gained over existing lightweight thrusters. Since active thrusters already eliminate over 98% of collision risks, the added environmental harm from extra launch emissions outweighs the tiny remaining collision risk mitigated after decommissioning.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the premises and identify the central tension in the argument.
The regulation aims to lower environmental/orbital risk. However, heavy de-orbit modules cause high environmental costs (launch emissions), while providing only a small marginal benefit because existing thrusters already handle 98% of collision risks.
To complete the passage logically, the conclusion must connect the premises to show why the overall environmental goal is undermined.
2
Synthesize the cost-benefit trade-off into a logical conclusion.
Since the environmental cost (increased emissions) is large and the remaining risk being addressed (under 2%) is small, the net impact of the policy will be negative.
The word 'because' requires an explanation directly supported by the relative magnitude of the environmental costs versus benefits stated in the passage.

Key Concept

Completing the Passage Logically
Estimated Time:1m 30s
Question 15Question →

Read the passage below and complete the argument logically by providing the missing conclusion in the blank.

Fill in the blanks below

A major commercial airline recently converted its legacy aircraft fleet to operate entirely on 100% synthetic aviation fuel, which contains zero aromatic hydrocarbons, replacing conventional jet fuel. While synthetic fuel burns cleaner and produces lower particulate emissions, the elastomer gaskets in legacy turbine fuel lines specifically require regular contact with aromatic hydrocarbons to maintain a slight physical swelling that prevents fuel line seepage. Because the airline did not add aromatic compounds to the synthetic fuel supply or replace the existing engine gaskets, aviation maintenance analysts concluded that operating the legacy fleet on unblended synthetic fuel will directly result in .
Show answer & explanation

Answer

increased fuel leaks due to gasket shrinkage
The passage establishes two key facts: legacy gaskets need aromatic hydrocarbons to swell and prevent fuel leaks, and the new synthetic fuel lacks these aromatic compounds. Because the airline neither added aromatics nor replaced the gaskets, the gaskets will fail to maintain their swell, directly resulting in fuel line leakage due to gasket shrinkage.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the core premises provided in the stimulus.
Premise 1: Legacy engine elastomer gaskets require exposure to aromatic hydrocarbons to swell and maintain a leak-free seal. Premise 2: Pure synthetic aviation fuel lacks aromatic hydrocarbons. Premise 3: The airline switched to pure synthetic fuel without adding aromatics or replacing legacy gaskets.
Establishing the precise factual foundation is necessary before drawing a valid logical deduction.
2
Synthesize the premises to determine the necessary physical outcome.
Without aromatic hydrocarbons in the fuel, the elastomer gaskets will lose their required swelling, failing to seal fuel line connections properly.
Combining the requirement of the gaskets with the absence of aromatics in the new fuel directly implies seal breakdown.
3
Formulate the logial completion that directly bridges the premise chain to its missing conclusion.
The operation will lead to increased fuel leakage or fuel system seepage resulting from gasket shrinkage.
The conclusion must follow directly from the premises without introducing unsupported assumptions about extraneous engine failures or economic variables.

Key Concept

Completing a logical passage requires synthesizing facts given in the premises to infer the necessary consequence, avoiding unwarranted assumptions or shifts in scope.