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Zorluk: KolayIdentifying Unstated Assumptions in Passages

In recent years, several municipal transit authorities have transitioned their bus fleets from diesel engines to fully electric vehicles in an effort to reduce urban air pollution. Proponents of this policy point out that electric buses emit zero tailpipe emissions, thereby directly lowering localized carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide levels along heavy traffic corridors. However, environmental policy analysts argue that simply replacing diesel buses with electric models will fail to decrease overall urban air pollution unless municipal power grids increase their reliance on renewable energy sources. They contend that if the electricity powering these fleets continues to be generated primarily by coal-burning power plants located just outside city limits, the net emission of pollutants into the region's shared air basin will remain unchanged.

Which of the following is an unstated assumption required by the environmental policy analysts' argument?

  1. Coal-burning power plants generate atmospheric pollutants during electricity production in amounts comparable to or greater than the tailpipe emissions of the diesel buses being replaced.Cevap
  2. B
    Increasing municipal transit fares is the most effective method for funding a transition to renewable energy sources.
  3. C
    Environmental policy analysts believe that municipal transit authorities should entirely abandon the use of electric buses under all circumstances.
  4. D
    Generating electricity from coal-burning power plants directly decreases localized carbon monoxide levels along city traffic corridors.
  5. E
    Proponents of electric buses agree with the analysts' stance regarding the environmental impact of coal-burning power plants.

Cevap

The statement that coal-burning power plants generate atmospheric pollutants during electricity production in amounts comparable to or greater than the tailpipe emissions of the diesel buses being replaced.
The correct answer identifies the crucial logical link required by the analysts. The analysts claim that net pollution will remain unchanged if coal plants power the electric buses. For net pollution to remain unchanged (or fail to decrease), the pollution added by generating coal electricity to run the buses must be at least as great as the tailpipe pollution eliminated by removing diesel buses. If coal power generated significantly less pollution per bus-mile than diesel engines, switching to electric buses would still reduce net pollution overall, invalidating the analysts' conclusion.

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1
Identify the author's/analysts' central conclusion and supporting premise.
Conclusion: Replacing diesel buses with electric buses will fail to reduce overall urban air pollution unless renewable energy reliance increases. Premise: Electricity for electric buses comes from coal-burning power plants near the city.
Understanding the logical bridge between coal-generated power and net air pollution is necessary to find the missing assumption.
2
Apply the Negation Test to candidate assumptions.
Negating the statement gives: 'Coal-burning power plants produce far fewer pollutants than diesel bus tailpipes.' If this negated statement were true, switching to electric buses WOULD decrease overall pollution, shattering the analysts' conclusion.
A necessary assumption, when negated, must logically invalidate the argument.
3
Select the option that represents this necessary logical bridge.
The option stating that coal plants generate pollutants in amounts comparable to or greater than diesel tailpipes provides the essential link.
Without assuming that coal plant emissions match or exceed bus tailpipe emissions, the claim of unchanged net pollution falls apart.

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Identifying Unstated Assumptions in Reading Comprehension Passages
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Identifying Unstated Assumptions in Passages

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