Target Test Prep GMAT Verbal Challenge Question 1

Solution:

Information given:

Fact 1: The bearings in wind turbines are subject to extreme mechanical pressures that eventually cause breakdown.

Fact 2: Proper lubrication of bearings extends the life of the bearings, and the better the lubricant used, the more the lubricant extends the life of the bearings in which it is used.

Fact 3: A new lubricant is the best lubricant currently available, and Pacifico Power has decided to use this new lubricant in all of the bearings in its new turbines.

Fact 4: Atlantico Power, on the other hand, is still using a previous generation lubricant in the bearings in all of its turbines.

(A) All of the bearings in Pacifico Power's new turbines will outlast any of the bearings in Atlantico Power's turbines.

We cannot infer that all the bearings in Pacifico Power's new turbines will outlast any of the bearings in Atlantico Power's turbines.

There could be many reasons why bearings in turbines fail. For example, maybe Pacifico Power's new turbines are located in areas characterized by extremely high air temperatures, which cause erosion of bearings, whereas Atlantico Power's turbines are located in temperate areas. In that case, even though Pacifico Power's bearing are lubricated with the best lubricant and Atlantico Power's bearings are lubricated with a previous generation lubricant, Atlantico Power's bearings may last longer, because Atlantico Power's bearings aren't operating in conditions characterized by extremely high air temperatures.

So, since the passage addresses only one variable affecting bearing life – the lubricant used – the passage doesn't provide information sufficient for determining whether Pacifico Power's bearings will outlast Atlantico Power's bearings.

CORRECT ANSWER(B) If Atlantico Power's bearings were lubricated with the lubricant used in the bearings in Pacifico Power's new turbines, Atlantico Power's bearings would last longer than Atlantico Power's bearings will.

From the facts given, we know that proper lubrication of bearings extends the life of the bearings, and that, the better the lubricant used, the more the lubricant extends the life of the bearings in which it is used.

We also know that Pacifico Power will use in all the bearings in its new turbines the best lubricant currently available, while Atlantico Power is still using a previous generation lubricant in the bearings in all its turbines, one that is not as good as the one used by Pacifico Power.

Clearly then, we can infer that, if Atlantico Power's bearings were lubricated with the lubricant used in the bearings in Pacifico Power's new turbines, Atlantico Power's bearings would last longer than Atlantico Power's bearings will.

(C) Were Pacifico Power to use in its new turbines' bearings the lubricant used in Atlantico Power's bearings, the bearings in Pacifico Power's new turbines would not outlast Atlantico Power's bearings.

We cannot infer that, were Pacifico Power to use in its new turbines' bearings the lubricant used in Atlantico Power's bearings, the bearings in Pacifico Power's new turbines would not outlast Atlantico Power's bearings.

There could be many factors affecting how long bearings last. Maybe Pacifico Power has an outstanding maintenance program, whereas Atlantico Power's maintenance program is lacking. In that case, even if Pacifico Power and Atlantico power were using the same lubricant, Pacifico Power's bearings would likely still last longer than Atlantico Power's bearings.

So, since the passage and this answer choice address only one variable affecting bearing life – the lubricant used – the passage and this answer choice do not provide information sufficient for determining whether Pacifico Power's bearings will outlast Atlantico Power's bearings.

(D) If any of Atlantico Power's bearings were lubricated with the new lubricant, those bearings would last as long as the bearings in Pacifico Power's new turbines.

We cannot infer that, if any of Atlantico Power's bearings were lubricated with the new lubricant, those bearings would last as long as the bearings in Pacifico Power's new turbines. After all, even if the companies' bearings were all lubricated with the same lubricant, there could still be reasons why Atlantico Power's bearings would wear out faster than Pacifico Power's bearings will.

(E) None of Pacifico Power's bearings that were lubricated with the previous generation lubricant will last as long as will any of the bearings in Pacifico Power's new turbines.

We can't infer that none of Pacifico Power's bearings that were lubricated with the previous generation lubricant will last as long as will any of the bearings in Pacifico Power's new turbines. After all, there could be many factors other than lubricant used that affect how long bearings last, and those other factors could somehow cause some bearings lubricated with the previous generation lubricant to last just as long as Pacific Power's new bearings lubricated with the new lubricant.