Raisins are Made by Drying Grapes in the Sun.

Question: Raisins are made by drying grapes in the sun. Although some of the sugar in the grapes is caramelized in the process, nothing is added. Moreover, the only thing removed from the grapes is the water that evaporates during the drying, and water contains no calories or nutrients. The fact that raisins contain more iron per food calorie than grapes do is thus puzzling.

Which one of the following, if true, most helps to explain why raisins contain more iron per calorie than do grapes?

(A) Since grapes are bigger than raisins, it takes several bunches of grapes to provide the same amount of iron as a handful of raisins does.
(B) Caramelized sugar cannot be digested, so its calories do not count toward the food calorie content of raisins.
(C) The body can absorb iron and other nutrients more quickly from grapes than from raisins because of the relatively high water content of grapes.
(D) Raisins, but not grapes, are available year-round, so many people get a greater share of their yearly iron intake from raisins than from grapes.
(E) Raisins are often eaten in combination with other iron-containing foods, while grapes are usually eaten by themselves.

“Raisins are made by drying grapes in the sun.” – is a GMAT Critical question. This particular GMAT Critical Reasoning topic has been taken from the book ‘Manhattan prep GMAT Critical Reasoning 6th Edition’. GMAT critical reasoning tests the logical and analytical skills of the candidates. This topic requires candidates to find the strengths and weaknesses of the argument, or find the logical flaw in the argument. The GMAT CR section contains 10 -13 GMAT critical reasoning questions out of 36 GMAT verbal questions.

Answer: B
Explanation:

This is a “Resolve the Paradox” type of question.

The paradox in the question statement is that raisins contain more iron than grapes even though the two are almost identical in composition.
However, there is a difference as stated in the passage. The difference is that some of the sugar in grapes are caramelized since the grapes are dried in the sun.
Since this is the only stated difference that could affect the calorie count (water has no calories), we should be only focussing on the option that discusses this difference.

Now, let us study and check the answer choices one by one.

(A) Since grapes are bigger than raisins, it takes several bunches of grapes to provide the same amount of iron as a handful of raisins does : This option states that grapes are bigger than raisins. Hence, one will need several bunches of grapes to equal a handful of raisins. Our concern is not the size of the raisins or grapes. Hence, we can consider this as out of scope and incorrect.

(B) Caramelized sugar cannot be digested, so its calories do not count toward the food calorie content of raisins : This seems to be the correct answer. We will exclude caramalized sugar since it cannot be digested and hence, does not affect the food calorie. If the iron content in the raisins and grapes are identical, but raisins have fewer calories, then the iron per calorie will be higher for raisins. The explanation is here under:
Iron content: Raisin -100, Grapes - 100
Countable calorie - Raisin - 10, Grapes - 20
Iron per calorie - Raisin - 10, Grapes - 5

(C) The body can absorb iron and other nutrients more quickly from grapes than from raisins because of the relatively high water content of grapes : The context in the question statement does not involve the rate at which the body can absorb iron or any other nutrient. There is no point in discussing such an option as it is out of scope. Hence, this is incorrect..

(D) Raisins, but not grapes, are available year-round, so many people get a greater share of their yearly iron intake from raisins than from grapes : We are not concerned about the availability of grapes or raisins. Since the problem statement does not ask us about this, it is out of scope and incorrect.

(E) Raisins are often eaten in combination with other iron-containing foods, while grapes are usually eaten by themselves : This option states about the combination in which grapes and raisins are eaten. This answer brings in other food items and hence, cannot be considered correct.

Suggested GMAT Critical Reasoning Questions

• Building a space station, in which astronauts would live for a considerable time
• Roland: The alarming fact is that 90 percent of the people in this country now report that they know someone who is unemployed.
• TOMMY: That telephone always rings when I am in the shower and can’t hear it.
• A major network news organization experienced a drop in viewership in the week
• Experienced pilots often have more trouble than novice pilots in learning to fly
• It is Difficult to Keep Deep Wounds Free of Bacteria.
• Jane drinks 4 Cups of Coffee Every Day.
• Johnson is on Firm Ground When he Asserts that the Early Editors of Dickinsons Poetry Often Distorted her Intentions
• One Reason why European Music has had Such a Strong Influence Throughout the World
• The Elk City Garbage Dumps are so Full that Elk City has Been Forced to Pay a Large Sum to Caribou City to Accept much of Elk City’s Garbage.
• Turtles, like Other Reptiles, can Endure Long Fasts, in their Ability to Survive on Weekly
• The interview is an essential part of a successful hiring program because, with it, job applicants who have personalities that are unsuited to the requirements of the job will be eliminated from consideration.
• According to a recent study, retirees in the United States are four times more likely to give regular financial aid to their children as to receive it from them.
• Using oil-based paints to paint walls or furniture requires the use of turpentine and each coat takes a long time to dry.
• President of the United States: I have Received over 2,000 Letters on this Issue, and the Vast Majority of them Support my Current Position.
• According to a study, after a week of high-altitude living, twenty men had slimmed down.
• Shelby Industries Manufactures and Sells the Same Gauges as Jones Industries.
• A Diet High in Saturated Fats Increases a Person's Risk of Developing Heart Disease
• Carol is Shorter Than Juan, But She is Taller than Ed. Sandra is Shorter than Juan, and She is Shorter than Ed
• Ethicist: It Would be a Mistake to Say that Just Because Someone is Inclined to do Otherwise