Superconductors are Substances that Conduct Electricity GMAT Critical Reasoning

Question: Superconductors are substances that conduct electricity without resistance at low temperatures. Their use, however, will never be economically feasible, unless there is a substance that superconductors at a temperature above minus 148 degrees Celsius. If there is such a substance, that substance must be an alloy of niobium and germanium. Unfortunately, such alloys are superconductors at temperatures no higher than minus 160 degrees Celsius.

If the statements above are true, which one of the following must also be true?

1. The use of superconductors will never be economically feasible.
2. If the alloys of niobium and germanium do not superconductor at temperatures above minus 148 degrees Celsius, then there are other substances that will do so.
3. The use of superconductors could be economically feasible if there is a substance that superconducting at temperatures below minus 148 degrees Celsius.
4. Alloys of niobium and germanium do not superconductor at temperatures below minus 160 degrees Celsius.
5. No use of alloys of niobium and germanium will ever be economically feasible.

“Superconductors are substances that conduct electricity”- is a GMAT critical reasoning topic. This GMAT critical comes with five options and candidates need to choose the one which is correct. GMAT critical reasoning tests the logical and analytical skills of the candidates. To answer the question, a candidate can either find a piece of evidence that would weaken the argument or have logical flaws in the argument.  Candidates get 65 minutes to answer 36 MCQ questions in the critical reasoning section of the GMAT.

Answer: A
Explanation: This is a GMAT critical reasoning question. An assumption is an implied hypothesis. So we are looking for something that is implied in the argument. In case it is wrong or maybe disable the argument.

The statement states -

Superconductors are substances that conduct electricity without resistance at low temperatures. Their use, however, will never be economically feasible, unless there is a substance that superconductors at a temperature above minus 148 degrees Celsius. If there is such a substance, that substance must be an alloy of niobium and germanium. Unfortunately, such alloys are superconductors at temperatures no higher than minus 160 degrees Celsius.

If the statements above are true, which one of the following must also be true?

(A) The use of superconductors will never be economically feasible.
(B) If the alloys of niobium and germanium do not superconductor at temperatures above minus 148 degrees Celsius, then there are other substances that will do so.
(C) The use of superconductors could be economically feasible if there is a substance that superconducts at temperatures below minus 148 degrees Celsius.
(D) Alloys of niobium and germanium do not superconductor at temperatures below minus 160 degrees Celsius.
(E) No use of alloys of niobium and germanium will ever be economically feasible.

The only substances that could possibly fulfil the necessary condition (superconducting above minus 148 Celsius) are alloys of niobium and germanium. The last sentence tells us cannot superconductor at temperatures any higher than minus 160. If niobium and germanium alloys can’t superconductor above minus 160, they certainly can’t superconductor above minus 148, which triggers our contrapositive. We can conclude then that superconductors can’t be economically feasible, which is exactly what (A) says.

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