In their Search for Mayan Ruins in the Jungles of Guatemala, Archaeologists have been Unable to Utilize Satellite Imagery

Question: In their search for Mayan ruins in the jungles of Guatemala, archaeologists have been unable to utilize satellite imagery, which is taken by satellites that orbit 500 or more kilometers above the Earth's surface and cannot penetrate the dense tree canopy of the jungles. However, using new infrared imaging technology, which translates heat signatures into distinct colors, archaeologists have recently been able to discern some Mayan ruins in photographs taken from helicopters flown just above the tree canopy. If scientists can equip satellites with this new infrared imaging technology, the discovery of Mayan ruins in the jungles of Guatemala will surely be expedited.

The conclusion above logically depends on each of the following assumptions EXCEPT:

1. All of the Mayan ruins in the jungles of Guatemala have not already been discovered.
2. The new infrared imaging technology is compatible with satellites currently used to photograph the Earth from space.
3. Some of the heat signatures of undiscovered Mayan ruins in the jungles of Guatemala are different from those of the surrounding jungle.
4. The effectiveness of the new infrared imaging technology is not limited to photographs taken at heights just above the tree canopy.
5. Funds will be available to cover the cost of launching at least one satellite with the new infrared imaging technology into orbit.

In their Search for Mayan Ruins in the Jungles of Guatemala, Archaeologists have been Unable to Utilize Satellite Imagery – is a topic of GMAT critical Reasoning. This GMAT Critical Reasoning topic has been taken from the book ‘501 GMAT Questions’. In this question, the candidates need to provide an option that does not support the argument provided in the passage. GMAT critical reasoning tests the logical and analytical skills of the candidates. Critical reasoning in GMAT 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:

The conclusion is stated in the last sentence of the passage: "If scientists can equip satellites with this new infrared imaging technology, the discovery of Mayan ruins in the jungles of Guatemala will surely be expedited."

Why does the author believe that this will expedite the discovery of Mayan ruins?

• Satellite images, which are taken by satellites that orbit 500 or more kilometers above the Earth's surface, cannot penetrate the dense tree canopy of the jungles. From this, we can understand that if it would happen, it would speed up the discovery of Mayan ruins.
• Sattelite images cannot be used to expedite the discovery of Mayan ruins, BUT archaeologists have recently been able to discern Mayan ruins in photographs taken from helicopters flown ABOVE the canopy. This was possible using new infrared imaging technology.
• So, we can't use satellite imagery because it can't penetrate the canopy. We have a new technology that can penetrate the canopy, at least from just above the canopy.
  Now the question comes: Can the same technology when used with satellites that orbit 500 or more kilometers above the Earth's surface, penetrate the canopy?

The conclusion above logically depends on each of the following assumptions EXCEPT:

1. Incorrect - if all the Mayan ruins have already been discovered then even the addition of a satellite will not make a difference.
2. Correct - If the new technology isn't compatible with the satellites, how can we use it to take satellite images that penetrate the canopy? We might need to employ new/different satellites to take advantage of the new technology, but that would not conflict with the author's argument. Choice (B) is not a required assumption. So we will keep this as the closest option till now. If Infrared technology is not compatible then it will not help in discovering the ruins and the conclusion will not hold. 
3. Incorrect - If all heat signatures of undiscovered Mayans is the same as those of other forests then Infrared technology cannot help find Mayan ruin.
4. Incorrect - If Infrared is only effective only for photos taken at certain height then any modification will not help improve the process of finding ruins
5. Incorrect - conclusion includes a condition that if scientists can equip the satellites along with Infrared, thus the argument is not assuming that it will be the case. If the funds are not available, affects the conclusion that satellites will improve the process. So we can eliminate this.
   
   Hence B is the correct answer. 

Suggested GMAT Critical reasoning Questions

• According To a Survey of Graduating Medical Students Conducted by Association of American Medical College
• Time management techniques have regularly been used to improve employee productivity in many organizations.
• Engineer: I've noticed that the builders are mixing 10% more than the regular amount of chemical hardener
• According to a consumer research group survey, the majority of kitchen appliances purchased in the United States are purchased by men.
• Secret passwords are often used to control access to computers.
• A series of experiments was conducted in which rats of various ages
• Company A and Company B both produce gold watches.
• Working professionals aged between 35 and 45 are more likely to purchase the latest gadgets
• The federal government expects hospitals to perform 10,000 organ transplants next year.
• Of all of the surgeons practicing at the city hospital, the chief surgeon has the worst record
• The pioneers of the teaching of science imagined that its introduction into education would remove the conventionality, artificiality, and backward-lookingness
• Until recently most astronomers believed that the space between the galaxies in our universe was a near-perfect vacuum
• Seeking a competitive advantage, some professional service firms
• Because no employee wants to be associated with bad news in the eyes of a superior
• Josh has twenty years of typing experience behind him
• Seeking a Competitive Advantage, Some Professional Service Firms
• Between 1980 and 2000 the sea otter population of the Aleutian Islands declined precipitously.
• Few of the corporate contributions to the earthquake relief fund, aside from Pterocom
• The Marison County Police Department recently implemented a new traffic safety program
• Doctors in Britain have long suspected that patients who wear tinted eyeglasses are abnormally prone to depression and hypochondria.