Question

Read the passage carefully and answer the following question.
One theory of accidents is what experts call the Swiss Cheese model. A slab of Swiss cheese hasseveral holes, randomly and unevenly distributed over its surface. If several slabs are stackedtogether, it would be impossible for something to slip through unless all the holes happen to lineup.
If even one slab doesn’t align, the impending catastrophe will meet a layer of resistance, and theworst is averted. Aviation professionals will tell you that plane crashes never happen for a singlereason. There may be an identifiable primary factor, but it’s usually a chain of events, an array of circumstances neatly piling up.
Which of the following statements can be BEST concluded from the passage?

• A. Averting catastrophe is actually easier than it seems.
• B. A catastrophe can be averted if the preceding array of events meets resistance.
• C. Any disaster is a culmination of many events happening in a particular order.
• D. Accidents cannot be averted since a chain of events have to be averted to avert accidents.
• E. Any historically relevant event is an accident because it involves a chain of preceding events.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

To determine the best conclusion from the passage provided, we need to carefully analyze the content and the core message conveyed by the passage.

The passage uses the analogy of the Swiss Cheese model to describe the occurrence and prevention of accidents. According to this model, accidents occur due to a series of events or circumstances aligning perfectly, similar to holes in multiple slices of Swiss cheese aligning to allow passage through the entire block. If any of these holes do not align, the catastrophe is prevented by a layer of resistance.

Let's analyze each option given:

1. Averting catastrophe is actually easier than it seems. - This option suggests that preventing disasters is simple, which is not the primary message of the passage. The passage does not explicitly claim that prevention is easy, only that misalignments in events can prevent a disaster.
2. A catastrophe can be averted if the preceding array of events meets resistance. - This option accurately reflects the main point of the passage. It highlights that if any part of the sequence of events that might lead to an accident is interrupted, the disaster is prevented. This aligns with the Swiss Cheese model explanation given in the passage.
3. Any disaster is a culmination of many events happening in a particular order. - Although this statement is true to some extent, it does not capture the core prevention aspect emphasized by the passage, which is the potential for averting disasters.
4. Accidents cannot be averted since a chain of events have to be averted to avert accidents. - This statement contradicts the passage's message, which provides a hopeful outlook on the prevention of accidents through disruption of event sequences.
5. Any historically relevant event is an accident because it involves a chain of preceding events. - This is not supported by the passage. The passage speaks specifically about accidents and not about historically relevant events in general.

The most appropriate conclusion from the passage is: A catastrophe can be averted if the preceding array of events meets resistance.

Answer 2

The passage explains the Swiss Cheese model of accidents. Each slab of cheese represents a barrier or safety measure, while the holes represent weaknesses or errors. A catastrophe (like a plane crash) occurs only when the holes in all slabs line up perfectly, meaning all barriers fail simultaneously. 
Thus:

• Accidents are rarely due to one single cause, but rather a chain of multiple events aligning in an unfortunate way.
• If even one barrier (slab) does its job — i.e., does not align — the catastrophe is prevented.
• Hence, the key conclusion is that resistance at any stage in the chain of events can avert the disaster.

Therefore, the best conclusion is Option (2). 

\[ \boxed{\text{A catastrophe can be averted if the preceding array of events meets resistance.}} \]