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1. "Gulf Oil Rig Plagued by Problems, Probe Finds - CBS News." //Breaking News Headlines: Business, Entertainment & World News - CBS News//. 12 May 2010. Web. 21 Feb. 2011. . 2. Where does the author work, what else has s/he written about, and what are her/his credentials? There was no author published with this article.

3. What is the main topic or argument of the text? The main topic of this text is pointing the blame of the BP oil spill towards different factors and companies. This includes several mechanical as well as internal factors relating to BP.

4. Describe at least three ways that the main topic or argument is fleshed out. Three ways that the main argument is fleshed out is through research done by Transocean, who owned the drilling rig. There is also, which seems to be a recurring problem on oil rigs in general, a blowout preventer malfunction. Although it was supposed to be “fail-safe,” it never shut off the oil flow because of design flaws. In addition, pipe pressure tests were coincidentally not viewed as a threat by the workers on board.

5. What three quotes capture the critical import of the text? “BP documents show this blowout preventer had design flaws, leaks in its hydraulic system, and a dead battery in its control pod.” “’Significant pressure discrepancies were observed in at least two of these tests, which were conducted just hours before the explosion…’” “Bad wiring and a leak in what's supposed to be a "blowout preventer." Sealing problems that may have allowed a methane eruption. Even a dead battery, of all things.” 6. Explain how the argument and evidence in the text supports your research focus. The argument and evidence in the text supports my research focus of the mechanical failures of the oil platform is shown by the investigations done by Transocean as well as BP themselves. They found failures in the blowout preventer which had sealing issues as well as a dead battery. In addition, there is some speculation that the cement at the base of the well was not the proper mixture when it was formed during construction.

7. List at least two details or references from the text that will be useful to other members of your research group. a) “The documents [found by lawmakers] established the firmest evidence to date of the sequence of catastrophic events that led to the explosion and worsening spill, a series of failures more reminiscent of the loss of the space shuttle Challenger than the wreck of the Exxon Valdez.” b) “[When asked about the test] Steven Newman, president of Transocean, which owned the drilling rid, and Lamar McKay, president of BP America told the committee pressure readings were worrisome”