Passage Summary: To get a grant, your application must arrive by October 1st. Since mail can take as long as ten days, the author claims you must send it ten days early to have a chance.

Conclusion: Mary must mail her application at least ten days before October 1st to be considered for the grant.

Reasoning: Applications are due by October 1st, and regular mail from Mary's location can take up to ten days to arrive.

Analysis: The author is confusing a 'worst-case scenario' with a 'necessary requirement.' While it is true that mail *could* take ten days, the stimulus admits this is the maximum time, not the standard time. If the mail happens to arrive in two days, Mary could mail it much later and still be considered. Look for an answer that identifies this shift from a possibility to an absolute necessity.