A company plans to develop a prototype weeding machine that

I believe D should be the answer, and here is why

The argument states that the machine will be able to distinguish plants from weeds solely on the differences in the shade of color. D states that plants can be bred to have a distinct shade of color. This means that a plant can be bred with a distinct shade of color that is completely different from that of the weeds. Thus, this development will favor the development of this machine.

I have chosen D for this question:

It sounds like nobody posted the OA - it is D. This question is #51 in Verbal 2nd Edition.

This passage states that an inventor created a machine that would replace manual weeding, thereby reducing the labor costs.

A. This would actually weaken the argument. The reason is because if there is a large degree of variation in shade of color between weeds, it would be very tough for the machine to differentiate.

B. Again, this weakens the argument. If the color of some plants change over the course of the season, this would make it difficult for the machine to differentiate between a plant and a weed.

C. This describes something that the machine would not be able to do. Therefore, it weakens the argument.

D. This would support the argument. The reason is because manipulation of plants to a certain shade of color would allow the machine to be much more efficient. For example, if we manipulated the plants to be only dark green, then it becomes much easier for the machine to differentiate between plants and weeds.

E. This statement is irrelevant. Also, it suggests that labor costs would not be reduced because there are other agricultural duties that require attending.

A company plans to develop a prototype weeding machine that uses cutting blades with optical sensors and
microprocessors that distinguish weeds from crop plants by differences in shade of color. The inventor of the
machine claims that it will reduce labor costs by virtually eliminating the need for manual weeding.

Which of the following is a consideration in favor of the company’s implementing its plan to develop the prototype?

(A) There is a considerable degree of variation in shade of color between weeds of different species.
(B) The shade of color of some plants tends to change appreciably over the course of their growing season.
(C) When crops are weeded manually, overall size and leaf shape are taken into account in distinguishing crop
plants from weeds.
(D) Selection and genetic manipulation allow plants of virtually any species to be economically bred to have a
distinctive shade of color without altering their other characteristics.
(E) Farm laborers who are responsible for the manual weeding of crops carry out other agricultural duties at
times in the growing season when extensive weeding is not necessary.

I wanted to ask about the role of choice E.
" farm ppl who are responsible for manual weeding work on other agricultural activities during the season when extensive weeding is not required.This could mean 2 things:
a) they have other activities that they can perform during the weeding season . Instead of manually weeding out the weeds, they can perform these other activities. So, the cost of hiring the others for these activities can be saved.

b ) these activities that farm labourers responsible for weeding perform during the season when weeding is not required can only be performed during that particular season. If so, the farm labourers can be relieved during the actual weeding season,thus saving on the costs.

explanation in OG vr2 says : This does not favor the company’s implementing the plan to develop the machine. There would
still be tasks other than weeding that would require hiring staff . Thus there would still be labor
costs even if the need for manual weeding were eliminated"

Its not actually a strengthen question. It asks us to choose an option that supports the implementation of the plan by the company. The company's plan is to develop the prototype not to reduce labour costs.
Hence the option we are seeking should say,"Ok, its good to go ahead with the plan."
Now just look at D) which says "selection and genetic manipulation allow plants of virtually any species to be economically bred to have a distinctive shade of color without altering their other characteristics".
The machine operates by first distinguishing the color and then cutting the weeds which have a different shade.
Option D) clearly helps us to believe that if distinctive shade of color is possible without altering any other characteristics then the machine can very much be put to use. Hence the company should go ahead with its plan to develop the machine.
If this explanation helps please do not hesitate to give me kudos.

Reasoning: a prototype with optical sensors and microprocessors can distinguish weeds from crop plants by differences in shade of color.

Prethinking:
--> So, the bigger the diff. in shade of color between weeds and crop, the easier it will be for a mashine to distinguish between them.
--> fewer colors of weeds > many colors for the mashine to ba able to distinguish between weeds and crop.

Question Type: Strengthen --> so, new information is appreciated here

Which of the following is a consideration in favor of the company's implementing its plan to develop the prototype?

A. There is a considerable degree of variation in shade of color between weeds of different species --> weakens the argument - see the reasoning stated above
B. The shade of color of some plants tends to change appreciably over the course of their growing season --> is it easier for mashine to make a distinction it this case ? NO.
C. When crops are weeded manually, overall size and leaf shape are taken into account in distinguishing crop plants from weeds --> irrelevant. We are concerned about the shade of color. Actually, it's a weakener.... more factors that must be distiguished by the mashine.
D. Selection and genetic manipulation allow plants of virtually any species to be economically bred to have a distinctive shade of color without altering their other characteristics --> CORRECT. Distinctive shade of color makes it easier for the mashine to make such distinction.
E. Farm laborers who are responsible for the manual weeding of crops carry out other agricultural duties at times in the growing season when extensive weeding is not necessary --> irrelevat. "Zero" information about the mashines and a distinction....

GMATNinja VeritasPrepKarishma

I would like to know what is it that a student misses to get to OA
in such HARD questions apart from skimming through the argument.

Goal of plan: To develop a prototype that makes clear difference between weeds and plants on basis of differences in shades of color.

Q type: I need to strengthen the implementation of above plan.


Nope we need to chop off weeds from plants, different types of weeds are not my areas of concern


It says shades of some plants change drastically ie in a large extent during the span of their growth.
So it does help new prototype machine to chop of plants from weeds.


No mention how difference in color is useful in chopping off plants from weeds.


As per me, the biggest reason missing out on this is: no mention of automatic weeding machine in OA, but I had to infer fair amount
of understanding from argument to link how selection and genetic changing of almost a large number of plants to allow to have
an unique shade of color of each plant from one another . At least I could not infer to such an understanding level under time pressure.
What is the correct way of approach here?


Totally out of scope

As you mentioned, the key is being able to differentiate between weeds and plants based ONLY on differences in shade of color.

All we know from (B) is that some plants will change color. We don't know whether that will make it easier or harder for the machine to differentiate between weeds and plants. It might somehow make it easier but it also might not (i.e. perhaps the machine will have a hard time keeping track of the plants if their colors are constantly changing). Without further information, we can't tell whether (B) would hurt or help, so it must be eliminated.

(D) specifically tells us that we could use selection and genetic manipulation to give virtually ANY plant a a distinctive (i.e. unique) shade of color. If every plant has a distinctive color, then it will be easy for the machine to identify the plants based on color alone. This clearly helps, so (D) is the best answer.


Sakshij0694, sorry for the delay...

(A) only talks about the color variation among weeds, not the color variation between weeds and plants.

(A) only tells us that there is wide range of colors among weeds. That does not necessarily mean that the weeds colors are all distinctive and easy to differentiate (i.e. there still might be several shades close to purple, several shades close to orange, several shades close to green, etc.). In other words, having a wide range does not necessarily mean that weeds can be divided into a few discrete, easily separable color groups.

More importantly, it doesn't tell us anything about weeds vs plants. Is it easy to differentiate the weeds from the plants? Maybe the wide range of weed colors actually makes the machine's job harder... if there is a wide range of weed colors and a wide range of plant colors, the machine might not be able to tell which is which. We might have red, blue, and black weeds and also red, blue, and black plants. This would obviously make it harder for the machine.

I hope that helps!

Official Answer:



Evaluation of a Plan

Situation A company plans to develop an automated weeding machine that would distinguish weeds from crop plants by differences in shade of color. It is supposed to reduce labor costs by eliminating the need for manual weeding.

Reasoning Which option describes a consideration that would favor the company's plan? The passage supports the plan by claiming that the machine would reduce labor costs by virtually eliminating weeding by hand. The correct option will be one that adds to this support. Labor costs will be reduced only if the machine works well. The machine relies on shade of color to distinguish between weeds and crop plants. If crop plants can be bred to have distinctive color without sacrificing other qualities, it would be more likely that the machine could be used effectively.

Option D is Correct. Making crop plants easily distinguishable from weeds would facilitate the effective use of the weeding machine.

Why are A, B, C & E wrong?

A- Greater variation among weed plants would make it more difficult for the machine to distinguish between weeds and crop plants, and this would make it less likely that the machine would be effective.

B- This option tends to disfavor the effectiveness of the machine. The more changeable the colors of the plants to be distinguished, the more complex the task of distinguishing between weeds and crop plants based on their color.

C- This option tends to disfavor the likely benefits of the machine because it indicates that manual weeding distinguishes weeds from crop plants by using criteria that the machine does not take into account. If the machine does not distinguish weeds from crop plants as accurately and reliably as manual weeding does, then the machine is less apt to make manual weeding unnecessary.

E- This does not favor the company's implementing the plan to develop the machine. There would still be tasks other than weeding that would require hiring staff. Thus there would still be labor costs even if the need for manual weeding were eliminated.

nightblade354
Although D is the viable option here, i think we have to bring certain assumptions while answering this question.
Assumption A- The crops are genetically modified
B- That the crops would be genetically modified
I call these assumptions because nothing of this sort " Selection and genetic manipulation allow plants of virtually any species to be economically bred" is mentioned in the passage.
The plan should be developed on the basis of current situation not on the basis of what could be or what might be.
Whats your take on this and how would you approach such a question.

Remember what we are trying to strengthen: That we are creating a product that will be viable by eliminating plants through their color. If we can modify any plant, then our machine would work. The statement absolutely strengthens the idea that we CAN create a tool that will be in demand and work. We are not looking for an airtight argument here; we are simply looking for the possibility that our plan can work.

This question is a Strengthen the Argument kind of question.

The conclusion of the argument is that the machine will reduce labor costs by virtually eliminating the need for manual weeding. The passage also provides the information that the machine has optical sensors and microprocessors on its blades that help to distinguish weeds from plants by differences in shades of colors.

Option A only talks about variation in the colors of weeds of different species. This option doesn’t add any information about how the machine will be helpful by distinguishing between plants and weeds. So, Option A can be eliminated.

If the shades of colors of some plants change over the season, the machine may not be able to use color to distinguish between weeds and plants. This option may actually weaken the argument by showing that the machine may not reduce manual labor, so Option B can be eliminated.

Option C also shows a reason that the machine may not reduce manual labor. It adds a factor in distinguishing between plants and weeds that is not mentioned in connection with the machine. So, Option C also may weaken the option and thus can be eliminated.

Option E provides information that is completely unrelated to whether the machine will reduce manual labor by distinguishing between plants and weeds on the basis of color. So, Option E can be eliminated.

If plants can be bred to have a distinctive color and the machine distinguishes between plants and weeds on the basis of color, the machine could definitely help reduce manual labor. Therefore, D provides information that could help to strengthen the idea of implementing the plan to develop the prototype.

Jayanthi Kumar.

KarishmaB GMATNinja

B. The shade of color of some plants tends to change appreciably over the course of their growing season.
D. Selection and genetic manipulation allow plants of virtually any species to be economically bred to have a distinctive shade of color without altering their other characteristics.

In B, the shade of color of plants may change to same color or a very different color. So this statement can strengthen or weaken the argument. We don't have enough info to conclude.
Similarly, In D, Genetic manipulation allow us to give a particular shade. The shade can be same or different than weed. It will strengthen or weaken depending on the extra info.

Why B is incorrect & D is correct?

Thanks in advance!

Here's what the passage says about how the weeding machine works.

It uses "optical sensors and microprocessors that distinguish weeds from crop plants by differences in shade of color."

We can see that, if anything, (B) is a weakener because, if the colors of plants change, then it's possible that the machine will be confused by the changes of color.


(D) is different from (B) since (D) indicates that plant colors can be made "distinctive." In other words, plant colors can be chosen or controlled. If plant colors can be made distinctive (clearly different), then we are even more convinced that the machine will be useful since we are more convinced that it will be able to tell the differences between plants.

I understand that this question asks about the plan, and the plan is to develop a high-tech weeding machine. However, I feel in other critical reasoning questions, the answers put equal weights on the plan and the purpose of the plan. e.g. The government plans to widen roads to reduce traffic, and therefore all options re cost / revenue are deemed irrelevant.

In this questions though, the purpose of the plan is clearly stated as to reduce the labour cost - this has not been mentioned at all in option D. The only option that explains why new tech can help reduce labour cost is option E (farmers are expected to spend less time on doing farming activities overall because of the new tech).

Can someone please help explain?:(

vivhlu


It's in no way necessary for the correct answer to directly address the final goal. If the answer has bearing on whether the plan can be carried out, then it's relevant. If the plan isn't feasible, then we can't save weeding costs by implementing it. D helps assure us that the plan can actually work.

As for E, we'd have to tell ourselves quite a tale to make it relevant to this particular proposal. This answer just tells us what laborers do the rest of the year, and we don't need to know that. We don't even need to know whether they are employed at all during times when no weeding is required.

Why is E incorrect? If the farm laborers are free to do other things because the weed removal is taken care of, doesn't that support the use of the machine?

Here's (E).

E. Farm laborers who are responsible for the manual weeding of crops carry out other agricultural duties at times in the growing season when extensive weeding is not necessary.

Yes, we can see from what this choice says that use of the machine would result in farm laborers being freed up to do things other than weeding, but the passage already says that "The inventor of the machine claims that it will reduce labor costs by virtually eliminating the need for manual weeding." So, we already basically have reason to believe that laborers would be freed up to do other things, IF the machine works.

After all, if labor is normally involved in weeding, then clearly the use of a weeding machine will free up laborers to do other things. We don't need this choice to know that that outcome would result.

What really must be addressed to determine whether it makes sense to develop the prototype are the questions of whether the machine works and whether using it would result in a reduction in the need for manual labor, and this choice does not address those questions.