12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition - Day 9: Agricultural Expert

Question

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Agricultural Expert: A report claims that the widespread use of chemical fertilizers in Grainland has led to a decrease in soil quality, citing a study that found lower levels of essential nutrients in the soil. However, this claim overlooks key factors. First, Grainland has seen a significant increase in organic farming, which does not use chemical fertilizers. Second, recent advancements in farming techniques have led to more efficient nutrient usage by crops. Furthermore, the same period saw an increase in crop yield per hectare, suggesting an improvement in overall soil fertility.

In this passage, the agricultural expert attempts to counter the report's argument by:

(A) proposing alternative factors that might have led to the observed decrease in soil nutrients.

(B) suggesting that the report's methodology in assessing soil quality is flawed.

(C) arguing that the increase in crop yield is a more reliable indicator of soil quality than nutrient levels.

(D) highlighting advancements in farming techniques that contradict the report's claim about soil quality.

(E) presenting a trend that directly opposes the report's conclusion about the impact of chemical fertilizers on soil quality.

Bunuel · Accepted Answer

GMAT Club's Official Explanation:

(A) Proposing alternative factors that might have led to the observed decrease in soil nutrients.
 - The agricultural expert introduces two key alternative explanations: the increase in organic farming (which doesn't use chemical fertilizers) and advancements in farming techniques leading to more efficient nutrient usage. These points suggest other reasons for the observed changes in soil nutrient levels, directly challenging the report's claim that links these changes to the use of chemical fertilizers. This is the best match for the expert's approach in the passage.

(B) Suggesting that the report's methodology in assessing soil quality is flawed.
 - The expert does not directly criticize the methodology of the report; rather, they offer different interpretations and additional data.

(C) Arguing that the increase in crop yield is a more reliable indicator of soil quality than nutrient levels.
 - While the expert mentions an increase in crop yield, they do not explicitly state that this is a more reliable indicator of soil quality than nutrient levels. The main thrust of their argument is about alternative explanations for the nutrient levels.

(D) Highlighting advancements in farming techniques that contradict the report's claim about soil quality.
 - While the expert does mention advancements in farming techniques, this is only part of their overall argument and not the sole focus.

(E) Presenting a trend that directly opposes the report's conclusion about the impact of chemical fertilizers on soil quality.
 - The expert does mention increased crop yield, but this is more of an additional point rather than the main argument against the report's conclusion.

Given these analyses, (A) is the most accurate representation of how the agricultural expert counters the report's argument. The expert introduces alternative explanations for the observed decrease in soil nutrients, challenging the direct link made by the report between chemical fertilizer use and decreased soil quality.

vishal_gupta · Answer

Agricultural Expert: A report claims that the widespread use of chemical fertilizers in Grainland has led to a decrease in soil quality, citing a study that found lower levels of essential nutrients in the soil. However, this claim overlooks key factors. First, Grainland has seen a significant increase in organic farming, which does not use chemical fertilizers. Second, recent advancements in farming techniques have led to more efficient nutrient usage by crops. Furthermore, the same period saw an increase in crop yield per hectare, suggesting an improvement in overall soil fertility.

In this passage, the agricultural expert attempts to counter the report's argument by:
 
(A) proposing alternative factors that might have led to the observed decrease in soil nutrients. (Correct. The expert basis to counter the conclusion made in report is that there maybe factors other than chemical fertilizers, which resulted in decrease quality.)

(B) suggesting that the report's methodology in assessing soil quality is flawed. (Expert didn't point out about the methodology.)

(C) arguing that the increase in crop yield is a more reliable indicator of soil quality than nutrient levels. (increase in crop yield is one of several factors of expert argument, but it is not the main point.)

(D) highlighting advancements in farming techniques that contradict the report's claim about soil quality. (advancements in farming techniques is one of several factors of expert argument, but it is not the main point.)

(E) presenting a trend that directly opposes the report's conclusion about the impact of chemical fertilizers on soil quality. (No trends are presented.)

rd1009 · Answer

Agricultural Expert: A report claims that the widespread use of chemical fertilizers in Grainland has led to a decrease in soil quality, citing a study that found lower levels of essential nutrients in the soil. However, this claim overlooks key factors. First, Grainland has seen a significant increase in organic farming, which does not use chemical fertilizers. Second, recent advancements in farming techniques have led to more efficient nutrient usage by crops. Furthermore, the same period saw an increase in crop yield per hectare, suggesting an improvement in overall soil fertility.

In this passage, the agricultural expert attempts to counter the report's argument by:

(A) proposing alternative factors that might have led to the observed decrease in soil nutrients.
 the author argues with presenting alternative factors pitched against the report's conclusion that widespread use of chemical fertilizers in Grainland has led to a decrease in soil quality..the argument highlights (advancements in farming techniques have led to more efficient nutrient usage by crops), and hence the observed decrease in soil nutrients.

(B) suggesting that the report's methodology in assessing soil quality is flawed.
 argument doesn't highlight the limitations in the methodology in assessing soil quality

(C) arguing that the increase in crop yield is a more reliable indicator of soil quality than nutrient levels.
 comparison of reliability is not the focus for agricultural expert's attempts to counter the report's argument

(D) highlighting advancements in farming techniques that contradict the report's claim about soil quality.
 advancements in farming techniques have led to more efficient nutrient usage by crops -- however, this doesn't contradict the report's claim about soil quality; it provides alternative factors for higher nutrient usage by crops

(E) presenting a trend that directly opposes the report's conclusion about the impact of chemical fertilizers on soil quality.
 only alternative factors for lower levels of essential nutrients in the soil presented as part of the argument

(A) is the answer

bv8562 · Answer

Agricultural Expert: A report claims that the widespread use of chemical fertilizers in Grainland has led to a decrease in soil quality, citing a study that found lower levels of essential nutrients in the soil. However, this claim overlooks key factors. First, Grainland has seen a significant increase in organic farming, which does not use chemical fertilizers. Second, recent advancements in farming techniques have led to more efficient nutrient usage by crops. Furthermore, the same period saw an increase in crop yield per hectare, suggesting an improvement in overall soil fertility.

In this passage, the agricultural expert attempts to counter the report's argument by:

(A) proposing alternative factors that might have led to the observed decrease in soil nutrients. (Correct. The expert basis to counter the conclusion made in report is that there maybe factors other than chemical fertilizers, which resulted in decrease quality.)

(B) suggesting that the report's methodology in assessing soil quality is flawed. -  Incorrect. The repost did not use any methodology rather it bases its conclusion on a report.

(C) arguing that the increase in crop yield is a more reliable indicator of soil quality than nutrient levels. -  "increase in crop yield" is mentioned as one of the factors. He did not argue that the increase in crop yield is a more reliable indicator of soil quality than nutrient levels.

(D) highlighting advancements in farming techniques that contradict the report's claim about soil quality. -  "advancements in farming techniques" is mentioned as one of the factors. "advancements in farming techniques" do not contradict the report's claim about soil quality. Even if this is true that advancements in farming techniques have led to more efficient nutrient usage by crops, it could still be true that the overall soil quality has degraded.

(E) presenting a trend that directly opposes the report's conclusion about the impact of chemical fertilizers on soil quality. -  The trend presented does not directly oppose the report's conclusion rather it suggests indirectly that there could be other reasons for lower levels of essential nutrients in the soil.

missionmba2025 · Answer

(A) proposing alternative factors that might have led to the observed decrease in soil nutrients .

The agricultural specialist highlights the rise in organic farming and advancements in agricultural techniques as potential factors contributing to the decline in soil nutrients. Hence let's keep this.

(B) suggesting that the report's methodology in assessing soil quality is flawed.

The agricultural expert refrains from criticizing the methodology of the report. Eliminate.

(C) arguing that the increase in crop yield is a more reliable indicator of soil quality than nutrient levels.

Although the expert acknowledges the escalation in crop yield, they refrain from explicitly asserting it as a more dependable indicator of soil quality. Eliminate

(D) highlighting advancements in farming techniques that contradict the report's claim about soil quality.

While the expert acknowledges advancements in farming techniques, they do not explicitly challenge the report's assertion regarding soil quality. Eliminate

(E) presenting a trend that directly opposes the report's conclusion about the impact of chemical fertilizers on soil quality.

The expert does not put forth a trend that directly contradicts the report's conclusion. Eliminate

IMO A

sj296 · Answer

Bunuel  not satisfied with A's explanation.

How organic farming would have contributed to soil degradation? Organic farming doesn't lead to decreased soil quality.

Also, the expert says in the end that  suggesting an improvement in overall soil fertility. .....So, he is in way refuting the conclusion of the study which says that soil quality has reduced.

Am I missing anything here??

GMATNinja

bb · Answer

Hi. Thank you very much for the question.

Based on this argument, we only know that the study suggests that the reduction of nutrients has contributed to soil quality going down so the soil quality must be measured by the amount of nutrients. When a farmer goes organic and stops using fertilizers, that decreases the nutrients that were artificially added. Let me know if this does not make sense.

Hi. The last sentence is not really needed for the argument. It is only there to make the question harder by throwing something else so I may remove it. However, it does not make the question wrong. In the argument, You are equating soil quality with fertility. There could be reasons for why soil may have high quality but low fertility - e.g. mismatch of crops. E.g. growing oranges in Canada for example or putting the wrong nutrients that the crop does not need, so quality and fertility are not the same per se.

Mahbarbare · Answer

isn't the passage saying that use of fertilizers contributed to a soil with less nutrients. After the passage is saying that organic farming isn't using fertilizers --> which means the soil does not have less nutrients. Hence the study is wrong/flawed

12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition - Day 9: Agricultural Expert

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