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A certain cultivated herb is one of a group of closely related plants
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Updated on: 15 Jun 2018, 09:11
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85% (hard)
Question Stats:
42% (01:57) correct 58% (02:02) wrong based on 89 sessions
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Which of the following most logically completes the argument?
A certain cultivated herb is one of a group of closely related plants that thrive in soil with high concentrations of metals that are toxic to most other plants. Agronomists studying the herb have discovered that it produces large amounts of histidine, an amino acid that, in test-tube solutions, renders these metals chemically inert. Possibly, therefore, the herb's high histidine production is what allows it to grow in metal-rich soils, a hypothesis that would gain support if ______.
A. histidine is found in all parts of the plant-roots, stem, leaves, and flowers
B. the herb's high level of histidine production is found to be associated with an unusually low level of production of other amino acids
C. others of the closely related group of plants are also found to produce histidine in large quantities
D. cultivation of the herb in soil with high concentrations of the metals will, over an extended period, make the soil suitable for plants to which the metals are toxic
E. the concentration of histidine in the growing herb declines as the plant approaches maturity
Re: A certain cultivated herb is one of a group of closely related plants
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14 Jun 2018, 12:42
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The stated hypothesis is that the herb is able to grow because it produces H that renders the metals inactive. Anything that supports that the the plant actually renders the metals inactive will strengthen the hypothesis.
Only D states that after a period of time the same soil becomes suitable for growth for other plants which were not able to grow previously due to the metals in the soil. This fact proves that the extended period of growth of that herb must have made the metals in the soil inactive and therefore suitable for other plants to grow.
Re: A certain cultivated herb is one of a group of closely related plants
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Updated on: 15 Jun 2018, 05:52
siddreal wrote:
Which of the following most logically completes the argument?
A certain cultivated herb is one of a group of closely related plants that thrive in soil with high concentrations of metals that are toxic to most other plants. Agronomists studying the herb have discovered that it produces large amounts of histidine, an amino acid that, in test-tube solutions, renders these metals chemically inert. Possibly, therefore, the herb's high histidine production is what allows it to grow in metal-rich soils, a hypothesis that would gain support if ______.
A. histidine is found in all parts of the plant-roots, stem, leaves, and flowers
B. the herb's high level of histidine production is found to be associated with an unusually low level of production of other amino acids
C. others of the closely related group of plants are also found to produce histidine in large quantities
D. cultivation of the herb in soil with high concentrations of the metals will, over an extended period, make the soil suitable for plants to which the metals are toxic
E. the concentration of histidine in the growing herb declines as the plant approaches maturity
This is a CAUSAL argument. In a causal argument, A and B are observed together, and the CR concludes that A CAUSES B.
Premise = A and B are observed together: A cultivated herb produces histidine and is able to grow in metal rich soils. Conclusion = A causes B: Histidine CAUSES the herb to be able to grow in metal rich soils.
One way to strengthen the conclusion that A causes B is give ANOTHER SUPPORTING EXAMPLE that links A to B. C: others of the closely related group of plants are also found to produce histidine in large quantities. Here, other plants in the closely related group THAT THRIVE IN SOIL WITH HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF METALS also produce HISTIDINE, STRENGTHENING the conclusion that histidine CAUSES a plant to be able to grow in metal-rich soils.
The posted OA is incorrect. The OA to the CR above is virtually the same as the OA to CR644 in the OG18:
Quote:
A certain cultivated herb is one of a group of closely related plants that thrive in soil with high concentrations of metals that are toxic to most other plants. Agronomists studying the growth of this herb have discovered that it produces large amounts of histidine, an amino acid that, in test‐tube solutions, renders these metals chemically inert. Hence, the herb’s high histidine production must be the key feature that allows it to grow in metal‐rich soils.
In evaluating the argument, it would be most important to determine which of the following?
A) Whether the herb can thrive in soil that does not have high concentrations of the toxic metals B) Whether others of the closely related group of plants also produce histidine in large quantities C) Whether the herb’s high level of histidine production is associated with an unusually low level of production of some other amino acid D) Whether growing the herb in soil with high concentrations of the metals will, over time, reduce their concentrations in the soil E) Whether the concentration of histidine in the growing herb declines as the plant approaches maturity”
GMAT and GRE Tutor Over 1800 followers Click here to learn more GMATGuruNY@gmail.com New York, NY If you find one of my posts helpful, please take a moment to click on the "Kudos" icon. Available for tutoring in NYC and long-distance. For more information, please email me at GMATGuruNY@gmail.com.
Originally posted by GMATGuruNY on 15 Jun 2018, 05:27.
Last edited by GMATGuruNY on 15 Jun 2018, 05:52, edited 1 time in total.
Re: A certain cultivated herb is one of a group of closely related plants
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15 Jun 2018, 05:39
GMATGuruNY wrote:
siddreal wrote:
Which of the following most logically completes the argument?
A certain cultivated herb is one of a group of closely related plants that thrive in soil with high concentrations of metals that are toxic to most other plants. Agronomists studying the herb have discovered that it produces large amounts of histidine, an amino acid that, in test-tube solutions, renders these metals chemically inert. Possibly, therefore, the herb's high histidine production is what allows it to grow in metal-rich soils, a hypothesis that would gain support if ______.
A. histidine is found in all parts of the plant-roots, stem, leaves, and flowers
B. the herb's high level of histidine production is found to be associated with an unusually low level of production of other amino acids
C. others of the closely related group of plants are also found to produce histidine in large quantities
D. cultivation of the herb in soil with high concentrations of the metals will, over an extended period, make the soil suitable for plants to which the metals are toxic
E. the concentration of histidine in the growing herb declines as the plant approaches maturity
This is a CAUSAL argument. In a causal argument, A and B are observed together, and the CR concludes that A CAUSES B.
Premise = A and B are observed together: A cultivated herb produces histidine and is able to grow in metal rich soils. Conclusion = A causes B: Histidine CAUSES the herb to be able to grow in metal rich soils.
One way to strengthen the conclusion that A causes B is give ANOTHER SUPPORTING EXAMPLE that links A to B. C: others of the closely related group of plants are also found to produce histidine in large quantities. Here, other plants in the closely related group THAT THRIVE IN SOIL WITH HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF METALS also produce HISTIDINE, STRENGTHENING the conclusion that histidine CAUSES a plant to be able to grow in metal-rich soils.
The posted OA is incorrect. The OA to the CR above is virtually the same as the OA to CR644 in the OG18:
Quote:
A certain cultivated herb is one of a group of closely related plants that thrive in soil with high concentrations of metals that are toxic to most other plants. Agronomists studying the growth of this herb have discovered that it produces large amounts of histidine, an amino acid that, in test‐tube solutions, renders these metals chemically inert. Hence, the herb’s high histidine production must be the key feature that allows it to grow in metal‐rich soils.
In evaluating the argument, it would be most important to determine which of the following?
A) Whether the herb can thrive in soil that does not have high concentrations of the toxic metals B) Whether others of the closely related group of plants also produce histidine in large quantities Whether the herb’s high level of histidine production is associated with an unusually low level of production C) of some other amino acid D) Whether growing the herb in soil with high concentrations of the metals will, over time, reduce their concentrations in the soil E) Whether the concentration of histidine in the growing herb declines as the plant approaches maturity”
I agree with your answer. In fact, that is the answer I had in mind. But when I saw the solution to the question, it was not at all convincing. I tried to search it on all gmat platforms, but did not find the exact question posted anywhere (though similar ones are there). Did not even have a OA for same. Later Bunuel added the OA which was in line with the solution provided by the first respond received here urvashis09. I believe that the herb renders the metals inert in the vicinity of the plant, the herb may not make the complete soil in the area suitable for growth of other plants.
Re: A certain cultivated herb is one of a group of closely related plants
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15 Jun 2018, 06:19
siddreal wrote:
I agree with your answer. In fact, that is the answer I had in mind. But when I saw the solution to the question, it was not at all convincing. I tried to search it on all gmat platforms, but did not find the exact question posted anywhere (though similar ones are there). Did not even have a OA for same. Later Bunuel added the OA which was in line with the solution provided by the first respond received here urvashis09. I believe that the herb renders the metals inert in the vicinity of the plant, the herb may not make the complete soil in the area suitable for growth of other plants.
To what solution does the phrase in red refer? Regardless, the only opinion that truly matters is GMAC's. Given the OA to CR644 in the OG18, the OA to the CR above must be C.
D: Cultivation of the herb in soil with high concentrations of the metals will, over an extended period, make the soil suitable for plants to which the metals are toxic. Here, it is unclear HOW cultivation of the herb makes the soil suitable for other plants. The soil could become suitable for any number of reasons. To strengthen the conclusion, the correct answer must connect a high production of HISTIDINE to the ability to grow in metal-rich soil. Only C accomplishes this goal. Eliminate D.
_________________
GMAT and GRE Tutor Over 1800 followers Click here to learn more GMATGuruNY@gmail.com New York, NY If you find one of my posts helpful, please take a moment to click on the "Kudos" icon. Available for tutoring in NYC and long-distance. For more information, please email me at GMATGuruNY@gmail.com.
Re: A certain cultivated herb is one of a group of closely related plants
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07 Jul 2018, 10:46
A certain cultivated herb is one of a group of closely related plants that thrive in soil with high concentrations of metals that are toxic to most other plants. Agronomists studying the herb have discovered that it produces large amounts of histidine, an amino acid that, in test-tube solutions, renders these metals chemically inert. Possibly, therefore, the herb's high histidine production is what allows it to grow in metal-rich soils, a hypothesis that would gain support if ______.
The passage mentions that the specific herb they are speaking of is part of a closely related group, therefore if "others of the closely related group of plants are also found to produce histidine in large quantities" you can logically complete the stated hypothesis
C is the answer
gmatclubot
Re: A certain cultivated herb is one of a group of closely related plants &nbs
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07 Jul 2018, 10:46
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42% (01:57) correct 
