KAPLAN OFFICIAL EXPLANATION:

STEP 1: IDENTIFY THE QUESTION TYPE
This is an Evaluation question with a twist: you need to find the one question whose answer would not help you decide whether the grainprocessing company should discard its grain by-products or recycle those products to feed catfish.

STEP 2: UNTANGLE THE STIMULUS
One piece of evidence for success of the plan is that fish with grain byproducts in their diets reach marketable size; this establishes that catfish eat the by-products and grow large enough to be sold. Another piece of evidence is that restaurants want a steady supply of catfish.

STEP 3: PREDICT THE ANSWER
These facts are both promising, but do they make operating a fish farm a better choice than just throwing away the by-products? As with any question that asks you to evaluate a plan, consider other factors that might influence whether the plan is the better choice or feasible at all.

STEP 4: EVALUATE THE CHOICES
(E) is the correct answer because the time it takes for catfish to mature in the wild is irrelevant to whether the company should farm them. Even if catfish mature much more quickly in the wild, they may be difficult to harvest, expensive to transport, or not found in sufficient numbers. Even if they mature much more slowly, they may be less prone to disease and thus be a more reliable supply, or they may taste better. An answer to this question about wild catfish does not help evaluate the plan concerning farmed catfish. With (A), if the costs of operating the fish farm were less than the costs of discarding the by-products, the plan would be more attractive. (B) is an important question that speaks to how much fish the company could sell to earn revenue and offset the costs of running the farm. An answer to (C) would provide information about regulations that could increase the costs and reduce the feasibility of fish farming. Although the author says that some fish fed with grain by-products grow up, it doesn’t say their entire diet is grain by-products. Thus, an answer to (D) would provide information about whether the grain company would need to buy other foods or supplements, making the project more expensive.
_________________

A grain-processing company is considering purchasing a catfish farm in an attempt to reduce waste by using the by-products of its grain processing as fish food. Catfish whose diet includes grain by-products have been found to reach marketable size in five months, and restaurants have expressed interest in having a reliable source for catfish.

The answer to which of the following questions is LEAST directly relevant to the grain-processing company’s consideration of whether fish farming is a preferable alternative to discarding grain byproducts?


(A) How does the cost of discarding grain by-products compare to the operating costs of a fish farm? Incorrect

if cost of discarding grain by-products less than operating costs of a fish farm, it is not preferable

(B) How many pounds of catfish are served by restaurants locally and nationally each year? Correct

it is irrelevant to argument

(C) Are there government regulations that apply to the production and transportation of fish? Incorrect

it affect fish transportation

(D) Do catfish require nutrients not supplied by grain by-products? Incorrect

if not, than it affect fish production and cost

(E) In how many months do wild catfish reach marketable size? Incorrect

it is related with fish farming

Answer: B




Breaking down the argument-
A grain company is considering to buy a catfish farm because catfishes feed on by-product produced from grain processing.
In five months, catfish can reach to marketable size and thus the byproducts, which would have to be dumped somehow are getting in use to raise catfishes which can then be sold on market as there is great demand already.

In question stimulus, we are asked to identify the least relevant question.
If the question somehow relates to the whole scenario and the answer can affect the company's decision, we will have to categorize it as Relevant.
Otherwise, we can state it as irrelevant or least relevant...


If the cost of discarding grain by-product is almost zero and operating costs of farm burn a hole in company's pocket, they might re-evaluate their decision and vice-versa.
So we can consider this question to be relevant.


Even if we have the data for catfish served each year, what can company do about it?
All we know is that demand is increasing for a reliable source of catfish among restaurants. We don't care how much catfish is served nationally or internationally. It might be a tourist destination which has the specialty for catfish.
Whatever be the case, It could not affect the grain company's consideration about the catfish farm.
It is Irrelevant or least relevant


If there are some government regulations on who is permitted to produce and transport fish or there is some kind of limit or there are some legal obligations to comply for, then the company might need to re-evaluate their decision on how to go about it.
So, this question is Relevant.


If catfishes do require some nutrients which are not supplied by grain by-products, then company might need to consider the costs associated with that also. Maybe they are expensive to transport or not available in their locality. This might led company to re-evaluate their decision.
This question is Relevant.


If the catfishes require a 5 years to reach to market size, the company might not feel like putting much resources for such long time but instead if catfishes get ready in 1 month, the company might get suitable profits. This question might put company into thinking mode.
This question is Relevant.

This is an Evaluate type of CR question.

The right choice must not have any bearing on the plan

Should they discard the grain byproducts or purchase and operate a catfish firm which can use it as fish food?


A grain-processing company is considering purchasing a catfish farm in an attempt to reduce waste by using the by-products of its grain processing as fish food. Catfish whose diet includes grain by-products have been found to reach marketable size in five months, and restaurants have expressed interest in having a reliable source for catfish.

The answer to which of the following questions is LEAST directly relevant to the grain-processing company’s consideration of whether fish farming is a preferable alternative to discarding grain byproducts?


(A) How does the cost of discarding grain by-products compare to the operating costs of a fish farm?
Relevant

(B) How many pounds of catfish are served by restaurants locally and nationally each year?
Relevant

(C) Are there government regulations that apply to the production and transportation of fish?
Relevant

(D) Do catfish require nutrients not supplied by grain by-products?
Relevant

(E) In how many months do wild catfish reach marketable size?
Irrelevant

Correct - E

Posted from my mobile device

(A) How does the cost of discarding grain by-products compare to the operating costs of a fish farm? Not our answer (This is a question that pertains to the proposal of buying a fish farm.)

(B) How many pounds of catfish are served by restaurants locally and nationally each year? This is the answer (This is irrelevant to the argument, as the company cannot do much by knowing so much data, max to max it can be interested with its local area)

(C) Are there government regulations that apply to the production and transportation of fish? Not our answer (this pertains to whether to costs related to transportation and production of fish.)

(D) Do catfish require nutrients not supplied by grain by-products? Not our answer (this pertains to the diet of the fishes in the farm and if they require something more than grain by-products and will this lead to rise in costs etc etc.)

(E) In how many months do wild catfish reach marketable size? Not our answer (If the main aim of buying the fish farm is to sell the cat fish to the market than this a valid question.)

The OA is B.

IMO B

(A) How does the cost of discarding grain by-products compare to the operating costs of a fish farm? -- necessary to compare costs

(B) How many pounds of catfish are served by restaurants locally and nationally each year? --not necessary. It's upto restaurant

(C) Are there government regulations that apply to the production and transportation of fish? -- basics checks to avoid any illegal activity

(D) Do catfish require nutrients not supplied by grain by-products? -- necessary because if they need any other nutrients then its expenditure will be added

(E) In how many months do wild catfish reach marketable size? -- necessary to decide whether to continue with fish farming

Posted from my mobile device

Pre-thinking: A grain-processing company is planning to diversify business in catfish farm in an attempt to reduce waste by using the by-products of its grain processing as fish food. We need to see LEAST impacted question.

The answer to which of the following questions is LEAST directly relevant to the grain-processing company’s consideration of whether fish farming is a preferable alternative to discarding grain byproducts?

(A) How does the cost of discarding grain by-products compare to the operating costs of a fish farm? -> Cost benefit analysis is important. Incorrect.

(B) How many pounds of catfish are served by restaurants locally and nationally each year? -> demand needs to known to evaluate the offset cost.

(C) Are there government regulations that apply to the production and transportation of fish? -> Important to ask, may be there are some environmental regulations; it needs to be checked. Incorrect.

(D) Do catfish require nutrients not supplied by grain by-products? -> Do we need to get additional fist diet and cost. For cost benefit understanding, it is important to know.

(E) In how many months do wild catfish reach marketable size? -> we are not concerned with WILD CATFISH time to reach market as we are focused on FARM CATFISH.

So, I think E.

Nice one
IMO E

A grain-processing company is considering purchasing a catfish farm in an attempt to reduce waste by using the by-products of its grain processing as fish food. Catfish whose diet includes grain by-products have been found to reach marketable size in five months, and restaurants have expressed interest in having a reliable source for catfish.

The answer to which of the following questions is LEAST directly relevant to the grain-processing company’s consideration of whether fish farming is a preferable alternative to discarding grain byproducts?

Any option that helps us compare the feasibility of fish farming vs discarding grain byproducts will be relevant.

(A) How does the cost of discarding grain by-products compare to the operating costs of a fish farm? Applicable

(B) How many pounds of catfish are served by restaurants locally and nationally each year? Applicable

(C) Are there government regulations that apply to the production and transportation of fish? Applicable

(D) Do catfish require nutrients not supplied by grain by-products? Applicable

(E) In how many months do wild catfish reach marketable size?
Notice how the passage is talking about catfish and NOT wild catfish.