Bob: The introduction of the new high-yielding variety of seeds this

Question

Bob: The introduction of the new high-yielding variety of seeds this year has greatly improved the financial situation of the farmers in our country, most of whom were facing huge losses until last year.

Shanon: Your conclusion is incorrect. According to a recent survey, as many as 90% of the farmers in the country made losses of 20% to 30% in their farming operations.

Which of the following casts the most serious doubt on Shanon’s argument?

(A) Most farmers are now more satisfied with their farming operations than they were when they were using ordinary seeds.
(B) Monetary loss or gain is not the only way of judging the benefit of the new highyielding varieties of seeds.
(C) The high yielding varieties of seeds in general cost no more than ordinary seeds do.
(D) The use of high yielding varieties of seeds allows farmers to cut down their fertilizer requirement by more than half.
(E) Until last year, the average loss suffered by farmers in the country was between 100% and 150%.

This is a  Data Sufficiency Butler Question

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tgsankar10 · Answer

(A) Most farmers are now more satisfied with their farming operations than they were when they were using ordinary seeds.

NO.   This does not question the financial situation or profits or farmers.

(B) Monetary loss or gain is not the only way of judging the benefit of the new highyielding varieties of seeds.

NO.   The argument is about the financial situation of farmers compared to previous years. Benefit of seed variety is not evaluated.

(C) The high yielding varieties of seeds in general cost no more than ordinary seeds do.

NO.   This is a neutral statement. This does not affect financial situation of farmers.

(D) The use of high yielding varieties of seeds allows farmers to cut down their fertilizer requirement by more than half.

NO.   The losses are not questioned. The loss occured to farmers could still offset the gains obtained by savings in fertilizer.

(E) Until last year, the average loss suffered by farmers in the country was between 100% and 150%.

Yes.   Until last year average loss was between 100% to 150%. The losses have been cut down to 20% to 30%. Clearly it shows improvement in farmers' financial situation. This questions Shanon's conclusion of Bob being wrong.

Answer is E

73766 · Answer

Why not option C, I couldn't understand

Parthkulkarni · Answer

Not sure why not C?

It subtly points out that new seeds and old seeds had same cost, so losses are not due to seeds and something else (eg. water shortage, etc.)

Option E is second best probably, because it doesnt correlate with seeds anyway

Bunuel · Answer

Official Explanation

Answer: E

To weaken Shanon’s argument, we have to show that the 20-30% losses being suffered by farmers is an improvement over their earlier financial situation. E does this best by stating that the losses the farmers were making earlier were much higher. So the use of highyielding varieties has indeed improved their financial situation in relative terms.

(A) Bob clearly talks about the improvement in the financial situation of the farmers. Their satisfaction levels are of no consequence to us.

(B) Same as A.

(C) The fact still remains that the farmers have made losses of 20-30%. So then how can we conclude that their financial situation has improved?

(D) Same as C.

Bob: The introduction of the new high-yielding variety of seeds this

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Bob: The introduction of the new high-yielding variety of seeds this

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