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555-605 Level|   Evaluate Argument|               
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"E"

Whether the natural insecticide is as effective against maize-eating insects as
commercial insecticides typically used on maize are

Outta scope.

B. Whether the pollen of genetically modified maize contains as much insecticide as
other parts of these plants

Does not matter. The reason is presence of insectiside and not really amount. INcorrect.

C. Whether monarch butterfly caterpillars are actively feeding during the part of the
growing season when maize is releasing pollen

We already know that butterflies are eating the weed with pollen. Even if they are not actively feeding and still dying , does not help.

D. Whether insects that feed on genetically modified maize plants are likely to be
killed by insecticide from the plant’s pollen

Even if we know this, it does not address buttefflies issue.

E. Whether any maize-eating insects compete with monarch caterpillars for the
leaves of milkweed plants growing near maize fields

If this is true then insecticide may not be the cause.
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ttar
Certain genetically modified strains of maize produce a powerful natural insecticide. The
insecticide occurs throughout the plant, including its pollen. Maize pollen is dispersed by
the wind and frequently blows onto milkweed plants that grow near maize fields.
Caterpillars of monarch butterflies feed exclusively on milkweed leaves. When these
caterpillars are fed milkweed leaves dusted with pollen from modified maize plants, they
die. Therefore, by using genetically modified maize, farmers put monarch butterflies at
risk.
Which of the following would it be most useful to determine in order to evaluate the
argument?
A. Whether the natural insecticide is as effective against maize-eating insects as
commercial insecticides typically used on maize are
B. Whether the pollen of genetically modified maize contains as much insecticide as
other parts of these plants
C. Whether monarch butterfly caterpillars are actively feeding during the part of the
growing season when maize is releasing pollen
D. Whether insects that feed on genetically modified maize plants are likely to be
killed by insecticide from the plant’s pollen
E. Whether any maize-eating insects compete with monarch caterpillars for the
leaves of milkweed plants growing near maize fields


go for C.

A. Whether the natural insecticide is as effective against maize-eating insects as commercial insecticides typically used on maize are

not important
B. Whether the pollen of genetically modified maize contains as much insecticide as other parts of these plants
not important

C. Whether monarch butterfly caterpillars are actively feeding during the part of the growing season when maize is releasing pollen
if they eat, they die, or if they don't eat, they will not die.

D. Whether insects that feed on genetically modified maize plants are likely to be
killed by insecticide from the plant’s pollen
we are talking about catepillar rather than insects.

E. Whether any maize-eating insects compete with monarch caterpillars for the
leaves of milkweed plants growing near maize fields

not important
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ttar
Certain genetically modified strains of maize produce a powerful natural insecticide. The
insecticide occurs throughout the plant, including its pollen. Maize pollen is dispersed by
the wind and frequently blows onto milkweed plants that grow near maize fields.
Caterpillars of monarch butterflies feed exclusively on milkweed leaves. When these
caterpillars are fed milkweed leaves dusted with pollen from modified maize plants, they
die. Therefore, by using genetically modified maize, farmers put monarch butterflies at
risk.
Which of the following would it be most useful to determine in order to evaluate the
argument?
A. Whether the natural insecticide is as effective against maize-eating insects as
commercial insecticides typically used on maize are
B. Whether the pollen of genetically modified maize contains as much insecticide as
other parts of these plants
C. Whether monarch butterfly caterpillars are actively feeding during the part of the
growing season when maize is releasing pollen
D. Whether insects that feed on genetically modified maize plants are likely to be
killed by insecticide from the plant’s pollen
E. Whether any maize-eating insects compete with monarch caterpillars for the
leaves of milkweed plants growing near maize fields


Question Type: Evaluate an argument.
Conclusion: Genetically modified maize present danger to butterflies.
My AC is C.

A: Boot out. Argument stem doesnt discuss about "maize-eating insects" and commerical Vs natural insecticide. Out of Scope.
B: Boot out. The argument stem isnt concerned with which part of hte maize plant produces most or least insectiticide.
C: Good Point. Are the catterpillar feeding during the time pollen is released? Keep AC.
D: Boot out. Out of Scope? Insects? We are talking of the sequence of events between maize plants and catterpillar.
E: Boot out. Out of Scope. Why does it matter if there is competition or not.
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another one for c.

caterpillars eat===>>>die
caterpillars dont eat===>>happily live

Best.. :wink:
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IMO C


Maze insecticide -- goes to --> Polen --- thru wind it goes to --> Milkweed --from its leaves it goes to --> Caterpiller and then Caterpiller dies.

We want to make sure this all happens at same time. We dont want the polen to be release during the onth of Jan only and then Caterpiller eating leaves after 6 months. By that time ofcourse the dust from leaves will be gone and that means there is somthing else in leave that is causing Caterpiler to die .. after eating the leaves.

Hope I am on right track and this help...
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GMATNinja karishma

What's the reason for E not being the answer here?
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Type: Find the answer choice that helps evaluate (strengthen/weaken) the conclusion

Conclusion: by using genetically modified maize, farmers put monarch butterflies at risk.


A. Whether the natural insecticide is as effective against maize-eating insects as commercial insecticides typically used on maize are
- the conclusion is not concerned about ''maize-eating insects''; rather, the conclusion is concerned about the effect of genetically modified maze on monarch butterflies.
B. Whether the pollen of genetically modified maize contains as much insecticide as other parts of these plants
- variation of 'insecticide' within the maize plant is irrelevant to the conclusion drawn.
C. Whether monarch butterfly caterpillars are actively feeding during the part of the growing season when maize is releasing pollen - if (C) is true, then it would imply that the chances of monarch butterflies coming into contact with the pollen of maize (which contains the insecticide). A greater contact would further imply greater risk. However, if (C) is not true, then (C) would imply that there would be no risk at all, thereby weakening the conclusion. Hence, (C) helps us evaluate the argument. Therefore, (C) is the right answer choice.

D. Whether insects that feed on genetically modified maize plants are likely to be killed by insecticide from the plant's pollen
- (D) is concerned about maize plants, not the monarch butterflies.
E. Whether any maize-eating insects compete with monarch caterpillars for the leaves of milkweed plants growing near maize fields
- irrelevant to the conclusion cited.
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In the paragraph its written that the caterpillars feed exclusively on milkweed leaves , but in option 'c' we are questioning that whether the caterpillars are feeding on the milkweed leaves during the growing season when the maize is releasing pollen.

Can't we assume that caterpillars will be feeding on the milkweed leaves throughout ?

Thank you-
Aashman
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Aashmankapur
In the paragraph its written that the caterpillars feed exclusively on milkweed leaves , but in option 'c' we are questioning that whether the caterpillars are feeding on the milkweed leaves during the growing season when the maize is releasing pollen.

Can't we assume that caterpillars will be feeding on the milkweed leaves throughout ?

Thank you-
Aashman

Hi Aashman

The stimulus does state that caterpillars exclusively feed on milkweed leaves. However, this is only to be interpreted as the caterpillars feeding only on milkweed leaves and not on anything else. Nothing in the stimulus states whether the caterpillars feed on milkweed leaves throughout the year or during the seasons when the pollen is being released by the maize plants. It is possible that the caterpillars feed exclusively on milkweed leaves during a time of the year when the maize is not being grown or does not release pollen. If this were true, the conclusion will be undermined.

Option (C) asks precisely this question and hence is the correct answer. Hope this helps.
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I am surprised that there is not more debate about D, the main incorrect contender for this passage. Caterpillars are insects just as much as ants are insects.

I ruled it out because the passage talks about the dispersal of pollen to nearby fields that then get consumed by the caterpillars. This is different from eating the actual plants?

Can someone chime in here?
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Hello! I have one doubt in C. C says "whether monarch butterfly caterpillars are ACTIVELY feeding......" So, if we answer an yes to this statement, then our conclusion stands. But if we say no, they were not ACTIVELY feeding, but just feeding our conclusion still stands (Actively means energetically or rigorously). I have many times seen in official questions that one word could make a huge difference, particularly in CR. Please Help.
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Hello! I have one doubt in C. C says "whether monarch butterfly caterpillars are ACTIVELY feeding......" So, if we answer an yes to this statement, then our conclusion stands. But if we say no, they were not ACTIVELY feeding, but just feeding our conclusion still stands (Actively means energetically or rigorously). I have many times seen in official questions that one word could make a huge difference, particularly in CR. Please Help.
Hello, pk6969. Although it is true that actively may be defined in the manner you have outlined above, it can also be used to convey action in general, as in, He is so down right now about not being able to get a job that he is no longer actively seeking employment—i.e. the person is not going out day after day looking for a job or putting too much effort into the endeavor. (Here is an entry from the Cambridge Dictionary.)

In the context of the sentence about butterflies, it is this latter interpretation that fits. The consideration in (C) is whether the release of pollen from maize coincides with the appearance of monarch caterpillars, more or less, that are there to feed on the crops. In this light, (C) is directly related to the argument and is hard to disprove.

The topic reminds me of a joke I heard about a language convention in which participants from different countries were drawing attention to how beautiful the word "butterfly" was in their own tongue—

Britain: Butterfly
France: Papillon
Spain: Mariposa
Italy: Farfalla
Germany: Schmetterling

[The room burst into laughter.]

Whatever you think of the joke, I hope you appreciate the point about the question at hand. Good luck with your studies.

- Andrew
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What's the reason for E not being the answer here?
Let's take a look at the argument first, before examining why (E) is not the answer to this question.

The passage tells us:
  • Genetically modified maize produces an insecticide
  • This insecticide is present in the maize's pollen
  • When the wind spreads this pollen, some of it can land on milkweed leaves that grow near maize fields
  • Caterpillars of monarch butterflies only eat milkweed leaves
  • These caterpillars die when fed milkweed leaves dusted with pollen containing insecticide

Because of this, farmers are putting monarch butterflies at risk by using genetically modified maize.

Each answer choice suggests a piece of information we could have. The correct answer choice will have the most useful piece of information for evaluating the argument.

Now, let's take a look at (E):
Quote:
E. Whether any maize-eating insects compete with monarch caterpillars for the leaves of milkweed plants growing near maize fields
If the caterpillars compete for their food with another insect, they might struggle and fewer of them will survive. However, this doesn't help us evaluate whether the FARMERS are putting the monarch butterfly caterpillars at risk by using genetically modified maize. There is no mention of the maize's pollen that is supposedly harming the monarch butterfly caterpillars.

(E) introduces another risk factor but sheds no light on the argument in the passage -- (E) cannot be our answer.

Here's what (C) says:
Quote:
C. Whether monarch butterfly caterpillars are actively feeding during the part of the growing season when maize is releasing pollen
The passage said the farmers were putting the caterpillars at risk because the caterpillars were eating the insecticide filled pollen from the genetically modified maize. If the caterpillars are NOT eating the pollen because they do not eat the milkweed leaves when the pollen is being released, then we can't say the farmers are putting the caterpillars at risk.

Knowing whether monarch butterfly caterpillars feed on leaves of the milkweed plant when the maize is releasing pollen would help us evaluate the argument. This is why (C) is the answer to this question.

I hope that helps!

Hey GMAT Ninja, first of all, thanks for all you do!

1) I got put off by the modifier "actively" that modifies the action of feeding. What would passively feeding in this case mean? Isn't it a bit confusing and unclear?

2) E can be eliminated because - "competing" would still mean that a % of butterflies win the battle for pollen against the insects. Hence, the farmers would be putting a lesser number of butterflies at risk, but it's risk nonetheless. Is this line of thinking correct?
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CONCLUSION - Using GM maize puts butterflies on risk

PRETHINKING -

IN WHAT SCENARIO, butterflies are not at risk

GIVEN

1) GM Maize contains insecticides even in pollen
2) Pollens blow to milkweed plants
3) Butterflies feed on milkweed plants and they die

FALSIFICATION QUESTION - Maybe the butterflies feed the plants only during the season in which the pollens are not present

ANSWER CHOICE ANALYSIS -

A) Not related to the argument
B) Doesn't matter
C) CORRECT
D) Doesn't matter
E) Competition will still put the butterflies at risk
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nikitamaheshwari
GMATNinja karishma

What's the reason for E not being the answer here?
Let's take a look at the argument first, before examining why (E) is not the answer to this question.

The passage tells us:
  • Genetically modified maize produces an insecticide
  • This insecticide is present in the maize's pollen
  • When the wind spreads this pollen, some of it can land on milkweed leaves that grow near maize fields
  • Caterpillars of monarch butterflies only eat milkweed leaves
  • These caterpillars die when fed milkweed leaves dusted with pollen containing insecticide

Because of this, farmers are putting monarch butterflies at risk by using genetically modified maize.

Each answer choice suggests a piece of information we could have. The correct answer choice will have the most useful piece of information for evaluating the argument.

Now, let's take a look at (E):
Quote:
E. Whether any maize-eating insects compete with monarch caterpillars for the leaves of milkweed plants growing near maize fields
If the caterpillars compete for their food with another insect, they might struggle and fewer of them will survive. However, this doesn't help us evaluate whether the FARMERS are putting the monarch butterfly caterpillars at risk by using genetically modified maize. There is no mention of the maize's pollen that is supposedly harming the monarch butterfly caterpillars.

(E) introduces another risk factor but sheds no light on the argument in the passage -- (E) cannot be our answer.

Here's what (C) says:
Quote:
C. Whether monarch butterfly caterpillars are actively feeding during the part of the growing season when maize is releasing pollen
The passage said the farmers were putting the caterpillars at risk because the caterpillars were eating the insecticide filled pollen from the genetically modified maize. If the caterpillars are NOT eating the pollen because they do not eat the milkweed leaves when the pollen is being released, then we can't say the farmers are putting the caterpillars at risk.

Knowing whether monarch butterfly caterpillars feed on leaves of the milkweed plant when the maize is releasing pollen would help us evaluate the argument. This is why (C) is the answer to this question.

I hope that helps!

Hey GMAT Ninja, first of all, thanks for all you do!

1) I got put off by the modifier "actively" that modifies the action of feeding. What would passively feeding in this case mean? Isn't it a bit confusing and unclear?

2) E can be eliminated because - "competing" would still mean that a % of butterflies win the battle for pollen against the insects. Hence, the farmers would be putting a lesser number of butterflies at risk, but it's risk nonetheless. Is this line of thinking correct?
For your first question, take a look at @AndrewN's post about the use of "actively" in this context and see whether that clears it up!

As for (E), it really doesn't help us evaluate the argument that "farmers put monarch butterflies at risk."

If we knew the answer to (E), we could say whether there are "any" insects that compete with monarchs for milkweed. Maybe there are no competing insects whatsoever, or maybe there are a few, or maybe competition is fierce. None of these outcomes give us any insight into how the monarchs are impacted by the new pollen. So, you can eliminate (E).

I hope that helps!
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I have a question here. If it has been mentioned that caterpillars of monarch butterflies "exclusively feed" on milkweed leave, isn't it justified to think that they would be feeding on the milkweek leaves all season.

So how can C) be correct.
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I have a question here. If it has been mentioned that caterpillars of monarch butterflies "exclusively feed" on milkweed leave, isn't it justified to think that they would be feeding on the milkweek leaves all season.

So how can C) be correct.
"Exclusively" does not mean "continuously" or "constantly" -- it just means that the caterpillars don't feed on anything else.

For example, let's say that Winnie the Pooh feeds exclusively on honey, but he hibernates from November to April. If there's toxic honey near Winnie's home from December to March, that's not going to be a risk for Winnie -- he'll be sleeping.

Similarly, if the caterpillars are NOT actively feeding during the part of the growing season when maize is releasing pollen, then the toxic pollen doesn't pose any threat to them. The caterpillars might feed exclusively on milkweed leaves, but if they do not feed while the pollen is present, then there's no risk.

I hope that helps!
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