14shubham
Thanks to all the experts for sharing the detailed explanation. However, it would be indeed helpful if someone can help me eliminate C vs E.
The statement 'and it takes several pounds of grain to produce one pound of meat'. Does it emphasize on raising livestock for meat or it focuses on grain consumption amongst the population?
Sorry, I'm not quite sure what you're asking in that last sentence, but I'll do my best to try to answer anyway.
The idea is that if meat consumption rises by, say, 1 million pounds and grain consumption (the amount of grain consumed directly by the people) does not change, then overall demand for grain will increase by SEVERAL million pounds (because several million pounds of grain are needed to produce the extra 1 million pounds of meat).
Since Gortland is currently NARROWLY self-sufficient in both grain and meat, it would have to start importing grain and/or meat in that case. However, if grain consumption decreases dramatically, that might offset an increase in meat consumption.
In order for the argument to work, the latter scenario needs to be ruled out, and that's why (C) is a necessary assumption.
For more on that, check out this post:
https://gmatclub.com/forum/gortland-has ... l#p2276444.