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09 Sep 2024, 06:43
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Difficulty:
5%
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Question Stats:
93% (01:12) correct
7%
(01:40)
wrong
based on 455
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The use of a certain type of pesticide that was ordinarily sprayed on many apple orchards has been banned by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) because of its long-term health risks. During recent testing of newly canned apple sauces, several samples showed traces of the banned pesticide. Therefore, some farmers must still be using the banned pesticide on their apple orchards.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the conclusion drawn above?
(A) Most farmers did not object to the ban and switched to a safer pesticide that was recommended by the EPA.
(B) To keep it fresh, most applesauce contains some preservatives, many of which have been investigated for safety by the EPA.
(C) Residues of the pesticide linger in the soil from past spraying, are absorbed into the trees' roots, and are deposited in the fruit, even if no spraying was recently done.
(D) Many consumers prefer the taste of organically grown fruits, which are not sprayed with any pesticides, and avoid buying fruits sprayed with any type of pesticide.
(E) The type of pesticide used to spray apple orchards varies from region to region in the United States.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the conclusion drawn above?
(A) Most farmers did not object to the ban and switched to a safer pesticide that was recommended by the EPA.
(B) To keep it fresh, most applesauce contains some preservatives, many of which have been investigated for safety by the EPA.
(C) Residues of the pesticide linger in the soil from past spraying, are absorbed into the trees' roots, and are deposited in the fruit, even if no spraying was recently done.
(D) Many consumers prefer the taste of organically grown fruits, which are not sprayed with any pesticides, and avoid buying fruits sprayed with any type of pesticide.
(E) The type of pesticide used to spray apple orchards varies from region to region in the United States.
09 Sep 2024, 08:43
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The argument concludes that some farmers must still be using the banned pesticide based on the detection of the pesticide in recent samples of canned applesauce. To weaken this conclusion, we need evidence that explains the presence of the pesticide without requiring recent use by farmers.
Premise: Testing of applesauce samples revealed traces of the banned pesticide.
Conclusion: Some farmers must still be using the banned pesticide.We can weaken this conclusion by showing that traces of the pesticide could be present without current usage by farmers.
(A) "Most farmers did not object to the ban and switched to a safer pesticide that was recommended by the EPA."
This choice shows that many farmers complied with the ban, but it doesn’t explain why traces of the banned pesticide were still found in the applesauce. It does not directly address the presence of the pesticide. Eliminate.
(B) "To keep it fresh, most applesauce contains some preservatives, many of which have been investigated for safety by the EPA."
This talks about preservatives used in applesauce, but there is no connection to the specific pesticide found in the applesauce. It is irrelevant to the argument about the banned pesticide. Eliminate.
(C) "Residues of the pesticide linger in the soil from past spraying, are absorbed into the trees' roots, and are deposited in the fruit, even if no spraying was recently done."
This directly weakens the conclusion. It provides an alternative explanation: the presence of the pesticide could be due to lingering residues in the soil from past use, not because farmers are currently violating the ban. Thus, the presence of the pesticide in applesauce could be from old contamination. Keep this.
(D) "Many consumers prefer the taste of organically grown fruits, which are not sprayed with any pesticides, and avoid buying fruits sprayed with any type of pesticide."
This is about consumer preferences for organic fruits and does not address the presence of the banned pesticide or explain its traces in the applesauce. Eliminate.
(E) "The type of pesticide used to spray apple orchards varies from region to region in the United States."
This is about the variation in pesticide use across regions but does not address the specific issue of why traces of the banned pesticide were found in applesauce. Eliminate.
Therefore, the correct answer is (C).
Premise: Testing of applesauce samples revealed traces of the banned pesticide.
Conclusion: Some farmers must still be using the banned pesticide.We can weaken this conclusion by showing that traces of the pesticide could be present without current usage by farmers.
(A) "Most farmers did not object to the ban and switched to a safer pesticide that was recommended by the EPA."
This choice shows that many farmers complied with the ban, but it doesn’t explain why traces of the banned pesticide were still found in the applesauce. It does not directly address the presence of the pesticide. Eliminate.
(B) "To keep it fresh, most applesauce contains some preservatives, many of which have been investigated for safety by the EPA."
This talks about preservatives used in applesauce, but there is no connection to the specific pesticide found in the applesauce. It is irrelevant to the argument about the banned pesticide. Eliminate.
(C) "Residues of the pesticide linger in the soil from past spraying, are absorbed into the trees' roots, and are deposited in the fruit, even if no spraying was recently done."
This directly weakens the conclusion. It provides an alternative explanation: the presence of the pesticide could be due to lingering residues in the soil from past use, not because farmers are currently violating the ban. Thus, the presence of the pesticide in applesauce could be from old contamination. Keep this.
(D) "Many consumers prefer the taste of organically grown fruits, which are not sprayed with any pesticides, and avoid buying fruits sprayed with any type of pesticide."
This is about consumer preferences for organic fruits and does not address the presence of the banned pesticide or explain its traces in the applesauce. Eliminate.
(E) "The type of pesticide used to spray apple orchards varies from region to region in the United States."
This is about the variation in pesticide use across regions but does not address the specific issue of why traces of the banned pesticide were found in applesauce. Eliminate.
Therefore, the correct answer is (C).
03 Oct 2024, 16:58
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The use of a certain type of pesticide that was ordinarily sprayed on many apple orchards has been banned by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) because of its long-term health risks. During recent testing of newly canned apple sauces, several samples showed traces of the banned pesticide. Therefore, some farmers must still be using the banned pesticide on their apple orchards.
The conclusion of the argument is the following:
some farmers must still be using the banned pesticide on their apple orchards
The support for the conclusion is the following:
During recent testing of newly canned apple sauces, several samples showed traces of the banned pesticide.
The reasoning of the argument is that, since the pesticide is in newly canned apple sauces, farmers must still be using it.
One aspect of the argument that may jump out at us is that, while the argument is basically logical, there's clearly a gap between the evidence and the conclusion. After all, a pesticide could somehow get into applesauce even if farmers no longer use it.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the conclusion drawn above?
This is a Weaken question, and the correct answer will show that, even though the premise is true, the conclusion may not be.
(A) Most farmers did not object to the ban and switched to a safer pesticide that was recommended by the EPA.
The fact that "most farmers" switched to a safer pesticide does not mean that there are not "some farmers" who still use it.
After all, "most" means "more than half." So, even if this choice is true, it could also be true that a fairly large percentage of farmers, up to just under half, could still be using the pesticide.
So, this choice has no effect on the argument.
Eliminate.
(B) To keep it fresh, most applesauce contains some preservatives, many of which have been investigated for safety by the EPA.
"Preservatives" and "pesticides" are two different types of things.
So, the fact that applesauce contains preservatives isn't really related to the fact that it contains the banned pesticide.
In other words, the addition of preservatives would not be an alternative way the banned pesticide could have gotten into the apple sauces tested.
So, even though applesauce contains preservatives, many of which have been investigated by the EPA, the fact that applesauce contains the pesticide supports the conclusion.
Eliminate.
(C) Residues of the pesticide linger in the soil from past spraying, are absorbed into the trees' roots, and are deposited in the fruit, even if no spraying was recently done.
This choice is interesting.
If this choice is true, then it could be that the reason why the banned pesticide was found in applesauce is not that farmers still use it but that residues of it remain in soil and are deposited in apples.
So, this choice indicates that there is a possible alternative explanation for the presence of the pesticide in applesauce and thus undermines the support the evidence provides for the conclusion that some farmers are still using it.
Keep.
(D) Many consumers prefer the taste of organically grown fruits, which are not sprayed with any pesticides, and avoid buying fruits sprayed with any type of pesticide.
The fact that many consumers avoid buying fruits sprayed with pesticides doesn't mean that no fruits are sprayed with pesticides.
So, it doesn't mean that farmers no longer use the banned pesticide.
Sure, some fruits are not sprayed, but much fruit still is.
Eliminate.
(E) The type of pesticide used to spray apple orchards varies from region to region in the United States.
The fact that the type of pesticide used varies from region to region does not mean that farmers are not using the banned pesticide.
After all, farmers in some regions could be using it even if farmers in other regions do not.
Eliminate.
Correct answer: C
The conclusion of the argument is the following:
some farmers must still be using the banned pesticide on their apple orchards
The support for the conclusion is the following:
During recent testing of newly canned apple sauces, several samples showed traces of the banned pesticide.
The reasoning of the argument is that, since the pesticide is in newly canned apple sauces, farmers must still be using it.
One aspect of the argument that may jump out at us is that, while the argument is basically logical, there's clearly a gap between the evidence and the conclusion. After all, a pesticide could somehow get into applesauce even if farmers no longer use it.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the conclusion drawn above?
This is a Weaken question, and the correct answer will show that, even though the premise is true, the conclusion may not be.
(A) Most farmers did not object to the ban and switched to a safer pesticide that was recommended by the EPA.
The fact that "most farmers" switched to a safer pesticide does not mean that there are not "some farmers" who still use it.
After all, "most" means "more than half." So, even if this choice is true, it could also be true that a fairly large percentage of farmers, up to just under half, could still be using the pesticide.
So, this choice has no effect on the argument.
Eliminate.
(B) To keep it fresh, most applesauce contains some preservatives, many of which have been investigated for safety by the EPA.
"Preservatives" and "pesticides" are two different types of things.
So, the fact that applesauce contains preservatives isn't really related to the fact that it contains the banned pesticide.
In other words, the addition of preservatives would not be an alternative way the banned pesticide could have gotten into the apple sauces tested.
So, even though applesauce contains preservatives, many of which have been investigated by the EPA, the fact that applesauce contains the pesticide supports the conclusion.
Eliminate.
(C) Residues of the pesticide linger in the soil from past spraying, are absorbed into the trees' roots, and are deposited in the fruit, even if no spraying was recently done.
This choice is interesting.
If this choice is true, then it could be that the reason why the banned pesticide was found in applesauce is not that farmers still use it but that residues of it remain in soil and are deposited in apples.
So, this choice indicates that there is a possible alternative explanation for the presence of the pesticide in applesauce and thus undermines the support the evidence provides for the conclusion that some farmers are still using it.
Keep.
(D) Many consumers prefer the taste of organically grown fruits, which are not sprayed with any pesticides, and avoid buying fruits sprayed with any type of pesticide.
The fact that many consumers avoid buying fruits sprayed with pesticides doesn't mean that no fruits are sprayed with pesticides.
So, it doesn't mean that farmers no longer use the banned pesticide.
Sure, some fruits are not sprayed, but much fruit still is.
Eliminate.
(E) The type of pesticide used to spray apple orchards varies from region to region in the United States.
The fact that the type of pesticide used varies from region to region does not mean that farmers are not using the banned pesticide.
After all, farmers in some regions could be using it even if farmers in other regions do not.
Eliminate.
Correct answer: C
