The farmers in Greenville use pesticides to effectively solve the prob

Question

The farmers in Greenville use pesticides to effectively solve the problem of locust attack and help increase yields. The chemicals in the pesticides have been known to be associated with certain health hazards for consumers of the produce. So, even though use of pesticides is the cheapest way of increasing yields, the sales of such pesticide laden crop produce stand to get adversely affected.

Genetically modified seeds not only fight off the locusts but also help increase yields at comparable prices. Therefore, using genetically modified seeds is the best way to increase yields in the next sowing season.

Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?

A. Produce from genetically modified crops does not pose any significant health hazards for the consumers.

B. Extensive trials carried out on genetically modified seeds have established that they can be used for commercial as well as cash crops without causing any harm to human health.

C. Switching to genetically modified seeds is unlikely to be significantly more expensive than current usage of insecticides.

D. Apart from locusts, no other factor is likely to cause a negative impact on the yield of crops the next sowing season.

E. People will be more willing to buy produce from genetically modified seeds than that from normal seeds.

pintukr · Answer

The farmers in Greenville use pesticides to effectively solve the problem of locust attack and help increase yields. The chemicals in the pesticides have been known to be associated with certain health hazards for consumers of the produce. So, even though use of pesticides is the cheapest way of increasing yields, the sales of such pesticide laden crop produce stand to get adversely affected.

Genetically modified seeds not only fight off the locusts but also help increase yields at comparable prices. Therefore, using genetically modified seeds is the best way to increase yields in the next sowing season.

Argument Flow --> Use of pesticides, though the cheapest method of increasing yields, discounted owing to the premise (adverse effects on health). So, the genetically modified seeds (with advantages against locust attack) touted as the best way to increase yields.

Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?

A. Produce from genetically modified crops does not pose any significant health hazards for the consumers.
  No significant adverse effect on health, so the best way to increase yield--the underlying assumption; also. if this prompt is negated, it means that there are significant health hazards associated with genetically modified crops, so NOT the best way to increase yields--clearly the conclusion of the argument doesn't hold.

B. Extensive trials carried out on genetically modified seeds have established that they can be used for commercial as well as cash crops without causing any harm to human health.
 quite close to being the assumption; however, any other variety (for crops) exists or not --not known

C. Switching to genetically modified seeds is unlikely to be significantly more expensive than current usage of insecticides.
 price criterion is not the basis for dubbing a particular method as the 'best' way; rather, the health hazards is the basis

D. Apart from locusts, no other factor is likely to cause a negative impact on the yield of crops the next sowing season.
 doesn't discuss the health aspects -- main premise for highlighting the 'best' way to increase yields

E. People will be more willing to buy produce from genetically modified seeds than that from normal seeds. 
 additional information..can't be considered as an assumption

(A) is the correct answer

Aspirant2025 · Answer

If the conclusion of the argument is regarding increasing the yield of the crop, we shouldn't be concerned about health hazards.
If it was about the sale of the crop, then it would have made more sense right?

saksh4M · Answer

Hi,

The conclusion of the argument is talking about the yield not the sales. If yield is concerned then option D is more suitable that option A. Option A can be the answer if there conclusion were about sales. Am I doing it correctly?

thr3at · Answer

The author use 2 parts to negate the use of pesticide 
1) Health hazards
2) Decrease the yields.

But for the Genetically modified seed author only says 
1) about greater yields
2) It does not mention anythin about the Health hazards (this is a gap that the assumption fills)

Hope this solves your doubt:)

Oppenheimer1945 · Answer

Seems like a poor-quality question. Still don't understand how D can't be correct.

The farmers in Greenville use pesticides to effectively solve the prob

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards

GMAT Critical Reasoning (CR) Questions

The farmers in Greenville use pesticides to effectively solve the prob

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards