A new advertisement is hanging in many of the East Coast subway

Question

A new advertisement is hanging in many of the East Coast subway stations. The poster proclaims: "Let the new biological pesticide containing micro-organisms be your new best friend! Because it's used by 4 out of every 5 florists, you can be sure that this product will answer your pesticide needs."

Which of the following, if true, most seriously undermines the advertisement's argument?

Which of the following, if true, most seriously undermines the advertisement's argument?

(A) Though an efficient pesticide on the East Coast, the new biological pesticide has yet to undergo satisfactory experimentation in other areas.

(B) The company promoting the new biological pesticide sent free samples of it to all florists in the urban centers of the East Coast.

(C) Two years ago, most florists were using a chemical pesticide that was popular at the time while two years prior to that, another brand of chemical pesticide was considered the norm.

(D) The Nursery Newsweek, published at the time of the advertisement, called on florists to move from chemical pesticides to biological ones, elaborating on the latter's advantages.

(E) Pesticides are needed more in nurseries than in florist shops, where plants and flowers are usually held for short periods of time.

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Sathvik02 · Answer

The poster proclaims: "Let the new biological pesticide containing micro-organisms be your new best friend! Because it's used by 4 out of every 5 florists, you can be sure that this product will answer your pesticide needs."

Let's consider at least 2 points from our side to weaken the advertisement :

1.  Attack the evidence given : Can you surely tell if 4 out 5 florists are using this product then the product will be good? No, maybe 4 out of 5 florists are suffering from bug attacks who knows? And florists are yet to change the formula. 
2. There might be another reason for this mass usage of biopesticide such as the company might have given it for free ( samples )

Which of the following, if true, most seriously undermines the advertisement's argument?
 
(A) Though an efficient pesticide on the East Coast, the new biological pesticide has yet to undergo satisfactory experimentation in other areas :  No, this doesn't prove why the advertisement will not succeed in the required area.

(B) The company promoting the new biological pesticide sent free samples of it to all florists in the urban centres of the East Coast:  Yep, this is the reason why florists are using this product for the short term. The product may not be that effective but why miss the opportunity when the company wants to give it for free? However, we have a small problem here, i.e they have specified something called "Urban centre"!

(C) Two years ago, most florists were using a chemical pesticide that was popular at the time while two years prior to that, another brand of chemical pesticide was considered the norm :  So what, who says the company is aiming for long term sales? An easy POE

(D) The Nursery Newsweek, published at the time of the advertisement, called on florists to move from chemical pesticides to biological ones, elaborating on the latter's advantages :  This is more like a strengthener to our argument rather than a weakener.

(E) Pesticides are needed more in nurseries than in florist shops, where plants and flowers are usually held for short periods of time :   hmmmm, a little difficult one to rule out and also a little ambiguous. Let's say nurseries use 100 tonnes of pesticides a month, but florists may still use 90 tonnes. So companies may be targeting a good chunk of sales here. And if florists are using this fertilizer, the nurseries might get attracted as well. So I will reject this choice. 
 
 Between B and E  ,I will choose option B and move on .

Rucha.Shukla · Answer

(E) Pesticides are needed more in nurseries than in florist shops, where plants and flowers are usually held for short periods of time.

I found this undermining the ad the most.. because if above is true then in the ad instead of florists, nurseries commenting on it which will be more apt

Posted from my mobile device

Aryaa03 · Answer

For C : Suppose florists were using something earlier, e.g. chemical pesticides, and they also shifted to that earlier from another brand. Doesn't it undermine the weightage given to the florists' choice as a trustful choice?

Sathvik02 · Answer

I understood what you want to convey. Let some product "x" be famous for only 2 years. The company will say "No problem we will make enough money in these two years". So the advertisement given may still be effective. Right? We don't have any timeline saying the product has to be for long term.

Bunuel · Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

A new advertisement is hanging in many of the East Coast subway stations. The poster proclaims: "Let the new biological pesticide containing micro-organisms be your new best friend! Because it's used by 4 out of every 5 florists, you can be sure that this product will answer your pesticide needs."

Which of the following, if true, most seriously undermines the advertisement's argument?

Which of the following, if true, most seriously undermines the advertisement's argument?

(A) Though an efficient pesticide on the East Coast, the new biological pesticide has yet to undergo satisfactory experimentation in other areas.

Incorrect.

To solve this Conclusion Weakening question, first break down the argument. The first sentence is a premise providing factual data. The second sentence begins with a reason conjunction (because) so it's first part is a premise and its last part is the conclusion:

Premise A: new ads have been posted in the East Coast subway stations
 +
Premise B: 4 out of 5 florists use the pesticide
 =
Chairperson's claim: the pesticide is really good

Possible assumption: the florists objectively chose to use the pesticide

Weakening Data: ?

You are asked to find the answer choice that most weakens the advertisement's conclusion that people living on the East Coast should use the new biological pesticide, based on the premise that 4 out of every 5 florists chose it. The correct answer could be one that exposes the argument's assumption.

As the new pesticide is being offered to buyers on the East Coast, its effect under the conditions of other areas is irrelevant and neither weakens nor strengthens the conclusion. Our task is to weaken the conclusion that for people in the East Coast this pesticide is great.

(B) The company promoting the new biological pesticide sent free samples of it to all florists in the urban centers of the East Coast.

This answer choice undermines the assumption that florists chose the new pesticide objectively for its merits and quality, not because they received free samples. Once this is revealed to be incorrect, the conclusion that the pesticide should be regarded as really good because of this is weakened.

(C) Two years ago, most florists were using a chemical pesticide that was popular at the time while two years prior to that, another brand of chemical pesticide was considered the norm.

Incorrect.

To solve this Conclusion Weakening question, first break down the argument. The first sentence is a premise providing factual data. The second sentence begins with a reason conjunction (because) so it's first part is a premise and its last part is the conclusion:

Premise A: new ads have been posted in the East Coast subway stations
 +
Premise B: 4 out of 5 florists use the pesticide
 =
Chairperson's claim: the pesticide is really good

Possible assumption: the florists objectively chose to use the pesticide

Weakening Data: ?

You are asked to find the answer choice that most weakens the advertisement's conclusion that people living on the East Coast should use the new biological pesticide, based on the premise that 4 out of every 5 florists chose it. The correct answer could be one that exposes the argument's assumption.

The florists' move from one product to another is not enough on its own to weaken the conclusion as it does not necessarily discredit them. Their changing of products may have been motivated by technological advancement, for instance.

(D) The Nursery Newsweek, published at the time of the advertisement, called on florists to move from chemical pesticides to biological ones, elaborating on the latter's advantages.

Incorrect.

This answer choice provides information that supports the advertisement's claim that the new pesticide is great. The publication described in this answer choice may have influenced the florists, but since this influence is based on the advantages of the biological pesticide, and since the ad promotes biological pesticide, it can only serve to strengthen the conclusion. You are required to weaken it.

(E) Pesticides are needed more in nurseries than in florist shops, where plants and flowers are usually held for short periods of time.

Incorrect.

This answer choice neither weakens nor strengthens the advertisement's claim. The fact that flowers are kept in florist shops for shorter spans of time than in nurseries does not change the fact that pesticides are needed in florist shops. Therefore, this answer choice doesn't really weaken the conclusion a great deal.

VerbalBot · Answer

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A new advertisement is hanging in many of the East Coast subway

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A new advertisement is hanging in many of the East Coast subway

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