Although the use of fertilizers tends to diminish the flavor of fruits

Question

Although the use of fertilizers tends to diminish the flavor of fruits, the use of pesticides makes virtually no difference in flavor, assuming the fruit is washed thoroughly. Moreover, the use of pesticides repels insects that would otherwise leave unsightly blemishes on the fruit. Therefore, in the interest of appealing to consumer tastes, fruit growers would be well advised to use pesticides but not artificial fertilizers.

Which of the following, if true, could proponents of the argument most appropriately cite as evidence for the soundness of the advice to fruit growers given in the last sentence?

(A) The use of natural fertilizer results in larger, more colorful fruit than the use of artificial fertilizer.

(B) The use of pesticides and fertilizers increases fruit growers’ costs, which the growers generally pass on to consumers in the form of higher fruit prices.

(C) Consumers generally consider a fruit’s flavor to be important but consider a fruit’s appearance to be less important.

(D) Chemicals in artificial fertilizers pose a health threat to consumers who eat fruits produced using artificial fertilizers.

(E) The use of artificial fertilizers in growing fruit has no effect on the appearance of the fruit.

Source:  Master GMAT

RandomStoryteller · Answer

Nice Question. Can anyone explain why 'E' is correct?

Conclusion: In interest of appealing to consumer tastes, fruit growers would be well advised to use pesticides but not artificial fertilizers.
Why are fruit growers advised to use pesticides rather than artificial fertilizers?
Artificial Fertilizers diminish the flavour of fruits.While eventhough use of pesticides leaves blemishes on fruits, there is no change in flavour of the fruit.

Looking at the answer choices:
(A) The use of natural fertilizer results in larger, more colorful fruit than the use of artificial fertilizer.
Incorrect : Choice is to be made between artificial fertilizers and pesticides, not between artificial and natural fertilizer.

(B) The use of pesticides and fertilizers increases fruit growers’ costs, which the growers generally pass on to consumers in the form of higher fruit prices.
Incorrect : Costs : Out of Context.

(C) Consumers generally consider a fruit’s flavor to be important but consider a fruit’s appearance to be less important.
Hold on, will get back to this one.

(D) Chemicals in artificial fertilizers pose a health threat to consumers who eat fruits produced using artificial fertilizers.
Incorrect: The focus of the conclusion is on "appealing to consumer tastes". Eventhough the statement might be true in real world, it is out of context for this passage.

(E) The use of artificial fertilizers in growing fruit has no effect on the appearance of the fruit.
Really not sure how this impacts the conclusion. Please can anyone explainwhy OA is E.

Coming back to Option C.
This answer choice kind of undermines the flaw of using pesticides(use of pesticides leaves bleminshes on fruits) and also adds strength to the fact that consumers prefer flavor more than appearance, hence use of pesticides is more advisable.

Hea234ven · Answer

need explanation how E can be correct. tnx

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official answer is edited! Its C not E.

Thank you!

vishu48 · Answer

In interest of appealing to consumer tastes, fruit growers would be well advised to use pesticides but not artificial fertilizers.- Last line

Since Pesticides do not change the flavor of fruits and such fruits appeal to consumers as they are free of blemishes and fertilizers have no effect on how do fruits look, using fertilizers will be suitable for fruit growers. It acts a evidence for the soundness of the advice to fruit growers.

I feel E is a correct choice.

Sajjad1994 · Answer

I didn't changes the OA on my own interest rather it was wrongly entered as E, i was about to post the OE and noticed the wrong OA so edited it. I respect your opinion.

Thank you.

Nipungupta9081 · Answer

Hey  SajjadAhmad  could you please provide Official POE ?

aloysiusgaul · Answer

I disagree with this answer. We know that fertiliser is bad for flavour and pesticides have no impact. We also know that pesticides are good for appearance. But we have no way of knowing what impact fertilisers have on fruit. What if fertilisers make fruits look even better than pesticides? Then citing option C makes the argument WEAKER. So this cannot be the right answer with the stimulus as is.

Option E however lets us know how to compare both across both metrics. It’s not perfect (we don’t know whether consumers value taste/look at all), but we do know them that in every metric the argument uses as a premise for saying not to use fertiliser, fertiliser adds no or limited value. So an argument saying not to use it would be strengthened by saying it adds no benefit.

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Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

The argument recommends that fruit growers not use artificial fertilizers if they wish to appeal to consumer tastes because these fertilizers diminish flavor. This recommendation depends on the assumption that flavor enhances a fruit’s appeal to consumers.  Choice (C)  helps substantiate this assumption. (Presumably, flavorful fruit is more appealing than flavorless fruit.)

The correct answer is (C).

Although the use of fertilizers tends to diminish the flavor of fruits

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Although the use of fertilizers tends to diminish the flavor of fruits

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