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Diplomat: Though poppies can be turned into illegal and addictive drug 11 Feb 2022, 02:30
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57% (02:05) correct 43% (02:20) wrong based on 803 sessions

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Diplomat: Though poppies can be turned into illegal and addictive drugs, we cannot expect farmers in Narobistan to stop growing poppies without providing these farmers, whose only concern is earning enough to support their families, with other options. To encourage the growing of soy plants that can be used to produce alternative fuels, we should agree to pay the farmers twice as much for an acre of soy plants as the farmers are paid for an acre of poppies.

Which of the following would most weaken the argument above?


A. In Narobistan, it is illegal to use drugs grown from poppies, but legal to grow the poppies.

B. The process by which soy plants are turned into alternative fuels will remain very expensive for at least another five years.

C. The farmers in Narobistan who grow plants that are used in perfumes make 2.5 times what poppy-growing farmers make each year.

D. The market for alternative fuels is less than one-thousandth of the market for illegal drugs.

E. The cost of producing an acre of poppies is approximately one-half of the cost of producing an acre of soy plants.
 
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Diplomat: Though poppies can be turned into illegal and addictive drug 11 Feb 2022, 03:39
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E) is the best choice because the argument fails to include the important variable such as cost of production — this weakens the argument

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Diplomat: Though poppies can be turned into illegal and addictive drug 11 Feb 2022, 06:23
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My problem with the question is that the stem itself presents a contradiction.

The first statement says that farmers' only concern is earning enough to support their families, which means they're not financially incentivized. If they are likely to end up making the same money or more money, they may or may not switch crops. Unless they're making lesser than their minimum requirement, we have no grounds to predict which way they will swing. (Making money here means subtracting the total cost of production from the selling price)

Thus, the main argument which proposes paying farmers 2x the money to encourage them to grow soy-crops does not bear any positive effect in itself, and is neutral at best.

The only way we can WEAKEN this argument is by somehow knowing either that soy crops don't have a market demand in proportion to the produce (in which case the 2x prices are of no effect), or that soy crops are very very costly to grow (which will result in farmers making less money than now and having difficulties in sustaining their families)

The only two options that talk of these two possibilities are D and E, however none of them weaken the argument.

Quote:
E. The cost of producing an acre of poppies is approximately one-half of the cost of producing an acre of soy plants.
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If soy is grown at 2x the cost of poppies AND sold at 2x the price of poppies, simple math tells us that net earnings also become 2x. This does not match with any of the two reasons we discussed above that can potentially WEAKEN the argument.

Quote:
D. The market for alternative fuels is less than one-thousandth of the market for illegal drugs.
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Could've potentially weakened only if it was known that illegal drugs and alternative fuels are the ONLY TWO MARKETS available for farmers to sell their produce. If they are not the only markets for their respective categories, their respective sizes don't matter to us. And we cannot conclude that soy market as a whole is a smaller market than poppy which could've been one of the reasons to weaken the argument.

Quote:
C. The farmers in Narobistan who grow plants that are used in perfumes make 2.5 times what poppy-growing farmers make each year.
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Option C is incorrect too. Greater financial incentives cannot weaken our argument, they have no effect.

The other 2 options A and B are irrelevant.
Quote:
A. In Narobistan, it is illegal to use drugs grown from poppies, but legal to grow the poppies.
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Quote:
B. The process by which soy plants are turned into alternative fuels will remain very expensive for at least another five years.
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Diplomat: Though poppies can be turned into illegal and addictive drug 11 Feb 2022, 08:57
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Bunuel
Diplomat: Though poppies can be turned into illegal and addictive drugs, we cannot expect farmers in Narobistan to stop growing poppies without providing these farmers, whose only concern is earning enough to support their families, with other options. To encourage the growing of soy plants that can be used to produce alternative fuels, we should agree to pay the farmers twice as much for an acre of soy plants as the farmers are paid for an acre of poppies.

Which of the following would most weaken the argument above?


A. In Narobistan, it is illegal to use drugs grown from poppies, but legal to grow the poppies.

B. The process by which soy plants are turned into alternative fuels will remain very expensive for at least another five years.

C. The farmers in Narobistan who grow plants that are used in perfumes make 2.5 times what poppy-growing farmers make each year.

D. The market for alternative fuels is less than one-thousandth of the market for illegal drugs.

E. The cost of producing an acre of poppies is approximately one-half of the cost of producing an acre of soy plants.
Show more
Argument
Need to provide alternative income. Lets pay them 2 times to grow soy beans for producing alternative fuel

Question type
Weaken

A. In Narobistan, it is illegal to use drugs grown from poppies, but legal to grow the poppies. --> Does not affect conclusion --> INCORRECT

B. The process by which soy plants are turned into alternative fuels will remain very expensive for at least another five years. --> But we are buying from them at double price. It does not matter if the alternative fuel will remain expensive --> INCORRECT

C. The farmers in Narobistan who grow plants that are used in perfumes make 2.5 times what poppy-growing farmers make each year. --> comparison is OUT OF SCOPE --> INCORRECT

D. The market for alternative fuels is less than one-thousandth of the market for illegal drugs. --> If there is no market, there will hardly be any buyers. So, even if they will get twice, but will sell only one-thousandth leading to loss of 499/500 --> Weakens -->CORRECT

E. The cost of producing an acre of poppies is approximately one-half of the cost of producing an acre of soy plants. --> Suppose they were getting 100 and spending 50 to produce crops. Now they will get 200 and spend 100. Profit will be 100 as compared to 50 before. They will still be in twice better position than before. --> INCORRECT


Ans D
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Diplomat: Though poppies can be turned into illegal and addictive drug 11 Feb 2022, 09:53
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Bunuel
Diplomat: Though poppies can be turned into illegal and addictive drugs, we cannot expect farmers in Narobistan to stop growing poppies without providing these farmers, whose only concern is earning enough to support their families, with other options. To encourage the growing of soy plants that can be used to produce alternative fuels, we should agree to pay the farmers twice as much for an acre of soy plants as the farmers are paid for an acre of poppies.

Which of the following would most weaken the argument above?


A. In Narobistan, it is illegal to use drugs grown from poppies, but legal to grow the poppies.

B. The process by which soy plants are turned into alternative fuels will remain very expensive for at least another five years.

C. The farmers in Narobistan who grow plants that are used in perfumes make 2.5 times what poppy-growing farmers make each year.

D. The market for alternative fuels is less than one-thousandth of the market for illegal drugs.

E. The cost of producing an acre of poppies is approximately one-half of the cost of producing an acre of soy plants.



Project CR Butler: Critical Reasoning


For all CR butler Questions Click Here

Argument
Need to provide alternative income. Lets pay them 2 times to grow soy beans for producing alternative fuel

Question type
Weaken

A. In Narobistan, it is illegal to use drugs grown from poppies, but legal to grow the poppies. --> Does not affect conclusion --> INCORRECT

B. The process by which soy plants are turned into alternative fuels will remain very expensive for at least another five years. --> But we are buying from them at double price. It does not matter if the alternative fuel will remain expensive --> INCORRECT

C. The farmers in Narobistan who grow plants that are used in perfumes make 2.5 times what poppy-growing farmers make each year. --> comparison is OUT OF SCOPE --> INCORRECT

D. The market for alternative fuels is less than one-thousandth of the market for illegal drugs. --> If there is no market, there will hardly be any buyers. So, even if they will get twice, but will sell only one-thousandth leading to loss of 499/500 --> Weakens -->CORRECT

E. The cost of producing an acre of poppies is approximately one-half of the cost of producing an acre of soy plants. --> Suppose they were getting 100 and spending 50 to produce crops. Now they will get 200 and spend 100. Profit will be 100 as compared to 50 before. They will still be in twice better position than before. --> INCORRECT


Ans D
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Hi desertEagle, how do we know in option D if 'alternative fuels' is the only markets in which farmers can sell their soy crops? The way I read the stem it appears that soy can be used for alternative fuels, but it is just a possibility, there could be other markets too where farmers can sell their soy-produce right? Just like farmers didn't grow poppy only for illegal drugs, similarly I think they're not growing soy only for alternative fuels. What do you think?

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Diplomat: Though poppies can be turned into illegal and addictive drug 11 Feb 2022, 19:36
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kungfury42
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Bunuel
Diplomat: Though poppies can be turned into illegal and addictive drugs, we cannot expect farmers in Narobistan to stop growing poppies without providing these farmers, whose only concern is earning enough to support their families, with other options. To encourage the growing of soy plants that can be used to produce alternative fuels, we should agree to pay the farmers twice as much for an acre of soy plants as the farmers are paid for an acre of poppies.

Which of the following would most weaken the argument above?


A. In Narobistan, it is illegal to use drugs grown from poppies, but legal to grow the poppies.

B. The process by which soy plants are turned into alternative fuels will remain very expensive for at least another five years.

C. The farmers in Narobistan who grow plants that are used in perfumes make 2.5 times what poppy-growing farmers make each year.

D. The market for alternative fuels is less than one-thousandth of the market for illegal drugs.

E. The cost of producing an acre of poppies is approximately one-half of the cost of producing an acre of soy plants.



Project CR Butler: Critical Reasoning


For all CR butler Questions Click Here

Argument
Need to provide alternative income. Lets pay them 2 times to grow soy beans for producing alternative fuel

Question type
Weaken

A. In Narobistan, it is illegal to use drugs grown from poppies, but legal to grow the poppies. --> Does not affect conclusion --> INCORRECT

B. The process by which soy plants are turned into alternative fuels will remain very expensive for at least another five years. --> But we are buying from them at double price. It does not matter if the alternative fuel will remain expensive --> INCORRECT

C. The farmers in Narobistan who grow plants that are used in perfumes make 2.5 times what poppy-growing farmers make each year. --> comparison is OUT OF SCOPE --> INCORRECT

D. The market for alternative fuels is less than one-thousandth of the market for illegal drugs. --> If there is no market, there will hardly be any buyers. So, even if they will get twice, but will sell only one-thousandth leading to loss of 499/500 --> Weakens -->CORRECT

E. The cost of producing an acre of poppies is approximately one-half of the cost of producing an acre of soy plants. --> Suppose they were getting 100 and spending 50 to produce crops. Now they will get 200 and spend 100. Profit will be 100 as compared to 50 before. They will still be in twice better position than before. --> INCORRECT


Ans D

Hi desertEagle, how do we know in option D if 'alternative fuels' is the only markets in which farmers can sell their soy crops? The way I read the stem it appears that soy can be used for alternative fuels, but it is just a possibility, there could be other markets too where farmers can sell their soy-produce right? Just like farmers didn't grow poppy only for illegal drugs, similarly I think they're not growing soy only for alternative fuels. What do you think?

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Market refers to a system where one buys and sells. Market consists of a collective of both legal and illegal activities. If liqor is banned, an alternate illegal market develops. Has happened in USA, when liquor was banned. A market can consist of as small as two individuals, one who is ready to sell and another who is ready to buy

Now, in a weakening or strenghthening question, its not required that the option make the argument airtight. What is required is that the option slightly decreases or increases the probability of the outcome. In this case, it is so.

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/market.asp
Read this to see that market can be illegal too
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Diplomat: Though poppies can be turned into illegal and addictive drug 11 Feb 2022, 19:41
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kungfury42
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Bunuel
Diplomat: Though poppies can be turned into illegal and addictive drugs, we cannot expect farmers in Narobistan to stop growing poppies without providing these farmers, whose only concern is earning enough to support their families, with other options. To encourage the growing of soy plants that can be used to produce alternative fuels, we should agree to pay the farmers twice as much for an acre of soy plants as the farmers are paid for an acre of poppies.

Which of the following would most weaken the argument above?


A. In Narobistan, it is illegal to use drugs grown from poppies, but legal to grow the poppies.

B. The process by which soy plants are turned into alternative fuels will remain very expensive for at least another five years.

C. The farmers in Narobistan who grow plants that are used in perfumes make 2.5 times what poppy-growing farmers make each year.

D. The market for alternative fuels is less than one-thousandth of the market for illegal drugs.

E. The cost of producing an acre of poppies is approximately one-half of the cost of producing an acre of soy plants.



Project CR Butler: Critical Reasoning


For all CR butler Questions Click Here

Argument
Need to provide alternative income. Lets pay them 2 times to grow soy beans for producing alternative fuel

Question type
Weaken

A. In Narobistan, it is illegal to use drugs grown from poppies, but legal to grow the poppies. --> Does not affect conclusion --> INCORRECT

B. The process by which soy plants are turned into alternative fuels will remain very expensive for at least another five years. --> But we are buying from them at double price. It does not matter if the alternative fuel will remain expensive --> INCORRECT

C. The farmers in Narobistan who grow plants that are used in perfumes make 2.5 times what poppy-growing farmers make each year. --> comparison is OUT OF SCOPE --> INCORRECT

D. The market for alternative fuels is less than one-thousandth of the market for illegal drugs. --> If there is no market, there will hardly be any buyers. So, even if they will get twice, but will sell only one-thousandth leading to loss of 499/500 --> Weakens -->CORRECT

E. The cost of producing an acre of poppies is approximately one-half of the cost of producing an acre of soy plants. --> Suppose they were getting 100 and spending 50 to produce crops. Now they will get 200 and spend 100. Profit will be 100 as compared to 50 before. They will still be in twice better position than before. --> INCORRECT


Ans D

Hi desertEagle, how do we know in option D if 'alternative fuels' is the only markets in which farmers can sell their soy crops? The way I read the stem it appears that soy can be used for alternative fuels, but it is just a possibility, there could be other markets too where farmers can sell their soy-produce right? Just like farmers didn't grow poppy only for illegal drugs, similarly I think they're not growing soy only for alternative fuels. What do you think?

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Also, it is quite possible that there can be alternative use of soya, like food industry and others. But the question is specifically about alternative fuels. The argument is about alternative fuels not alternative use of soya. Our reasoning should affect only the argument (mainly conclusion of the argument).

If i give you $5 for candy and you buy biscuit, is my purpose served. I wanted to eat candy but now i ahve biscuit.

Hope it helps
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Diplomat: Though poppies can be turned into illegal and addictive drug 11 Feb 2022, 23:23
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desertEagle
kungfury42
desertEagle


Argument
Need to provide alternative income. Lets pay them 2 times to grow soy beans for producing alternative fuel

Question type
Weaken

A. In Narobistan, it is illegal to use drugs grown from poppies, but legal to grow the poppies. --> Does not affect conclusion --> INCORRECT

B. The process by which soy plants are turned into alternative fuels will remain very expensive for at least another five years. --> But we are buying from them at double price. It does not matter if the alternative fuel will remain expensive --> INCORRECT

C. The farmers in Narobistan who grow plants that are used in perfumes make 2.5 times what poppy-growing farmers make each year. --> comparison is OUT OF SCOPE --> INCORRECT

D. The market for alternative fuels is less than one-thousandth of the market for illegal drugs. --> If there is no market, there will hardly be any buyers. So, even if they will get twice, but will sell only one-thousandth leading to loss of 499/500 --> Weakens -->CORRECT

E. The cost of producing an acre of poppies is approximately one-half of the cost of producing an acre of soy plants. --> Suppose they were getting 100 and spending 50 to produce crops. Now they will get 200 and spend 100. Profit will be 100 as compared to 50 before. They will still be in twice better position than before. --> INCORRECT


Ans D

Hi desertEagle, how do we know in option D if 'alternative fuels' is the only markets in which farmers can sell their soy crops? The way I read the stem it appears that soy can be used for alternative fuels, but it is just a possibility, there could be other markets too where farmers can sell their soy-produce right? Just like farmers didn't grow poppy only for illegal drugs, similarly I think they're not growing soy only for alternative fuels. What do you think?

Posted from my mobile device

Also, it is quite possible that there can be alternative use of soya, like food industry and others. But the question is specifically about alternative fuels. The argument is about alternative fuels not alternative use of soya. Our reasoning should affect only the argument (mainly conclusion of the argument).

If i give you $5 for candy and you buy biscuit, is my purpose served. I wanted to eat candy but now i ahve biscuit.

Hope it helps
Show more

Makes perfect sense. Thank you so much :)
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Diplomat: Though poppies can be turned into illegal and addictive drug 12 Feb 2022, 12:32
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kungfury42 desertEagle

To be honest option D still causes me some doubt

In the stem it says "To encourage the growing of soy plants that can be used to produce alternative fuels, we should agree to pay the farmers twice as much for an acre of soy plants as the farmers are paid for an acre of poppies."
first of all who is "we"? in real life IMF, UN and other international organizations fund such programs and usually "we" refers to them but here we don't know.

So this raises two thing; whatever major organization is behind this project, they will buy it from the farmers. If that's the case, then plan will hold because it doesn't matter if the market is small or big. It will be the problem of the organization to sell what they bought from farmers, hence not affecting farmers (we don't care if organization stocks them or fail to sell them to alternative fuel markets what we care is to attract farmers to plant soy instead of poppies)

the second thing is if "we" is the buyers in the alternative market than yes it may weaken the argument, but still we don't know whether "one thousandths" is small or large... global drug market is estimated to be at 1.3 trillion dollar, so 1/1000 is still a huge number...
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Diplomat: Though poppies can be turned into illegal and addictive drug 12 Feb 2022, 13:31
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kungfury42 desertEagle

To be honest option D still causes me some doubt

In the stem it says "To encourage the growing of soy plants that can be used to produce alternative fuels, we should agree to pay the farmers twice as much for an acre of soy plants as the farmers are paid for an acre of poppies."
first of all who is "we"? in real life IMF, UN and other international organizations fund such programs and usually "we" refers to them but here we don't know.

So this raises two thing; whatever major organization is behind this project, they will buy it from the farmers. If that's the case, then plan will hold because it doesn't matter if the market is small or big. It will be the problem of the organization to sell what they bought from farmers, hence not affecting farmers (we don't care if organization stocks them or fail to sell them to alternative fuel markets what we care is to attract farmers to plant soy instead of poppies)

the second thing is if "we" is the buyers in the alternative market than yes it may weaken the argument, but still we don't know whether "one thousandths" is small or large... global drug market is estimated to be at 1.3 trillion dollar, so 1/1000 is still a huge number...
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This is a great point gloomybison, and while this thought did cross my mind briefly I probably didn't think too hard at it and let it go, but now that you've written it down I completely agree. If the crop has been pre-agreed to be purchased by "we" at 2x the prices, then we shouldn't really care how big or small the market is, because it isn't my farmer's problem anymore. Another point that strengthens this argument is that if the organizations such as IMF are not buying from the farmers, and it is the end user directly buying the crop, then how can the institution that proposed this plan agree on behalf of the buyer that the buyer would pay 2x the prices to encourage the farmers to continue growing soy?

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Diplomat: Though poppies can be turned into illegal and addictive drug 13 Feb 2022, 00:03
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Diplomat: Though poppies can be turned into illegal and addictive drugs, we cannot expect farmers in Narobistan to stop growing poppies without providing these farmers, whose only concern is earning enough to support their families, with other options. To encourage the growing of soy plants that can be used to produce alternative fuels, we should agree to pay the farmers twice as much for an acre of soy plants as the farmers are paid for an acre of poppies.

Which of the following would most weaken the argument above?

A. In Narobistan, it is illegal to use drugs grown from poppies, but legal to grow the poppies. -> If it is legal to grow poppies then farmers may or may not grow as they are getting paid twice. It shall depend on their earnings. Incorrect.

B. The process by which soy plants are turned into alternative fuels will remain very expensive for at least another five years. -> May be but, twice price will be paid to farmers for product of soy plants. Farmers can still opt for soy production. Incorrect.

C. The farmers in Narobistan who grow plants that are used in perfumes make 2.5 times what poppy-growing farmers make each year. -> It is irrelevant, we are talking about Soy plants and Poppies plants.

D. The market for alternative fuels is less than one-thousandth of the market for illegal drugs. -> If market is less by 1 /1000, it means, higher priced (twice price of Poppies) soy production will be sold out for less units, and it leads to less absolute revenue and less absolute profit for farmers. It shall weaken the conclusion.

revenue = (No. of unit sold * selling Price per unit) and Profit = Revenue - Cost.

E. The cost of producing an acre of poppies is approximately one-half of the cost of producing an acre of soy plants.
New revenue of Soy = 200, revenue of Poppies = 100, if cost of soy production = 90 then cost of poppies production = 45; still profit due to Soy = (200 - 90) > profit due to poppies = (100 - 45)

So, I think D. :)
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Diplomat: Though poppies can be turned into illegal and addictive drug 14 Feb 2022, 09:40
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kungfury42
My problem with the question is that the stem itself presents a contradiction.

The first statement says that farmers' only concern is earning enough to support their families, which means they're not financially incentivized. If they are likely to end up making the same money or more money, they may or may not switch crops. Unless they're making lesser than their minimum requirement, we have no grounds to predict which way they will swing. (Making money here means subtracting the total cost of production from the selling price)

Thus, the main argument which proposes paying farmers 2x the money to encourage them to grow soy-crops does not bear any positive effect in itself, and is neutral at best.

The only way we can WEAKEN this argument is by somehow knowing either that soy crops don't have a market demand in proportion to the produce (in which case the 2x prices are of no effect), or that soy crops are very very costly to grow (which will result in farmers making less money than now and having difficulties in sustaining their families)

The only two options that talk of these two possibilities are D and E, however none of them weaken the argument.

Quote:
E. The cost of producing an acre of poppies is approximately one-half of the cost of producing an acre of soy plants.
If soy is grown at 2x the cost of poppies AND sold at 2x the price of poppies, simple math tells us that net earnings also become 2x. This does not match with any of the two reasons we discussed above that can potentially WEAKEN the argument.

Quote:
D. The market for alternative fuels is less than one-thousandth of the market for illegal drugs.
Could've potentially weakened only if it was known that illegal drugs and alternative fuels are the ONLY TWO MARKETS available for farmers to sell their produce. If they are not the only markets for their respective categories, their respective sizes don't matter to us. And we cannot conclude that soy market as a whole is a smaller market than poppy which could've been one of the reasons to weaken the argument.

Quote:
C. The farmers in Narobistan who grow plants that are used in perfumes make 2.5 times what poppy-growing farmers make each year.
Option C is incorrect too. Greater financial incentives cannot weaken our argument, they have no effect.

The other 2 options A and B are irrelevant.
Quote:
A. In Narobistan, it is illegal to use drugs grown from poppies, but legal to grow the poppies.
Quote:
B. The process by which soy plants are turned into alternative fuels will remain very expensive for at least another five years.

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The question is specifically asking about the point that weakens it and not completely removing it. Meaning, In option E, the profit is reduced compared to a situation where both have equal production cost (profit will be high in this case). In all likelihood, Option E wakens the arguments.

Now if you look at D, there may be a case where the government itself buy the crop at Minimum supportive price, stock it in warehouse for selling latter. In this case, market size is irrelevant.
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Diplomat: Though poppies can be turned into illegal and addictive drug 26 Jun 2023, 19:43
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Bunuel
Diplomat: Though poppies can be turned into illegal and addictive drugs, we cannot expect farmers in Narobistan to stop growing poppies without providing these farmers, whose only concern is earning enough to support their families, with other options. To encourage the growing of soy plants that can be used to produce alternative fuels, we should agree to pay the farmers twice as much for an acre of soy plants as the farmers are paid for an acre of poppies.

Which of the following would most weaken the argument above?


A. In Narobistan, it is illegal to use drugs grown from poppies, but legal to grow the poppies.

B. The process by which soy plants are turned into alternative fuels will remain very expensive for at least another five years.

C. The farmers in Narobistan who grow plants that are used in perfumes make 2.5 times what poppy-growing farmers make each year.

D. The market for alternative fuels is less than one-thousandth of the market for illegal drugs.

E. The cost of producing an acre of poppies is approximately one-half of the cost of producing an acre of soy plants.



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Bunuel can you please post the official answer? Choice E does not sound mathematically correct to be the correct answer. (Half to twice)
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Diplomat: Though poppies can be turned into illegal and addictive drug 27 Sep 2023, 22:21
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Hi KarishmaB MartyMurray

Can you please explain the choice D & E

I rejected the choice D because I thought the market comparison is not necessary. Whether farmers are able to grow enough poppies to capture all the market. What if they are not able to produce enough poppies to capture all the markets.

Is my reasoning correct or there is some loophole?
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Diplomat: Though poppies can be turned into illegal and addictive drug Updated on: 15 Oct 2023, 19:56
Originally posted by MartyMurray on 28 Sep 2023, 06:26.
Last edited by MartyMurray on 15 Oct 2023, 19:56, edited 1 time in total.
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Vatsal7794
Hi KarishmaB MartyMurray

Can you please explain the choice D & E

I rejected the choice D because I thought the market comparison is not necessary. Whether farmers are able to grow enough poppies to capture all the market. What if they are not able to produce enough poppies to capture all the markets.

Is my reasoning correct or there is some loophole?
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Indeed, the relationship between the sizes of the two markets does not matter for the plan, for two reasons.

One reason is that the plan is that "we" will pay the farmers. Presumably, "we" is an entity that will pay for soy twice what the farmers are paid for poppies regardless of the size of the market for soy.

The second reason is basically the one that you stated, which is that we don't really know how the sizes of the markets affect the ability of farmers in Narobistan to sell poppies or soy.

For one thing, even though the market for the market for alternative fuels is less than one-thousandth of the market for illegal drugs, there could still be unsatisfied demand for soy since the relative size of the market does not indicate the absolute size of the market or how well supplied the market is.

For instance, the market for alternative fuels could be a billion-dollar market, and the market for illegal drugs could be a trillion-dollar market. In that case, the billion-dollar market might still be ready to absorb any supply created by farmers in Narobistan. (Also, notice by the way, that "the market for illegal drugs" could be much larger than the market for "poppies" since not all illegal drugs are produced from poppies.)

So, for those two reasons, (D) does not weaken the argument.
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Diplomat: Though poppies can be turned into illegal and addictive drug 14 Oct 2023, 15:19
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MartyMurray
Vatsal7794
Hi KarishmaB MartyMurray

Can you please explain the choice D & E

I rejected the choice D because I thought the market comparison is not necessary. Whether farmers are able to grow enough poppies to capture all the market. What if they are not able to produce enough poppies to capture all the markets.

Is my reasoning correct or there is some loophole?
Indeed, the relationship between the sizes of the two markets does not matter for the plan, for two reasons.

One reason is that the plan is that "we" will pay the farmers. Presumably, "we" is an entity that will pay for soy twice what the farmers are paid for poppies regardless of the size of the market for soy.

The second reason is basically the one that you stated, which is that we don't really know how the sizes of the markets affect the ability of farmers in Narobistan to sell poppies or soy.

For one thing, even though the market for the market for alternative fuels is less than one-thousandth of the market for illegal drugs, there could still be unsatisfied demand for soy since the relative size of the market does not indicate the absolute size of the market or how well supplied the market is.

For instance, the market for alternative fuels could be a billion-dollar market, and the market for illegal drugs could be a trillion-dollar market. In that case, the billion-dollar market might still be ready to absorb any supply created by farmers in Narobistan. (Also, notice by the way, that "the market for illegal drugs" could be much larger than the market for "poppies" since not all illegal drugs are produced from poppies.)

So, for those two reasons, (D) does not weaken the argument.

On the other hand, (E) does weaken the argument. Here's why.

The conclusion of the argument is the following:

    To encourage the growing of soy plants that can be used to produce alternative fuels, we should agree to pay the farmers twice as much for an acre of soy plants as the farmers are paid for an acre of poppies.

The support for the conclusion is the following:

    we cannot expect farmers in Narobistan to stop growing poppies without providing these farmers, whose only concern is earning enough to support their families, with other options

So, basically, the author is asserting that, to provide farmers with another option, "we should agree to pay farmers twice as much."

(E) weakens the support for the conclusion by showing that "we" may be able to provide farmers with another option without paying them "twice as much." After all, if as (E) says, "The cost of producing an acre of poppies is approximately one-half of the cost of producing an acre of soy plants," then it's likely that growing soy rather than poppies would be a better option for farmers even if "we" paid them for soy the same amount they are paid for poppies, rather than twice as much.

So, (E) casts doubt on the assertion that "we should agree to pay farmers twice as much."

Thus, the correct answer is (E).
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HI MartyMurray ,

Thanks for the explanation , I still feel if the arg is reversed then it makes more sense like "if The cost of producing an acre of soy is approximately one-half of the cost of producing an acre of popies? isnt it ? then we need not pay them 2x as much
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Diplomat: Though poppies can be turned into illegal and addictive drug 15 Oct 2023, 19:55
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TheGriffin
HI MartyMurray ,

Thanks for the explanation , I still feel if the arg is reversed then it makes more sense like "if The cost of producing an acre of soy is approximately one-half of the cost of producing an acre of popies? isnt it ? then we need not pay them 2x as much
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Yes, that's correct, and I think I missed that when I explained the question. I wonder whether the question was copied incorrectly. I'm deleting that part of my explanation for now. It appears that there's an issue with the question.
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Diplomat: Though poppies can be turned into illegal and addictive drug 31 Aug 2025, 05:10
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KarishmaB MartyMurray

I agree with answer E. But i have some reservations.

question says we will pay twice for an acre of soy
Option E says poppy seeds need half the cost to produce

Lets assume a scenario.

Poppy sells at 100 and costs 50, giving a profit of 50 per acre.
Soy will sell at 200 (twice that of poppy) and will cost 100 (Poppy costs half that of soy, thus soy costs double poppy) giving a profit of 100.

Thus after the plan implementation, farmers will be better off (as metrics are given on per acre basis).

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MartyMurray

Yes, that's correct, and I think I missed that when I explained the question. I wonder whether the question was copied incorrectly. I'm deleting that part of my explanation for now. It appears that there's an issue with the question.
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Diplomat: Though poppies can be turned into illegal and addictive drug 31 Aug 2025, 05:28
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Su1206
KarishmaB MartyMurray

I agree with answer E. But i have some reservations.

question says we will pay twice for an acre of soy
Option E says poppy seeds need half the cost to produce

Lets assume a scenario.

Poppy sells at 100 and costs 50, giving a profit of 50 per acre.
Soy will sell at 200 (twice that of poppy) and will cost 100 (Poppy costs half that of soy, thus soy costs double poppy) giving a profit of 100.

Thus after the plan implementation, farmers will be better off (as metrics are given on per acre basis).

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The correct answer to a Weaken question has only to cast doubt on the conclusion, not prove with certainly that it's untrue.

So, in this case, the fact that it costs more to produce soy casts doubt on the conclusion. After all, if the cost of producing soy is higher, paying the farmers more for soy may not actually work to get them to produce soy instead of poppies.

It may work, as you outlined, but (E) indicates that there is at least some reason to believe that the plan may not work.

So, the question works, though it could be argued that it's not ideally constructed.
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Diplomat: Though poppies can be turned into illegal and addictive drug 02 Sep 2025, 09:01
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I selected 'C' because the premise says, their only concern is earning enough and option C tells us that they have another, better way of making more money but they still go for poppies.
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