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13 Aug 2024, 01:30
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E
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
35%
(medium)
Question Stats:
74% (01:48) correct
26%
(01:47)
wrong
based on 218
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
As a result of implementing an experimental farming system that combined aggressive new fertilization, deep irrigation, and speculative pesticides, the yield on crops at a farm in central California grew consistently and considerably over the past six years. However, yields this year unexpectedly plummeted, causing the farm's owners considerable financial difficulties.
Which of the following statements, if true, best explains the unexpected drop in yield?
A) As a result of a serious and recent economic recession, the market for the products the farm produced shrank in size during the past year.
B) Other farms that began using the experimental system at about the same time also reported an unexpected plummet in yields this year.
C) The central California region where the farm in question is located experienced a drought 9 years ago, 3 years ago, and this past year.
D) A different experimental system, used on a different crop, failed after two years at a farm in Iowa. Scientists later discovered that chemicals involved in this different system slowly poisoned the soil.
E) Significant and sustained increases in agricultural productivity eventually lead to an exhaustion of important nutrients in land.
Which of the following statements, if true, best explains the unexpected drop in yield?
A) As a result of a serious and recent economic recession, the market for the products the farm produced shrank in size during the past year.
B) Other farms that began using the experimental system at about the same time also reported an unexpected plummet in yields this year.
C) The central California region where the farm in question is located experienced a drought 9 years ago, 3 years ago, and this past year.
D) A different experimental system, used on a different crop, failed after two years at a farm in Iowa. Scientists later discovered that chemicals involved in this different system slowly poisoned the soil.
E) Significant and sustained increases in agricultural productivity eventually lead to an exhaustion of important nutrients in land.
Updated on: 13 Aug 2024, 21:39
Originally posted by bronaugust on 13 Aug 2024, 06:01.
Last edited by bronaugust on 13 Aug 2024, 21:39, edited 1 time in total.
Last edited by bronaugust on 13 Aug 2024, 21:39, edited 1 time in total.
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To solve this question, let us deploy IMS's four-step technique.
STEP #1 -> IDENTIFY THE QUESTION TYPE
Let us read the question stem to identify the question type.
STEP #2 -> X-RAY THE ARGUMENT
In a paradox question, it is a must to x-ray the argument and figure out the paradox. Let us therefore read the argument first and note the paradox soon after.
STEP #3 -> FRAME A SHADOW ANSWER
To frame a shadow answer, we need to know what the correct answer should do. In this question, the correct answer must explain/resolve the paradox (the unexpected drop in yield).
SHADOW ANSWER: Any situation that explains why yields this year could have unexpectedly plummeted despite growing consistently and considerably over the past six years (as a result of implementing an experimental farming system that combined aggressive new fertilization, deep irrigation, and speculative pesticides).
STEP #4 -> ELIMINATE INCORRECT OPTIONS
A) As a result of a serious and recent economic recession, the market for the products the farm produced shrank in size during the past year. | NOT A MATCH | The fact that the market for the farm’s products shrank in size during the past year due to a recent serious economic recession does not explain why yields this year could have unexpectedly plummeted. In other words, while this option indicates that the market shrank, it does not address why the yields dropped unexpectedly. Clearly, the paradox remains unresolved. | ELIMINATE
B) Other farms that began using the experimental system at about the same time also reported an unexpected plummet in yields this year. | NOT A MATCH | We are looking for an option that tells us why the yields could have unexpectedly plummeted. Instead of resolving the paradox, this option intensifies it by stating that other farms that began using the experimental system around the same time also reported an unexpected plummet in yields this year. | ELIMINATE
C) The central California region where the farm in question is located experienced a drought 9 years ago, 3 years ago, and this past year. | NOT A MATCH | While drought could have caused the yields to plummet, this option does not resolve the paradox because crop yields had been growing consistently and considerably over the past six years. If drought were the reason, the yields should have declined even three years ago, but they continued to grow instead. | ELIMINATE
D) A different experimental system, used on a different crop, failed after two years at a farm in Iowa. Scientists later discovered that chemicals involved in this different system slowly poisoned the soil. | NOT A MATCH | Not worried about a different experimental system, for no information regarding that will resolve the paradox at hand. | ELIMINATE
E) Significant and sustained increases in agricultural productivity eventually lead to an exhaustion of important nutrients in land. | MATCHES THE SHADOW ANSWER | If significant and sustained increases in agricultural productivity eventually lead to the exhaustion of important nutrients in the land, we have an explanation for why yields unexpectedly plummeted this year. Here goes the explanation: The yields grew consistently and considerably over the past six years, indicating significant productivity increases. This consistent and considerable growth in turn led to the depletion of essential nutrients in the soil (since significant and sustained increases in agricultural productivity eventually lead to an exhaustion of important nutrients in land). The unexpected drop in yields happened due to nutrient exhaustion, causing considerable financial difficulties for the farm’s owners. The paradox is now resolved. | MARK AND MOVE
Hence, (E) has to be the correct answer.
STEP #1 -> IDENTIFY THE QUESTION TYPE
Let us read the question stem to identify the question type.
Quote:
The stem indicates a paradox question.
STEP #2 -> X-RAY THE ARGUMENT
In a paradox question, it is a must to x-ray the argument and figure out the paradox. Let us therefore read the argument first and note the paradox soon after.
Quote:
PARADOX: Despite the fact that the yield on crops at a farm in central California grew consistently and considerably over the past six years as a result of implementing an experimental farming system that combined aggressive new fertilization, deep irrigation, and speculative pesticides, yields this year unexpectedly plummeted, causing the farm's owners considerable financial difficulties.
STEP #3 -> FRAME A SHADOW ANSWER
To frame a shadow answer, we need to know what the correct answer should do. In this question, the correct answer must explain/resolve the paradox (the unexpected drop in yield).
SHADOW ANSWER: Any situation that explains why yields this year could have unexpectedly plummeted despite growing consistently and considerably over the past six years (as a result of implementing an experimental farming system that combined aggressive new fertilization, deep irrigation, and speculative pesticides).
STEP #4 -> ELIMINATE INCORRECT OPTIONS
A) As a result of a serious and recent economic recession, the market for the products the farm produced shrank in size during the past year. | NOT A MATCH | The fact that the market for the farm’s products shrank in size during the past year due to a recent serious economic recession does not explain why yields this year could have unexpectedly plummeted. In other words, while this option indicates that the market shrank, it does not address why the yields dropped unexpectedly. Clearly, the paradox remains unresolved. | ELIMINATE
B) Other farms that began using the experimental system at about the same time also reported an unexpected plummet in yields this year. | NOT A MATCH | We are looking for an option that tells us why the yields could have unexpectedly plummeted. Instead of resolving the paradox, this option intensifies it by stating that other farms that began using the experimental system around the same time also reported an unexpected plummet in yields this year. | ELIMINATE
C) The central California region where the farm in question is located experienced a drought 9 years ago, 3 years ago, and this past year. | NOT A MATCH | While drought could have caused the yields to plummet, this option does not resolve the paradox because crop yields had been growing consistently and considerably over the past six years. If drought were the reason, the yields should have declined even three years ago, but they continued to grow instead. | ELIMINATE
D) A different experimental system, used on a different crop, failed after two years at a farm in Iowa. Scientists later discovered that chemicals involved in this different system slowly poisoned the soil. | NOT A MATCH | Not worried about a different experimental system, for no information regarding that will resolve the paradox at hand. | ELIMINATE
E) Significant and sustained increases in agricultural productivity eventually lead to an exhaustion of important nutrients in land. | MATCHES THE SHADOW ANSWER | If significant and sustained increases in agricultural productivity eventually lead to the exhaustion of important nutrients in the land, we have an explanation for why yields unexpectedly plummeted this year. Here goes the explanation: The yields grew consistently and considerably over the past six years, indicating significant productivity increases. This consistent and considerable growth in turn led to the depletion of essential nutrients in the soil (since significant and sustained increases in agricultural productivity eventually lead to an exhaustion of important nutrients in land). The unexpected drop in yields happened due to nutrient exhaustion, causing considerable financial difficulties for the farm’s owners. The paradox is now resolved. | MARK AND MOVE
Hence, (E) has to be the correct answer.
13 Aug 2024, 09:25
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I think option 'E' is the right answer, as when added to the question it resolves the paradox.
