Agriculturalists have noted that soil with an abnormally low

Question

Agriculturalists have noted that soil with an abnormally low proportion of nutrients such as magnesium and potassium is usually acidic, which severely hampers crop growth. Thus, agriculturalists recommend treating soil with nutrient-heavy fertilizers such as lime, wood ash, and Epsom salts to prevent soil acidity.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly suggests that it would not be advisable to follow the agriculturists’ recommendation?

A. Soil acidity alters the chemistry of soil in a way that makes it difficult for it to absorb nutrients such as magnesium and potassium.
B. Soil acidity can resolve itself without intervention, sometimes.
C. Lime contains elements that are not easily absorbed by many types of soil.
D. Epsom salts are not easily available in all regions.
E. Low magnesium and potassium levels in soil can in some cases be fixed through composting.

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temporeincidunt · Answer

Correct answer: A
Why A is right
The agriculturists assume low nutrients cause acidity, so adding nutrients will prevent acidity.
A flips the cause–effect: it says acidity causes low nutrient levels by preventing absorption.
If acidity comes first, then adding nutrient-heavy fertilizers won’t fix the root problem, making the recommendation ineffective.
Why the others are wrong
B. Soil acidity can resolve itself without intervention, sometimes.
This suggests treatment may not always be needed, but it doesn’t show the recommendation is harmful or flawed.
C. Lime contains elements that are not easily absorbed by many types of soil.
This weakens one fertilizer choice slightly, but doesn’t undermine the overall idea of nutrient treatment.
D. Epsom salts are not easily available in all regions.
Availability is a practical issue, not a reason the recommendation is unsound.
E. Low magnesium and potassium levels in soil can in some cases be fixed through composting.
This offers an alternative solution, not a reason to avoid the recommended one.

laborumplaceat · Answer

A is correct (as it says that what is mentioned as cause in the passage is actually the effect) - so heave fertilizers will not work
B: This happens only "sometimes" - so will not weaken the agricultarists recommendation every time.
C: This only talks about Lime - have to weaken the entire recommendation.
D: Nothing about availability is mentioned in the passage - and this does not mean that the recommendation is not advisable. SO it could be that epsom salts are not available but if they were, it would have been good for the benefit of the crops.
E: This only talks about "some cases"

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Explanation

We need a reason why following the recommendation may not be advisable, something that undermines the reasoning.

Eliminate each option one by one until found the right answer.

A.  This reverses causality: If acidity causes low nutrient absorption, then adding nutrient-heavy fertilizers won’t help much, the soil can’t absorb them anyway until acidity is fixed first. This suggests the recommendation is putting the cart before the horse, you should treat acidity directly, not just add nutrients. This seems like strong evidence against the logic of the recommendation.

B.  Irrelevant, sometimes resolving itself doesn’t make intervention inadvisable in cases where it’s needed now.

C.  Lime is often used to reduce acidity, not primarily for nutrient absorption. If not absorbed, it might still reduce acidity. Doesn’t fully undermine.

D.  Practical availability issue, but doesn’t challenge the logic that it’s effective, just that it’s hard to implement everywhere.

E.  This is an alternative method, but doesn’t show recommendation is inadvisable, could still use fertilizers if composting isn’t done.

Answer: A

ExpertsGlobal5 · Answer

Video explanation: 
 
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdN2haUoJws

Agriculturalists have noted that soil with an abnormally low

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