A farmer working in an arid region has been growing cabbages for the

Question

A farmer working in an arid region has been growing cabbages for the past several years, although this crop severely depletes nitrogen from the soil. The farmer continues to do so, although the legume alfalfa is a much more valuable crop and does not deplete nitrogen from the soil at all.

Of the following statements, which, if true, best explains why the farmer has been growing the less profitable of the two crops mentioned above?

A. Arid regions are excellent for the growth of coniferous plants, such as cabbage.
B. Cabbages grown in arid regions are more expensive than cabbages grown in areas with heavy rainfall.
C. The amount of water needed to raise an alfalfa crop is several times as high as the amount needed to raise a cabbage crop.
D. A portion of the cabbages grown each year is eaten by caterpillars.
E. In some parts of the country, income from vegetables, such as cabbage, is more heavily taxed than that from any other agricultural product, including legumes.

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Mann11 · Answer

A - Out of scope
B - Nothing mentioned about region. 
C - Provides a reason why cabbage is grown more. Seems good
D - Out of scope
E - Weakens the statement.

vasu1104 · Answer

arid region- farmer has been growing cabbage for years despite it depleting the nitrogen in soil 
 legume alfalfa is much more valuable crop and doesnt deplete nitrogen from soil. but he 
 crops cabbage instead.

A but at a same time its still expensive. so this doesnt reveal any hidden motive of farmers. so toss it out. 
 B the comparison is wrong. and we are more concerned between cabbage and alfalfa. so this is out. 
 C if alfalfa need more water then it make sense for farmers to grow cabbage even it depletes nitrogen and less profitable. this reveals the hidden link 
 D this is out of scope. 
 E then he has more reason to stop cropping cabbage. so reject.

ans is C

laborumplaceat · Answer

C is correct. 
A: Even if Arid regions are good for growth of plants like cabbage, we don't know - maybe they are even better for legume alfafa.
B: We are nto comparing Arid region with ones which have heavy rainfall.
C: Correct - if there is not enough water to grow alfafa then the farmer will be unable to do so - which explain that why is the farmer growing less profitable of the two crops.
D: This does not give any reason of why cabbage and not legume
E: Same as D

Dereno · Answer

A farmer in a arid region is growing cabbages for the past several years, but this crop severely depletes nitrogen from the soil. Even though there is a crop called alfalfa, which is a more valuable crop, being a legume the crop alfalfa, does not deplete nitrogen from the soil.

Despite the advantages Alfalfa have like - value for money, and does not deplete the nitrogen. The farmers is still growing cabbages in these arid regions.

We need to find an option that resolve this paradox.

A. Arid regions are excellent for the growth of coniferous plants, such as cabbage.

This makes a generalised statement, saying arid region is good for coniferous plants. But, the issue is between cabbage and alfalfa. The option is a one sided explanation, but fails to explain why a more valuable, less nitrogen depleting alfalfa crop is not grown. Hence, Wrong.

B. Cabbages grown in arid regions are more expensive than cabbages grown in areas with heavy rainfall.

This option makes a comparison for cabbages grown in heavy rainfall regions vs cabbage grown in arid regions. But, the passage is a debate between cabbage and Alfalfa, both grown in arid regions. So, this option is moving out of context. Hence, Wrong.

C. The amount of water needed to raise an alfalfa crop is several times as high as the amount needed to raise a cabbage crop.

This clearly explains the fact that alfalfa despite having so much advantages, is not grown in arid regions because it consumes more amount of water than cabbage. Being an arid regions, water paucity has been the primary reason for growing cabbages. Hence, Correct answer.

D. A portion of the cabbages grown each year is eaten by caterpillars.

This doesn’t address the reason why cabbage is grown, despite caterpillars eating the cabbages. This is an irrelevant option. It strengthens the paradox. Hence, wrong.

E. In some parts of the country, income from vegetables, such as cabbage, is more heavily taxed than that from any other agricultural product, including legumes.

If something is happening in some parts of the country, can it be taken as being applied throughout the country. If the cabbage is heavily taxed, then the farmers have to bear the brunt of these taxes. Hence, Wrong.

Option C

ExpertsGlobal5 · Answer

Video explanation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgNYoRjSgSE

A farmer working in an arid region has been growing cabbages for the

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A farmer working in an arid region has been growing cabbages for the

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