Critical Reasoning

Which of the following most logically completes the argument?
A new machine for harvesting corn will allow rows to be planted only fifteen inches apart, instead of the usual
thirty inches. Corn planted this closely will produce lower yields per plant. Nevertheless, the new machine will
allow corn growers to double their profits per acre because __________.
A. with the closer spacing of the rows, the growing corn plants will quickly form a dense canopy of leaves, which
will, by shading the ground, minimize the need for costly weed control and irrigation
B. with the closer spacing of the rows, corn plants will be forced to grow taller because of increased competition
for sunlight from neighboring corn plants
C. with the larger number of plants growing per acre, more fertilizer will be required
D. with the spacing between rows cut by half, the number of plants grown per acre will almost double
E. with the closer spacing of the rows, the acreage on which corn is planted will be utilized much more intensively
than it was before, requiring more frequent fallow years in which corn fields are left unplanted

IMO A is the right answer as it clearly indicates minimizing the weed control and irrigation thereby profits increase

B. Growing taller may or may not increase profits and not related
C. This undermines the passage. Fertiliser cost will be more
D. This says only the amount of grown plants double and not the logical reason for that
E. This undermines and tells abt the fallow period

sridevipavan wrote:Which of the following most logically completes the argument?
A new machine for harvesting corn will allow rows to be planted only fifteen inches apart, instead of the usual
thirty inches. Corn planted this closely will produce lower yields per plant. Nevertheless, the new machine will
allow corn growers to double their profits per acre because __________.
A. with the closer spacing of the rows, the growing corn plants will quickly form a dense canopy of leaves, which
will, by shading the ground, minimize the need for costly weed control and irrigation
B. with the closer spacing of the rows, corn plants will be forced to grow taller because of increased competition
for sunlight from neighboring corn plants
C. with the larger number of plants growing per acre, more fertilizer will be required
D. with the spacing between rows cut by half, the number of plants grown per acre will almost double
E. with the closer spacing of the rows, the acreage on which corn is planted will be utilized much more intensively
than it was before, requiring more frequent fallow years in which corn fields are left unplanted

but how will this help in doubling of profits?

By the POE i selected that A to be the best answer.

But there is a tendency towards D also....


Can an GMAT instructor explain this CR???

sridevipavan wrote:but how will this help in doubling of profits?

A. Explicitly says that it will reduce weed control and irrigation costs. So you save on weed control, irrigation costs and you get to sell more as more plants as well.
B - contradicts the argument
C - weakens
D - number of plants will double but that doesn't guarantee that you get double profits.
E - irrelevant to the arg.

IMO A.

A IMO too.

D is tempting indeed. But actually it is not adding any new information to what is already there in the stimulus. Stimulus says from distance between two plants is halved (30 to 15 inches) -> number of plants per 30 inches is doubled -> number of plants per acre will also double. I'll eliminate D based on this.

Still I'm not 100% convinced with A. A says cost of weed control and irrigation will be minimized and that these are usually costly. This would definitely contribute to the profit - but will it double the profit? Maybe, maybe not.

The Stimulus has in fact a very subtle turn , which is a 'Scope shift'

Apparently what the Stimulus says is

A new machine for harvesting corn will allow rows to be planted only fifteen inches apart, instead of the usual
thirty inches. Corn planted this closely will produce lower yields per plant. Nevertheless, the new machine will
allow corn growers to double their profits per acre because __________.

If there is lower yield PER plant which is the reason why the profits are reducing, it doesnt matter if we double the plnatation area or multifolds increase it. there has to be a viable solution for profits to be increased per plant.

Only A as an option provides a viable solution to that aspect. All other options hence are of no consequence to the problem at hand.

Option A thus is the only correct solution.