Genetic modifications

gmat009 · Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 8:08 pm Post subject: Genetic modifications

Scientists have made genetic modifications to cotton to increase its resistance to insect pests. According to farmers’ reports, the amount of insecticide needed per acre to control insect pests was only slightly lower for those who tried the modified seed than for those who did not. Therefore, since the modified seed costs more than ordinary seed without
producing yields of higher market value, switching to the modified seed would be unlikely to benefit most cotton farmers economically.
Which of the following would it be most useful to know in order to evaluate the argument?
A. Whether farmers who tried the modified cotton seed had ever tried growing other crops from genetically modified seed
B. Whether the insecticides typically used on ordinary cotton tend to be more expensive than insecticides typically used on other crops
C. Whether for most farmers who grow cotton it is their primary crop
D. Whether the farmers who have tried the modified seed planted as many acres of cotton, on average, as farmers using the ordinary seed did
E. Whether most of the farmers who tried the modified seed did so because they had previously had to use exceptionally large quantities of insecticide

aj5105 · Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 10:06 pm Post subject:

IMO D.

vivek.kapoor83 · Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 10:32 pm Post subject:

imo E. oa pls

csandeepreddy · Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 4:17 am Post subject:

i will go with E too...

krazy800 · Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 5:26 am Post subject:

Given the below statement in the argument

"the amount of insecticide needed per acre to control insect pests was only slightly lower for those who tried the modified seed than for those who did not."

I think E would be appropriate

I will go by B.. The information about the cost of insecticide would be useful in this scenario...

OA Plz

Jatinder · Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 5:30 am Post subject:

I also choose E

D can not be the one....as the premise is based upon "per acre" concept. However, If farmers use exceptionally large quantities of pesticides ..then event slighly lower quantities of Pesticides would benefit them financially

raunekk · Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 6:52 am Post subject:

imo:B

helps to evaluate why "switching to the modified seed would be unlikely to benefit most cotton farmers economically. "

dingo001 · Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 10:07 am Post subject:

IMO D

OA?

eshahid · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 12:52 am Post subject:

Should be D

the amount of insecticide needed per acre to control insect pests was only slightly lower for those who tried the modified seed than for those who did not.

We need to know whether the area to which insecticides were applied was comparable. D does just that.

krazy800 · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 8:26 am Post subject:

gmat009.............OA PLZ

gmat009 · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 11:19 am Post subject:

kv_ajay · Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 11:38 am Post subject:

I m not sure where u r getting those OA's but i think that is incorrect.
I have set copy which states answer as B.

we are dealing with comparison between costs of less insecticides Vs. Cost of seeds..

B ) Provides cost of insecticides for other corps for comparison - to factor if insecticides is really that important factor
E) Deals with quantity of insecticides farmers used in past - not for cotton - just their use of insecticides -

So i think between B and E ..B is more appropriate ..

In general there is no correct answer here since we need to evaluate real cost and no option provides evaluation of real costs and provides around factors..

Jatinder · Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 3:51 pm Post subject:

rohangupta83 · Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 2:55 am Post subject:

logitech · Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 9:58 am Post subject: Re: Genetic modifications