Critical Reasoning

American "heirloom" tomatoes, once common varieties of the fruit that has nearly disappeared with the modernization and standardization of farming techniques, are being actively preserved by conservationists who grow them in specially designed, state-of-the-art hothouses that can precisely control the light, heat, and water the growing tomatoes receive. Horticulturalists have shown that stem growth of the American heirloom tomato plants is robust in a variety of outdoor climate settings throughout the country. If, as some heirloom farmers believe, stem growth is the part of the heirloom tomato growing process that is most sensitive to the climate in which the plant grows, then by growing these tomatoes in regular fields rather than in fancy hothouses, farms wishing to grow heirloom tomatoes could save a lot of money without reducing the quality of their produce. However, heirloom-growing farms should not be too hasty in leaving the hothouse: other horticulturalists have shown that the flavor of the tomatoes is strongly influenced by the humidity at the time when the tomatoes are just starting to grow.

In the argument above, the two selections in boldface play which of the following roles?

A: The first is an objection raised against the position ultimately taken by the argument; the second is that position.

B: The first is the position that the argument ultimately takes; the second is the position to which it objects.

C: The first is a judgment offered in support of a position to which the argument ultimately objects; the second is the background on which that judgment is based.

D: The first is a judgment offered in support of a position to which the argument ultimately objects; the second is that position.

E: The first is a judgment offered in support of a position that the argument ultimately takes; the second is that position itself.

OA and explanations to follow...

IMO D

Conclusion of the argument is : heirloom-growing farms should not be too hasty in leaving the hothouse:......grow.

Interim Conclusion : by growing these tomatoes in regular fields rather than in fancy hothouses, farms wishing to grow heirloom tomatoes could save a lot of money without reducing the quality of their produce

Evidence for Interim Conclusion : stem growth is the part of the heirloom tomato growing process that is most sensitive to the climate in which the plant grows,

Also, the conclusion of the argument opposes the Interim Conclusion

BF Statement 1 : Is the Evidence(or judgement) in support for the Interim conclusion or the position that the Argument Opposes

BF Statement 2 : Is the Interim Conclusion or the position supported by Statement 1

IMO D

IMO D

No controversy as the OA is clearly D. I'd like to share a concern: the passage
prefers "hothouse", but advices farmers who want to opt for "stem growth" to
consider the option in consideration of some factors.

So, does this infer an objection, or an ultimate objection so to say?