Critical Reasoning

Certain genetically modified strains of maize produce a powerful natural insecticide. The insecticide occurs throughout the plant, including its pollen. Maize pollen is dispersed by the wind and frequently blows into milkweed plants tha tgrow near maize fields. Caterpillars of monarch butterflies feed exclusively on milkweed leaves. When these caterpillars of monarch butterflies are fed milkweed leaves dusted with pollen from modified maize plants, they die. Therefore, by using genetically modified maize, farmers put monarch butterflies at risk.

Which of the following would it be most useful to dertermine in order to evaluate the argument.

A. Whether the natural insecticide is as effective against maize-eating insects as commercial insecticides typically used on maize are

B.Whether the pollen of genetically modified maize contains as much insecticide as other parts of these plants

C. Whether monarch butterfly caterpillars are actively feeding during the part of the growing season when maize is releasing pollen.

D. Whether insects that feed on genetically modified maize plants are likely to be killed by insecticide from the plant's pollen

E. Whether any maize-eating insects compete with monarch caterpillars for the leaves of milkweed plants growing near maize fields

IMO C

Argument concludes that: Genetically modified maize put butterflies at risk. And this conclusion is based on the fact that when caterpillars eat leaves sprayed with dusted pollen they die.

But if the caterpillar are not actively eating the leaves in the season when the pollen are released then there would be no danger.

A - does not matter b'cos we are not evaluating effectiveness
B - does not matter b'cos we are not measuring the quantity
D - does not matter b'cos we are not trying to find the likelihood. It is already stated that they die when they consume.
E - does not matter b'cos we don't care for other insects.

HTH

IMO it's C. Pls post OA.

IMO C

iamseer wrote: A - does not matter b'cos we are not evaluating effectiveness
B - does not matter b'cos we are not measuring the quantity
D - does not matter b'cos we are not trying to find the likelihood. It is already stated that they die when they consume.
E - does not matter b'cos we don't care for other insects.

HTH

Right, OA C

At first glance, I thought it was D. Official Explanation says "Since the issue is whether monarch butterflies are endangered, the question of the maize pollen's impact on other insects is irrelevant".
I chose D because caterpillars are insects.

iamseer's explanation is fairly great! I get it now! Thx