Any thoughts on this one?

It has to be between B and E.

I think the answer should be A .
What's the OA please ?


Premises
1. Rhizobium bacteria living in the roots of bean plants or other legumes produce fixed nitrogen
2. legume crops, such as wheat, normally must be supplied by applications of nitrogen-based fertilizer
Conclusion
if biotechnology succeeds in producing wheat strains whose roots will play host to Rhizobium bacteria, the need for artificial fertilizers will be reduced

Assumption:
Biotechnology should be directed toward producing plants that do not require artificial fertilizer.
If we negate this assumption , then the argument fails

OA is E.

How can we choose between C and E?

IMO E :

A : out of scope
B : pbviously not an assumption. There might be many other nutrients.

fight is between C and E

C : There are no naturally occurring strains of wheat or other grasses that have Rhizobium bacteria living in their roots.

C : wrong, category : half right half wrong

Remember : an assumption is the minimum knowledge that must be true for the sentence.
Here 'strains of wheat' CAN be correct in reference to assumption
but 'other grasses' is completely out of scope.
So You can discard C

Other reason, we can discard C by its strong meaning.

There are no naturally occurring strains of wheat ..


so what',
suppose there is only 1 strains of wheat which has the bacteria naturally, but we are trying to produce it for other strains also.

You seem to have got it, but just to recap the major issues...


Rhizobium bacteria living in the roots of bean plants or other legumes produce fixed nitrogen which is one of the essential plant nutrients and which for non-legume crops, such as wheat, normally must be supplied by applications of nitrogen-based fertilizer. So if biotechnology succeeds in producing wheat strains whose roots will play host to Rhizobium bacteria, the need for artificial fertilizers will be reduced.

Breakdown:

Premise 1: Rhizobium bacteria living in the roots of bean plants or other legumes produce fixed nitrogen. [Note: This specific Rhizobium bacteria produce the nitrogen.]

Premise 2: For non-legume crops, such as wheat, fixed nitrogen must be supplied by fertilizer.

Conclusion: Wheat strains whose roots will host Rhizobium bacteria [Note: non-specific R. bacteria], will not need artificial fertilizers.

The argument above makes which one of the following assumptions?

TIP: The answer to an assumption question should explain why the conclusion is true. You should be able to insert your answer into the following sentence: Wheat strains whose roots will host Rhizobium bacteria will not need artificial fertilizers BECAUSE...

(A) Biotechnology should be directed toward producing plants that do not require artificial fertilizer.

Wheat strains whose roots will host Rhizobium bacteria will not need artificial fertilizers BECAUSE biotechnology should be directed? This does not make sense.


(B) Fixed nitrogen is currently the only soil nutrient that must be supplied by artificial fertilizer for growing wheat crops.

Wheat strains whose roots will host Rhizobium bacteria will not need artificial fertilizers BECAUSE fixed nitrogen is currently the only soil nutrient that must be supplied? This does not make sense.

(C) There are no naturally occurring strains of wheat or other grasses that have Rhizobium bacteria living in their roots.

Wheat strains whose roots will host Rhizobium bacteria will not need artificial fertilizers BECAUSE there are no naturally occurring strains of wheat or other grasses? This does not make sense.

(D) Legumes are currently the only crops that produce their own supply of fixed nitrogen.

Wheat strains whose roots will host Rhizobium bacteria will not need artificial fertilizers BECAUSE legumes are currently the only crops that produce their own supply of fixed nitrogen? This does not make sense.

(E) Rhizobium bacteria living in the roots of wheat would produce fixed nitrogen.

Wheat strains whose roots will host Rhizobium bacteria will not need artificial fertilizers BECAUSE Rhizobium bacteria living in the roots of wheat would produce fixed nitrogen? YES, this answer explains directly why fertilizer will not be needed in such wheat plants!

(More on assumption question in CR Lesson 1 at gmaxonline! Mention my name when you register for an online course and receive a 10% discount!)

Best,
Sarai

You can easily eliminate B, since it uses extreme wording 'only'

adi_800 wrote:It has to be between B and E.

I would say the answer is B - the argument makes an assumption that Fixed nitrogen is currently the only soil nutrient that is supplied by artificial fertilizer and hence it (the artificial fertiliser) can be replaced by a wheat strain whose roots will play host to Rhizobium bacteria


f2001290, what is the OA?