Critical Reasoning

Hardin argued that grazing land held in common (that is, open to any user) would always be used less carefully than private grazing land. Each rancher would be tempted to overuse common land because the benefits would accrue to the individual, while the costs of reduced land quality that results from overuse would be spread among all users. But a study comparing 217 million acres of common grazing land with 433 million acres of private grazing land showed that the common land was in better condition.

The answer to which of the following questions would be most useful in evaluating the significance, in relation to Hardin’s claim, of the study described above?

(A) Did any of the ranchers whose land was studied use both common and private land?

(B) Did the ranchers whose land was studied tend to prefer using common land over using private land for grazing?

(C) Was the private land that was studied of comparable quality to the common land before either was used for grazing?

(D) Were the users of the common land that was studied at least as prosperous as the users of the private land?

(E) Were there any owners of herds who used only common land, and no private land, for grazing?


What is the problem with the answer B and D ? The right answer is C.

Hi
A) Did any of the ranchers whose land was studied use both common and private land? This is not relevant in finding out who the common land, if is used more, it is in better shape

(B) Did the ranchers whose land was studied tend to prefer using common land over using private land for grazing? it is obvious the ranchers prefer coomon land, but again, why is this land in better shape?I hope this helps

what is OA?

I wud go 4 C...

Only this compares the 2 lands before the test...

I will go with C. When comparing two things after doing same operation.
Before commenting about the outcome it is important to know whether
they were in the same state before the operation or not.


It is better that you do not write the answer in advance. People will think freely and give honest replies. What do you think?.

I would go with (C)

(C)The quality between common land and private land was studied before grazing. Which supports our conclusion

If the quality was studied after grazing then the common land loses its quality so our conclusion would become wrong.

I have a doubt on the question stem. Doesn't the question mean to ask "What question would be helpful in evaluating the significance of the study?"

The significance of the study can be known by answering which of the following question is what I meant it to mean.

Please do explain me how do you see the question stem.