CR - Assumption Question

This topic has expert replies
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 19
Joined: Sat Nov 03, 2007 6:30 pm
Thanked: 1 times

CR - Assumption Question

by visjain » Tue May 05, 2009 10:13 am
The overall operating costs borne by many small farmers are reduced when the farmers eliminate expensive commercial chemical fertilizers and pesticides in favor of crop rotation and twice-yearly use of manure as fertilizer. Therefore large farmers should adopt the same measure. They will then realize even greater total savings than to small farmers.

The arguments above assumes that

(a) It is more cost effective for small farmers to eliminate the use of commercial fertilizers and pesticides than it is for large farmers

(b) Sufficient amount of manure will be available for the fields of large farmers.

(c) Large farmers will not realize similar cost benefits by using treated sludge instead of commercial chemical fertilizers.

(d) Large farmers generally look to small farmers for innovative ways of increasing crop yields or reducing operating costs.

(e) The smaller the farm, the more control the farmer has over operating costs.
Last edited by visjain on Tue May 05, 2009 11:01 am, edited 1 time in total.
Source: — Critical Reasoning |

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 371
Joined: Fri Mar 06, 2009 2:48 am
Thanked: 27 times
GMAT Score:740

by 2010gmat » Tue May 05, 2009 10:50 am
IMO D

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 377
Joined: Wed Sep 03, 2008 9:30 am
Thanked: 15 times
Followed by:2 members

by schumi_gmat » Tue May 05, 2009 12:58 pm
IMO B

If the manure is not sufficient for large farmers he will have to resort to fertilizers anyways and therefore not enough savings.

Hence B

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 371
Joined: Fri Mar 06, 2009 2:48 am
Thanked: 27 times
GMAT Score:740

by 2010gmat » Tue May 05, 2009 9:08 pm
agree..B it is

Legendary Member
Posts: 1161
Joined: Mon May 12, 2008 2:52 am
Location: Sydney
Thanked: 23 times
Followed by:1 members

by mehravikas » Tue May 05, 2009 9:29 pm
Confused between B and D. IMO - answer should be D

Simply because the availability of manure seems to be irrelevant to the argument.

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 116
Joined: Tue Dec 09, 2008 12:30 pm
Thanked: 3 times
Followed by:2 members
GMAT Score:670

by Vitalina » Wed May 06, 2009 12:11 am
IMO B. This is a typical GMAT CR, I have seen it quite a few times, and the pattern is the same: A causes B. Assuming all is in favour of B. here, the assumption is that big farmers will have everything ready and enough to apply the policy.

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 100
Joined: Tue Aug 05, 2014 11:00 am

by samanthaJ79 » Sun May 15, 2016 6:09 am
I think B is the right answer here.