plant scientist

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plant scientist

by nikhilkatira » Sat Jun 26, 2010 7:01 am
Plant scientists have been able to genetically engineer vegetable seeds
to produce crops that are highly resistant to insect damage. Although
these seeds currently cost more than conventional seeds, their cost is
likely to decline. Moreover, farmers planting them can use far less pesticide,
and most consumers prefer vegetables grown with less pesticide,
therefore, for crops for which these seeds can be developed, their use
is likely to become the norm.

which of the following would be most useful to know in evaluating the
argument above?

A. Whether plant scientists have developed insect-resistant seeds
For every crop that is currently grown commercially

B. Whether farmers typically use agricultural pesticides in larger
Amounts than is necessary to prevent crop damage.

C. Whether plants grown from the new genetically engineered seeds
Can be kept completely free of insect damage.

D. Whether seeds genetically engineered to produce insect-resistant
crops generate significantly lower per acre crop yields than do
currently used seeds.

E. Whether most varieties of crops currently grown commercially have
Greater natural resistance to insect damage than did similar varieties
in the past.
Best,
Nikhil H. Katira
Source: — Critical Reasoning |

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by Shawshank » Sat Jun 26, 2010 7:11 am
imo -- D
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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by hardik.jadeja » Sat Jun 26, 2010 10:58 am
I pick D too.

If seeds genetically engineered to produce insect-resistant crops generate significantly lower per acre crop yields, then farmers would not like to plant these seeds as their income may reduce because of these seeds.

Hope that helps..

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by vivek1110 » Sat Jun 26, 2010 5:52 pm
hardik.jadeja wrote:I pick D too.

If seeds genetically engineered to produce insect-resistant crops generate significantly lower per acre crop yields, then farmers would not like to plant these seeds as their income may reduce because of these seeds.

Hope that helps..
But the argument does not talk about crop yields. The argument is based on the fact that consumers prefer crops which have little pesticide!
Is caught between a rock and a hard place!

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by paddle_sweep » Sat Jun 26, 2010 8:09 pm
I pick D. The conclusion says that genetically modified seeds would become the norm and the evaluation of answer choice 'D' would help to know if the genetically modified seeds would become the norm or not.

Cheers

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by nikhilkatira » Thu Jul 29, 2010 5:10 am
paddle_sweep wrote:I pick D. The conclusion says that genetically modified seeds would become the norm and the evaluation of answer choice 'D' would help to know if the genetically modified seeds would become the norm or not.

Cheers
guys whats with Option B ?
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by selango » Thu Jul 29, 2010 6:01 am
IMO B

Whether farmers typically use agricultural pesticides in larger Amounts than is necessary to prevent crop damage.

In evaluate the argument question,check with YES/NO option.

YES

This means farmers are using larger amount of pesticide(ie)unneccessary amount.So crops from conventional seeds can be grown with less pesticide.
Hence there is no need of genetically engineered ved seeds.This actually weaken the argument.

NO

This means farmers are not using larger amount of pesticide(ie)using neccessary amount for crops grown from conventional seeds.
This actually strengthen the argument that genetically engineer vegetable seeds can be used which require less pesticide.
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by selango » Thu Jul 29, 2010 6:07 am
Why option D is not correct?

Because the argument is based on usage of pesticide over the crops grown from 2 types of seeds.

So in evaluating the argument,we must find the reason that affect the argument(ie) strengthen and weaken the argument.

Does crop yield per acre affect the argument.NO.

So this option must be eliminated.

Nikhil what is OA?
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by nikhilkatira » Thu Jul 29, 2010 6:34 am
selango wrote:Why option D is not correct?

Because the argument is based on usage of pesticide over the crops grown from 2 types of seeds.

So in evaluating the argument,we must find the reason that affect the argument(ie) strengthen and weaken the argument.

Does crop yield per acre affect the argument.NO.

So this option must be eliminated.

Nikhil what is OA?
Anand I used the same reasoning as you did.

But the OA is D

but the source ( 31 gmat sets ) is not reliable.

Also one of the reason I selected B is because 1q in OG uses the sames reasoning...i thought there might be some pattern connection..what say ?
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by arora007 » Thu Jul 29, 2010 6:54 am
I guess i have seen the same question somewhere... and the choice B marked as the right choice... dunno where though..
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by selango » Thu Jul 29, 2010 6:56 am
Yes this question with same pattern is in OG 12 or Verbal Review.

I used the same evaluation with this question.But it went wrong.

Do u have the question with same pattern in OG?
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by nikhilkatira » Thu Jul 29, 2010 7:26 am
selango wrote:Yes this question with same pattern is in OG 12 or Verbal Review.

I used the same evaluation with this question.But it went wrong.

Do u have the question with same pattern in OG?

its Q. No. 69 in OG 12...
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by selango » Thu Jul 29, 2010 7:41 am
Yes question with same pattern.Also in OG question,one premise is there regarding yield from 2 crops.

Still I can't agree the OA D for this question.
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by kvcpk » Thu Jul 29, 2010 8:13 am
selango wrote:Yes question with same pattern.Also in OG question,one premise is there regarding yield from 2 crops.

Still I can't agree the OA D for this question.
HI Anand,

Conclusion of the argument is
for crops for which these seeds can be developed, their use is likely to become the norm.

If you observe closely, passage is drawing conclusion about usage of crops, based on the usage of seeds.

This is the flaw in the argument. We will need to find a statement which evaluates this gap.

Option D says that though the genetically engineered seeds are used, thier crop yield is much less than with other seeds.
If crop yield is less, then the crop cannot be used in greater amount when compared with other seeds.
Hence it is introducing a right statement to evaluate the argument.

Let us look at B.
Whether farmers typically use agricultural pesticides in larger Amounts than is necessary to prevent crop damage.
This is not linking itself directly with the conclusion. Let us see what we can draw from B
If Yes,
Farmers use pesticides in larger amount: Let us say they spray x% more than normal usage.
for genetically engineered seeds: normal usage is 100.. Used as per B is 100+x
for other seeds: normal usage is already greater than 100(as it is given in the passage that farmers will use less pesticide)... Used as per B is 100+somevalue+x.
Hence more pesticides are used for other seeds than genetically engineered seeds.
So far so good... But will this gaurantee that the crop usage will be more? NO.. Because the passage doesnt say whether use of pesticides is the only factor that determines the crop usage.

If NO,
Farmers do not use pesticides in larger amount.
for genetically engineered seeds: normal usage is 100.. Used as per B is 100
for other seeds: normal usage is already greater than 100(as it is given in the passage that farmers will use less pesticide)... Used as per B is 100+somevalue
Hence more pesticides are used for other seeds than genetically engineered seeds.
Once again will this gaurantee that the crop usage will be more? NO.. Because the passage doesnt say whether use of pesticides is the only factor that determines the crop usage.

Hence B doesnt help in evaluating the argument to the full extent.

Let me know if u have any concerns..

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by arora007 » Thu Jul 29, 2010 8:26 am
nikhilkatira wrote:
selango wrote:Yes this question with same pattern is in OG 12 or Verbal Review.

I used the same evaluation with this question.But it went wrong.

Do u have the question with same pattern in OG?

its Q. No. 69 in OG 12...
I am just amazed at the similarity of the two questions...and the amazing speed with which our brains recall similar

patterns... and get us in trouble at times... ;-)

the important takeaway is... stop reading the OG... lolz....

more importantly... we must treat each question to its merit...and not rush about to finish 41 questions...
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