Plant scientists have used genetic engineering on seeds to p

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Plant scientists have used genetic engineering on seeds to produce crop plants that are highly resistant to
insect damage. Unfortunately, the seeds themselves are quite expensive, and the plants require
more fertilizer and water to grow well than normal ones. Thus, for most farmers the savings on
pesticides would not compensate for the higher seed costs and the cost of additional fertilizer. However,
since consumer demand for grains, fruits, and vegetables grown without the use of pesticides
continues to rise, the use of genetically engineered seeds of this kind is likely to become
widespread.
In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?
A. The first supplies a context for the argument; the second is the argument's main conclusion.
B. The first introduces a development that the argument predicts will have a certain outcome; the second is a
state of affairs that the argument denies will be part of that outcome.
C. The first presents a development that the argument predicts will have a certain outcome; the second
acknowledges a consideration that weighs against that prediction.
D. The first provides evidence to support a prediction that the argument seeks to defend; the second is that
prediction.
E. The first and the second each provide evidence to support the argument's main conclusion.




why not D ? OA-c
Source: — Critical Reasoning |

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by hemant_rajput » Mon Apr 15, 2013 1:08 am
varun289 wrote:Plant scientists have used genetic engineering on seeds to produce crop plants that are highly resistant to
insect damage. Unfortunately, the seeds themselves are quite expensive, and the plants require
more fertilizer and water to grow well than normal ones. Thus, for most farmers the savings on
pesticides would not compensate for the higher seed costs and the cost of additional fertilizer. However,
since consumer demand for grains, fruits, and vegetables grown without the use of pesticides
continues to rise, the use of genetically engineered seeds of this kind is likely to become
widespread.
In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?
A. The first supplies a context for the argument; the second is the argument's main conclusion.
B. The first introduces a development that the argument predicts will have a certain outcome; the second is a
state of affairs that the argument denies will be part of that outcome.
C. The first presents a development that the argument predicts will have a certain outcome; the second
acknowledges a consideration that weighs against that prediction.
D. The first provides evidence to support a prediction that the argument seeks to defend; the second is that
prediction.
E. The first and the second each provide evidence to support the argument's main conclusion.




why not D ? OA-c
where are the boldfaced sentences? Please do preview check before you post you question.
I'm no expert, just trying to work on my skills. If I've made any mistakes please bear with me.

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by veenu08 » Wed May 01, 2013 9:07 am
kindly underline the parts in question

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by srcc25anu » Wed May 01, 2013 11:46 am
varun289 wrote: [spoiler]why not D ? OA-c[/spoiler]
Plant scientists have used genetic engineering on seeds to produce crop plants that are highly resistant to insect damage. Unfortunately, the seeds themselves are quite expensive, and the plants require more fertilizer and water to grow well than normal ones. Thus, for most farmers the savings on pesticides would not compensate for the higher seed costs and the cost of additional fertilizer. However, since consumer demand for grains, fruits, and vegetables grown without the use of pesticides continues to rise, the use of genetically engineered seeds of this kind is likely to become widespread.
In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

(A) The first supplies a context for the argument; the second is the argument's main conclusion.
(B) The first introduces a development that the argument predicts will have a certain outcome; the second is a state of affairs that the argument denies will be part of that outcome.
(C) The first presents a development that the argument predicts will have a certain outcome; the second acknowledges a consideration that weighs against that prediction.
(D) The first provides evidence to support a prediction that the argument seeks to defend; the second is that prediction.
(E) The first and the second each provide evidence to support the argument's main conclusion.

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by Matt@VeritasPrep » Wed May 01, 2013 9:42 pm
Hi Varun!

D isn't a terrible answer: the second boldfaced portion DOES contain a prediction, just not the prediction that's being supported by the first boldfaced portion. The first portion is all about cost -- specifically how expensive these resistant seeds are -- and how that cost will thus (our trigger word for a conclusion based on the preceding premise) impact farmers.