Survival of a plant in a Desert

Conclusion:
- Y does not live in Desert X and dies there.

Evidence:
- Y likes Sun + Little Moisture
- X has sun + no moisture

Assumptions:
- Y needs at least a little bit of moisture
- Desert X has too much sun for Y

The "discrepancy" can be resolved by one of our two assumptions.

E. is a restatement of our second assumption.

D focuses on the desert's lack of moisture, but does not relate specifically to Plant Y. It talks about "very little plant life" which is outside the scope.

E. is a restatement of our second assumption.

is it OK to assume in a situation such as this that great sunlight will lead to high temperatures. The OE goes something like this
"We'r told enough to expect that plant Y would thrive in desert X yet it doesn't. X is a desert so its hot, sunny and dry. Y likes sunny and dry regions, but we are not told anything about its temperature preferences. So its probable that (E) it can't handle the high temperature of desert X."

In this explanation we can assume that the desert is sunny, dry(little or no moisture) but how can we assume that its hot. This brings in information which i believe is outside of what is explicitly stated in the argument, which I think is fine in Paradox questions but I am not entirely satisfied the the OE.

Thanks

We have to focus on the vagueness of the wording. The paragraph says Plant Y likes "great" sunlight, but how much is "great"? It states that Desert X has "powerful" sunlight, but how much is "powerful"? There is a chance here that "powerful" is more than "great" and that Plant Y might be exposed to too much light than it can handle.

Got a PM on this one:

Here is my take.

I agree that we cannot assume that desert X is hot. Parts of the Gobi Desert are downright cold - even with lots of sun.

But do not have to assume as answer choice E provides all the needed information. E states that "Y cannot survive in desert X."

I am not sure what else we need! Do you know what I mean?

Let's take out the part about high temperatures and just leave a blank.

"Plant Y cannot survive _________________ found in desert X"

E would be the right choice if you fill in the blank with anything!!!!

For example, "Plant Y cannot survive in SOIL AS POLLUTED AS THAT found in desert X."

How about "Plant Y cannot survive in SHIFTING SAND DUNES like those found in desert X."

Do you see what I mean? It all adds up to -- cannot survive in desert X!

I was also asked to comment on the viability of this as a GMAT question. It would work, though it appears straightforward to me so I would put it in the lower half of difficulty.

Those are my thoughts...

what is the OA?

David@VeritasPrep wrote:Got a PM on this one:

Here is my take.

I agree that we cannot assume that desert X is hot. Parts of the Gobi Desert are downright cold - even with lots of sun.

But do not have to assume as answer choice E provides all the needed information. E states that "Y cannot survive in desert X."

I am not sure what else we need! Do you know what I mean?

Let's take out the part about high temperatures and just leave a blank.

"Plant Y cannot survive _________________ found in desert X"

E would be the right choice if you fill in the blank with anything!!!!

For example, "Plant Y cannot survive in SOIL AS POLLUTED AS THAT found in desert X."

How about "Plant Y cannot survive in SHIFTING SAND DUNES like those found in desert X."

Do you see what I mean? It all adds up to -- cannot survive in desert X!

I was also asked to comment on the viability of this as a GMAT question. It would work, though it appears straightforward to me so I would put it in the lower half of difficulty.

Those are my thoughts...

David - What's wrong with B) ? The argument says that the plant doesnt survive too long. Secondly, when there is "consistent" rainfall, moisture will increase. Right ? Please help me.

thanks

Look how you have to reach to get to B though...

Do we know that a short period of increased moisture will kill the plant?

In order to go to B you have to make a big assumption, namely that where the stimulus says "Plant Y thrives in the environments of great sunlight and very little moisture" you have to assume that it means that any period of consistent rain will kill it.

In comparison to E as discussed above, choice B requires you to go to some extra steps and that is not a good thing.

David@VeritasPrep wrote:Look how you have to reach to get to B though...

Do we know that a short period of increased moisture will kill the plant?

In order to go to B you have to make a big assumption, namely that where the stimulus says "Plant Y thrives in the environments of great sunlight and very little moisture" you have to assume that it means that any period of consistent rain will kill it.

In comparison to E as discussed above, choice B requires you to go to some extra steps and that is not a good thing.

Thanks David for a speedy reply. However, going on similar lines, don't we have to assume that increased temperature will kill the plant for option e) ? I am curious.


thanks

Not at all!!

Look at choice E...it says "Plant Y cannot survive in temperatures as high as those found in desert X"

No assumption necessary! It says it it right there..."Plant Y cannot survive in ... desert x!"

Perhaps we are not expecting an answer choice that comes out and says it!

Now if B were to say "For one week in the fall desert X gets consistent rainfall, and plant Y cannot survive in this" then we would have a winner.

David@VeritasPrep wrote:Not at all!!

Look at choice E...it says "Plant Y cannot survive in temperatures as high as those found in desert X"

No assumption necessary! It says it it right there..."Plant Y cannot survive in ... desert x!"

Perhaps we are not expecting an answer choice that comes out and says it!

Now if B were to say "For one week in the fall desert X gets consistent rainfall, and plant Y cannot survive in this" then we would have a winner.

I agree!