An overly centralized economy

[ankit0703]

An overly centralized economy ,not the changes in the climate, is responsible for the poor agricultural production in country x since its new government came to power.Neighbouring country y has experienced the climatic conditions,but while agricultural production has been falling in country x, it has been rising in country y.

Which of the following,if trye,would most weaken the argument above?

(A) industrial production also is decining in country x
(B)Whereas country Y is lanlocked,Country X has amajor seaport
(C)Both Country X and Country Y have been experiencing drought conditions
(D)The crops that have always been grown in country X are different from those that have always been grown in country Y
(E)county X's new government instituted a centralized economy with the intention of ensuring an equitable distribution of goods.

OAD

Why C is not correct answer. Because drought is the other reason for the poor agricultural production in country Y. And may be Country X has resources to cater with drought but Country Y don't have. In OG it is mentioned that the similar climatic conditions has already been mentioned. Is there any reason other than this for C to be wrong.

[Birottam Dutta]

You are going way out of scope of the question if you start assuming that country Y has resources to tackle and country X does not when none of this is even mentioned in the question stem.

The answer has to be related to the question stem and your line of reasoning is out of context.

D is easily the best answer and all the others, in fact, are out of scope.

[ankit0703]

You are going way out of scope of the question if you start assuming that country Y has resources to tackle and country X does not when none of this is even mentioned in the question stem.

Isn't the drought condition in country Y is another reason for poor production?

[umeshpatil]

Here is explanation, why C is not the answer.

Conclusion: Centrlizd ecnmy responsible for poor Agri. Prod. in X.
Premise: 1. Country Y has same climate, but agri.
2. Agri. Prod. Rising in Y and falling in X.

Weaken the argument means contradict that 'government is not responsible for poor agricultural production'. As it is said in the premise that both countries have same climatic conditions (may be drought or flood), this cannot justify the reason behind opposite agricultural growth between them. Drought is present in both countries, agricultural production of Y also should fall (and it is not the case). It means you are saying government may be responsible for falling agricultural production.

It's 75th Question in OG-12. You can find better explanation there

[vk_vinayak]

An overly centralized economy ,not the changes in the climate, is responsible for the poor agricultural production in country x since its new government came to power.Neighbouring country y has experienced the climatic conditions,but while agricultural production has been falling in country x, it has been rising in country y.

Which of the following,if trye,would most weaken the argument above?

(A) industrial production also is decining in country x
(B)Whereas country Y is lanlocked,Country X has amajor seaport
(C)Both Country X and Country Y have been experiencing drought conditions
(D)The crops that have always been grown in country X are different from those that have always been grown in country Y
(E)county X's new government instituted a centralized economy with the intention of ensuring an equitable distribution of goods.

OAD

Why C is not correct answer. Because drought is the other reason for the poor agricultural production in country Y. And may be Country X has resources to cater with drought but Country Y don't have. In OG it is mentioned that the similar climatic conditions has already been mentioned. Is there any reason other than this for C to be wrong.

Argument says that 'An overly centralized economy' is responsible for low agricultural production in country X. Stem also mentions that changes in climate conditions are not responsible.

So, as per C, if the climatic conditions of both X and Y are same, and if X is experiencing low agri output while Y is experiencing high agri output, we can say that something other than climate is responsible for this result. It could be centralized economy or something else.

In my opinion, this option (C) at best, strengthens the argument, and at worst, doesn't affect the argument.

While D firmly provides whole new reason (different kinds of corps) for the difference in agricultural decline. Thus D weakens the argument.

[GMATGuruNY]

An overly centralized economy, not the changes in the climate, is responsible for the poor agricultural production in country X since its new government came to power. Neighboring country Y has experienced the climatic conditions, but while agricultural production has been falling in country X, it has been rising in country Y.

Which of the following,if trye,would most weaken the argument above?

(A) industrial production also is decining in country x
(B)Whereas country Y is lanlocked,Country X has amajor seaport
(C)Both Country X and Country Y have been experiencing drought conditions
(D)The crops that have always been grown in country X are different from those that have always been grown in country Y
(E)county X's new government instituted a centralized economy with the intention of ensuring an equitable distribution of goods.

OAD

Why C is not correct answer. Because drought is the other reason for the poor agricultural production in country Y. And may be Country X has resources to cater with drought but Country Y don't have. In OG it is mentioned that the similar climatic conditions has already been mentioned. Is there any reason other than this for C to be wrong.

This CR makes an ANALOGY.
In an analogy, the ASSUMPTION is that we're comparing APPLES to APPLES.
Here, the assumption is that COUNTRY X and COUNTRY Y are SIMILAR: that what is true for COUNTRY Y must also be true for COUNTRY X.
To weaken the analogy, the correct answer will offer a key DIFFERENCE between Country X and Country Y.

D: The crops that have always been grown in country X are different from those that have always been grown in country Y.
If X and Y grow DIFFERENT crops, then the two countries cannot be compared, and the analogy between the two countries is WEAKENED.

The correct answer is D.

C: Both Country X and Country Y have been experiencing drought conditions.
It is stated as a PREMISE -- as a FACT not in dispute -- that climate is NOT responsible for the poor agricultural production in Country X.
Answer choice C tries to weaken this premise.
A fact is just that: a FACT. It cannot be disputed. Any answer choice that tries to dispute a premise is ALWAYS WRONG.
Also, C implies that X and Y are similar, potentially STRENGTHENING the analogy between the two countries.
To weaken the analogy, the correct answer must show that X and Y are DIFFERENT.
Eliminate C.

[suyashtcs]

@ GMATGuruNY B also provides a key difference as per as your explanation..Pls let me know how to eliminate B

[suyashtcs]

also let me know if it is cause and effect question or Analogy question...?

[MartyMurray]

@ GMATGuruNY B also provides a key difference as per as your explanation..Pls let me know how to eliminate B

Often in handling CR questions what you are looking for is more a best answer than an exactly right answer, and it often makes sense to keep answers until you find a better one.

In this case, B does provide a difference, but the difference that B provides is not clearly related to agricultural production. While maybe there is some story one could come up with that would tie B to agricultural production, there is no clear and direct connection between the difference between having a port and being landlocked and agricultural production. Generally the right answer to a CR question will have a clear and and direct connection to what is being asked.

D on the other hand provides a difference that is clearly and directly related to agricultural production. So D is a much better answer than B is.