Critical Reasoning

Although fresh oats and corn are the most nutritious foods for cattle, historically, cattle ranchers have minimized purchases of these grains in order to minimize costs due to spoilage. This year, however, fresh oats and corn have become the best-selling food for cattle -- a clear sign that cattle ranchers are putting nutrition ahead of concerns about costs due to spoilage.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument above?


Last year, processed cattle feed outsold fresh oats and corn by a wide margin.

No cattle ranchers have reported in surveys that they are attempting to purchase more nutritious fodder for their herds.

Higher temperatures and increased rain this year have led to quicker spoilage of fresh oats and corn than in previous years when fresh oats and corn sold poorly to cattle ranchers.

Because of crop failures, all types of cattle fodder -- including fresh oats and corn, processed cattle feed, and frozen nutritional supplements -- were more expensive this year than in previous years.

Because of agricultural innovations, fresh oats and corn spoil much less quickly than in previous years, while costs for such fodder have remained constant.

I'd say D ..

Corn and oats have become the best selling food not because of nutrition value but because, their value is on par with all other types of cattle food.

Conclusion::: a clear sign that cattle ranchers are putting nutrition ahead of concerns about costs due to spoilage

IMO E shows that ranchers have got a better alternative.

Agree wth ronnie...E.....

E for me

Because of agricultural innovations, fresh oats and corn spoil much less quickly than in previous years, while costs for such fodder have remained constant.
This explains another reason for buying fresh oats and corn (not spoilage)

(E)

IMO E this statment weakens the argument mentioned above

My answer is D.

Though E provides a alternate explanation it does not explain why farmers did not buy other food (which could cost very much less than fresh oats and corn).

Whereas D explains that all the food costs have gone up and hence it was the cost factor that made them buy the corn and oats.

Please let me know if am wrong.

Also OA please?

subha_sri8 wrote:My answer is D.

Though E provides a alternate explanation it does not explain why farmers did not buy other food (which could cost very much less than fresh oats and corn).

Whereas D explains that all the food costs have gone up and hence it was the cost factor that made them buy the corn and oats.

Please let me know if am wrong.

Also OA please?

IMO E

Question stem asks for :: "a clear sign that cattle ranchers are putting nutrition ahead of concerns about costs due to spoilage."

E shows that as cost of spoilage is decreased .. this could have motivated them to purchase corn instead of Nutrition concerns....

In D increase in cost of all food crops will not justify that cost of spoilage is not considered while purchasing food for cattle...

E for me too. What's the OA?

One more for E