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According to local farmers, the recent significant decline in the yield of Einkorn, a variety of wheat cultivated primarily in Ingrostia, is due to the unfavorable weather conditions last year.  However, a government spokesperson recently made a statement claiming that the yield of Einkorn has declined because of the decline in the usage of pesticides by the local farmers.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously calls the spokesperson’s claim into question?
  • a)
    Weather conditions in Ingrostia have been the same this year as they were last year.
  • b)
    Einkorn has been losing its popularity to another variety of wheat called Durum that requires cheaper seeds and fewer fertilizers.
  • c)
    The yield of Spelt, a variety of wheat grown in Ingrostia that requires the same weather conditions as Einkorn but is extremely resistant to pests has also declined.
  • d)
    The spokesperson is not from an agricultural background, whereas the farmers are more knowledgeable about agricultural conditions.
  • e)
    The global yield of Einkorn has been lower this year than in the previous years.
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?
Verified Answer
According to local farmers, the recent significant decline in the yiel...
Argument Analysis
Pre-Thinking
Conclusion Clarification
There is no given conclusion by the author. However, the question stem asks us to weaken the spokesperson’s claim. Hence, we’ll consider this as the conclusion. In the conclusion, a government spokesperson claims that the YOE has declined because of the decline in the use of pesticides. This conclusion challenges the belief of local farmers that unfavorable weather conditions last year are responsible for the decline in YOE.
Pre-Thinking Approach
Let’s see how we can make the conclusion less believable.  To do so, we will look at the logical structure, focusing on linkage 1 and the conclusion.  We see that the conclusion is drawn regarding the cause of the decline in the YOE. Thus, the way to weaken the conclusion will be to weaken this linkage and causal relationship.
Linkage#1 (ref. logical structure)
  • Weakener1 – Since the conclusion of the spokesperson counters the belief of the farmers, an option that increases our belief in the stated cause by the farmers will weaken the spokesperson’s conclusion.
  • Weakener2 – What if even with a decline in the use of pesticides, it was found that the farmers were using enough pesticides? Surely then, the spokesperson’s conclusion will be weakened.
    • Instance 1: Independent studies have shown that farmers in Ingrostia had been using excessive pesticides for years and the recent decline in this usage was a conscious effort to use only sufficient amount of pesticides.
With this understanding in mind, let’s take a look at the option statements.
Answer Choices
A
Weather conditions in Ingrostia have been the same this year as they were last year.
Incorrect - Irrelevant
Knowing that the same weather conditions have persisted this year too doesn’t tell us whether the weather conditions last year are responsible for the decline in YOE.
B
Einkorn has been losing its popularity to another variety of wheat called Durum that requires cheaper seeds and fewer fertilizers.
Incorrect - Irrelevant
Declining popularity of Einkorn doesn’t give us any information about the cause of decline in YOE.
C
The yield of Spelt, a variety of wheat grown in Ingrostia that requires the same weather conditions as Einkorn but is extremely resistant to pests has also declined.
Correct
This choice is written along the lines of our pre-thinking per Linkage weakener 1.  It supports the view of the local farmers while suggesting that insufficient use of pesticides is not likely to be the cause for the decline in YOE.
D
The spokesperson is not from an agricultural background, whereas the farmers are more knowledgeable about agricultural conditions.
Incorrect - Irrelevant
The background of the person making the claim doesn’t give us any information about the correctness of that claim.
E
The global yield of Einkorn has been lower this year than in the previous years.
Incorrect - Irrelevant
This option only highlights the global impact on the YOE; however, it gives us no information about the cause of such a decline.
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According to local farmers, the recent significant decline in the yield of Einkorn, a variety of wheat cultivated primarily in Ingrostia, is due to the unfavorable weather conditions last year. However, a government spokesperson recently made a statement claiming that the yield of Einkorn has declined because of the decline in the usage of pesticides by the local farmers.Which of the following, if true, most seriously calls the spokesperson’s claim into question?a)Weather conditions in Ingrostia have been the same this year as they were last year.b)Einkorn has been losing its popularity to another variety of wheat called Durum that requires cheaper seeds and fewer fertilizers.c)The yield of Spelt, a variety of wheat grown in Ingrostia that requires the same weather conditions as Einkorn but is extremely resistant to pests has also declined.d)The spokesperson is not from an agricultural background, whereas the farmers are more knowledgeable about agricultural conditions.e)The global yield of Einkorn has been lower this year than in the previous years.Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?
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According to local farmers, the recent significant decline in the yield of Einkorn, a variety of wheat cultivated primarily in Ingrostia, is due to the unfavorable weather conditions last year. However, a government spokesperson recently made a statement claiming that the yield of Einkorn has declined because of the decline in the usage of pesticides by the local farmers.Which of the following, if true, most seriously calls the spokesperson’s claim into question?a)Weather conditions in Ingrostia have been the same this year as they were last year.b)Einkorn has been losing its popularity to another variety of wheat called Durum that requires cheaper seeds and fewer fertilizers.c)The yield of Spelt, a variety of wheat grown in Ingrostia that requires the same weather conditions as Einkorn but is extremely resistant to pests has also declined.d)The spokesperson is not from an agricultural background, whereas the farmers are more knowledgeable about agricultural conditions.e)The global yield of Einkorn has been lower this year than in the previous years.Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer? for GMAT 2024 is part of GMAT preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the GMAT exam syllabus. Information about According to local farmers, the recent significant decline in the yield of Einkorn, a variety of wheat cultivated primarily in Ingrostia, is due to the unfavorable weather conditions last year. However, a government spokesperson recently made a statement claiming that the yield of Einkorn has declined because of the decline in the usage of pesticides by the local farmers.Which of the following, if true, most seriously calls the spokesperson’s claim into question?a)Weather conditions in Ingrostia have been the same this year as they were last year.b)Einkorn has been losing its popularity to another variety of wheat called Durum that requires cheaper seeds and fewer fertilizers.c)The yield of Spelt, a variety of wheat grown in Ingrostia that requires the same weather conditions as Einkorn but is extremely resistant to pests has also declined.d)The spokesperson is not from an agricultural background, whereas the farmers are more knowledgeable about agricultural conditions.e)The global yield of Einkorn has been lower this year than in the previous years.Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for GMAT 2024 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for According to local farmers, the recent significant decline in the yield of Einkorn, a variety of wheat cultivated primarily in Ingrostia, is due to the unfavorable weather conditions last year. However, a government spokesperson recently made a statement claiming that the yield of Einkorn has declined because of the decline in the usage of pesticides by the local farmers.Which of the following, if true, most seriously calls the spokesperson’s claim into question?a)Weather conditions in Ingrostia have been the same this year as they were last year.b)Einkorn has been losing its popularity to another variety of wheat called Durum that requires cheaper seeds and fewer fertilizers.c)The yield of Spelt, a variety of wheat grown in Ingrostia that requires the same weather conditions as Einkorn but is extremely resistant to pests has also declined.d)The spokesperson is not from an agricultural background, whereas the farmers are more knowledgeable about agricultural conditions.e)The global yield of Einkorn has been lower this year than in the previous years.Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?.
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However, a government spokesperson recently made a statement claiming that the yield of Einkorn has declined because of the decline in the usage of pesticides by the local farmers.Which of the following, if true, most seriously calls the spokesperson’s claim into question?a)Weather conditions in Ingrostia have been the same this year as they were last year.b)Einkorn has been losing its popularity to another variety of wheat called Durum that requires cheaper seeds and fewer fertilizers.c)The yield of Spelt, a variety of wheat grown in Ingrostia that requires the same weather conditions as Einkorn but is extremely resistant to pests has also declined.d)The spokesperson is not from an agricultural background, whereas the farmers are more knowledgeable about agricultural conditions.e)The global yield of Einkorn has been lower this year than in the previous years.Correct answer is option 'C'. 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However, a government spokesperson recently made a statement claiming that the yield of Einkorn has declined because of the decline in the usage of pesticides by the local farmers.Which of the following, if true, most seriously calls the spokesperson’s claim into question?a)Weather conditions in Ingrostia have been the same this year as they were last year.b)Einkorn has been losing its popularity to another variety of wheat called Durum that requires cheaper seeds and fewer fertilizers.c)The yield of Spelt, a variety of wheat grown in Ingrostia that requires the same weather conditions as Einkorn but is extremely resistant to pests has also declined.d)The spokesperson is not from an agricultural background, whereas the farmers are more knowledgeable about agricultural conditions.e)The global yield of Einkorn has been lower this year than in the previous years.Correct answer is option 'C'. 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However, a government spokesperson recently made a statement claiming that the yield of Einkorn has declined because of the decline in the usage of pesticides by the local farmers.Which of the following, if true, most seriously calls the spokesperson’s claim into question?a)Weather conditions in Ingrostia have been the same this year as they were last year.b)Einkorn has been losing its popularity to another variety of wheat called Durum that requires cheaper seeds and fewer fertilizers.c)The yield of Spelt, a variety of wheat grown in Ingrostia that requires the same weather conditions as Einkorn but is extremely resistant to pests has also declined.d)The spokesperson is not from an agricultural background, whereas the farmers are more knowledgeable about agricultural conditions.e)The global yield of Einkorn has been lower this year than in the previous years.Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer? theory, EduRev gives you an ample number of questions to practice According to local farmers, the recent significant decline in the yield of Einkorn, a variety of wheat cultivated primarily in Ingrostia, is due to the unfavorable weather conditions last year. However, a government spokesperson recently made a statement claiming that the yield of Einkorn has declined because of the decline in the usage of pesticides by the local farmers.Which of the following, if true, most seriously calls the spokesperson’s claim into question?a)Weather conditions in Ingrostia have been the same this year as they were last year.b)Einkorn has been losing its popularity to another variety of wheat called Durum that requires cheaper seeds and fewer fertilizers.c)The yield of Spelt, a variety of wheat grown in Ingrostia that requires the same weather conditions as Einkorn but is extremely resistant to pests has also declined.d)The spokesperson is not from an agricultural background, whereas the farmers are more knowledgeable about agricultural conditions.e)The global yield of Einkorn has been lower this year than in the previous years.Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer? tests, examples and also practice GMAT tests.
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