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Hardin argued that grazing land held in common (that is, open to any user) would always be used less carefully than private grazing land. Each rancher would be tempted to overuse common land because the benefits would accrue to the individuals, while the costs of reduced land quality that results from overuse would be spread among all users. But a study comparing 217 million acres of common grazing land with 433 million acres of private grazing land showed that the common land was in better condition.

Which of the following, if true and known by the ranchers, would best help explain the results of the study?
  • a)
    With private grazing land, both the costs and the benefits of overuse fall to the individual user.
  • b)
    The cost in reduced land quality that is attributable to any individual user is less easily measured with common land than it is with private land.
  • c)
    An individual who overuses common grazing land might be able to achieve higher returns than other users can, with the result that he or she would obtain a competitive advantage.
  • d)
    If one user of common land overuses it even slightly, the other users are likely to do so even more, with the consequence that the costs to each user outweigh the benefits.
  • e)
    There are more acres of grazing land held privately than there are held in common.
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?
Verified Answer
Hardin argued that grazing land held in common (that is, open to any u...
This question is based on a passage discussing Hardin's argument regarding the use of common grazing land compared to private grazing land. Hardin's argument suggests that common land would be used less carefully because individuals would be tempted to overuse it, while the costs of overuse would be shared among all users. However, the study mentioned in the passage shows that common land is actually in better condition than private land. We are asked to choose the option that, if true and known by the ranchers, would best explain this result.
Let's analyze each option:
(A) With private grazing land, both the costs and the benefits of overuse fall to the individual user.
  • This option does not provide a direct explanation for why common land is in better condition. It simply contrasts the distribution of costs and benefits between private and common land.
(B) The cost in reduced land quality that is attributable to any individual user is less easily measured with common land than it is with private land.
  • This option suggests that it is more difficult to measure the specific costs of overuse on common land. However, it does not directly explain why the common land is in better condition.
(C) An individual who overuses common grazing land might be able to achieve higher returns than other users can, with the result that he or she would obtain a competitive advantage.
  • This option suggests that there may be an incentive for individuals to overuse common land in order to gain a competitive advantage. While this provides a possible explanation for overuse, it does not address why the common land is actually in better condition.
(D) If one user of common land overuses it even slightly, the other users are likely to do so even more, with the consequence that the costs to each user outweigh the benefits.
  • This option aligns with Hardin's argument and provides a compelling explanation for the result of the study. If one user overuses the common land, it can trigger a "tragedy of the commons" scenario where other users feel compelled to overuse it even more, leading to costs outweighing the benefits. This can result in the common land being less carefully used. However, the study shows that the common land is in better condition, suggesting that this scenario did not occur.
(E) There are more acres of grazing land held privately than there are held in common.
  • This option provides information about the quantity of private and common grazing land but does not directly explain why the common land is in better condition.
Based on the analysis, option (D) provides the most reasonable explanation for the study's results. If users of common land are aware that overuse leads to costs outweighing the benefits, they would be more cautious in their usage, resulting in the common land being in better condition.
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Most Upvoted Answer
Hardin argued that grazing land held in common (that is, open to any u...
This question is based on a passage discussing Hardin's argument regarding the use of common grazing land compared to private grazing land. Hardin's argument suggests that common land would be used less carefully because individuals would be tempted to overuse it, while the costs of overuse would be shared among all users. However, the study mentioned in the passage shows that common land is actually in better condition than private land. We are asked to choose the option that, if true and known by the ranchers, would best explain this result.
Let's analyze each option:
(A) With private grazing land, both the costs and the benefits of overuse fall to the individual user.
  • This option does not provide a direct explanation for why common land is in better condition. It simply contrasts the distribution of costs and benefits between private and common land.
(B) The cost in reduced land quality that is attributable to any individual user is less easily measured with common land than it is with private land.
  • This option suggests that it is more difficult to measure the specific costs of overuse on common land. However, it does not directly explain why the common land is in better condition.
(C) An individual who overuses common grazing land might be able to achieve higher returns than other users can, with the result that he or she would obtain a competitive advantage.
  • This option suggests that there may be an incentive for individuals to overuse common land in order to gain a competitive advantage. While this provides a possible explanation for overuse, it does not address why the common land is actually in better condition.
(D) If one user of common land overuses it even slightly, the other users are likely to do so even more, with the consequence that the costs to each user outweigh the benefits.
  • This option aligns with Hardin's argument and provides a compelling explanation for the result of the study. If one user overuses the common land, it can trigger a "tragedy of the commons" scenario where other users feel compelled to overuse it even more, leading to costs outweighing the benefits. This can result in the common land being less carefully used. However, the study shows that the common land is in better condition, suggesting that this scenario did not occur.
(E) There are more acres of grazing land held privately than there are held in common.
  • This option provides information about the quantity of private and common grazing land but does not directly explain why the common land is in better condition.
Based on the analysis, option (D) provides the most reasonable explanation for the study's results. If users of common land are aware that overuse leads to costs outweighing the benefits, they would be more cautious in their usage, resulting in the common land being in better condition.
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mile Durkheim, a French sociologist who rose to prominence in the late 19thand early 20thcenturies, is credited with being one of the principal founders of modern sociology. When Durkheim began writing, sociology was not recognized as an independent field of study. As part of the campaign to change this scenario, he went to great lengths to separate sociology from all other disciplines, especially philosophy.Durkheims perspective differed from other sociologists of his era as his theories were founded on things external in nature such as social facts, as opposed to those internal in nature, such as the motivations and desires of individuals. As per him, social phenomena arise when a certain reality emerges from the behavior of interacting individuals, but this same reality cannot be explained in terms of the characteristics of individual agents. For instance, he could argue that social formations such as gangs, political parties and associations are comprised of individual members, but the macro outcome resulting from such organizations operates in a different level and produces results that would not occur on an individual level. He, therefore, believed that the society was far superior to any of its individual components and could hence exert a coercive power on individuals to lead them to acceptable levels of satisfaction. His idea was that happiness and wants are tied to each other. He said, To pursue a goal which is by definition unattainable is to condemn oneself to a state of perpetual unhappiness... To achieve any other result, the passions first must be limited. But since the individual has no way of limiting them, this must be done by some force exterior to him. This exterior force of course in his opinion was the society.Which one of the following statements can be inferred from the section below?(Second paragraph, second last sentenc e)To pursue a goal which is by definition unattainable is to condemn oneself to a state of perpetual unhappiness... To achieve any other result, the passions first must be limited. But since the individual has no way of limiting them, this must be done by some force exterior to him

mile Durkheim, a French sociologist who rose to prominence in the late 19thand early 20thcenturies, is credited with being one of the principal founders of modern sociology. When Durkheim began writing, sociology was not recognized as an independent field of study. As part of the campaign to change this scenario, he went to great lengths to separate sociology from all other disciplines, especially philosophy.Durkheims perspective differed from other sociologists of his era as his theories were founded on things external in nature such as social facts, as opposed to those internal in nature, such as the motivations and desires of individuals. As per him, social phenomena arise when a certain reality emerges from the behavior of interacting individuals, but this same reality cannot be explained in terms of the characteristics of individual agents. For instance, he could argue that social formations such as gangs, political parties and associations are comprised of individual members, but the macro outcome resulting from such organizations operates in a different level and produces results that would not occur on an individual level. He, therefore, believed that the society was far superior to any of its individual components and could hence exert a coercive power on individuals to lead them to acceptable levels of satisfaction. His idea was that happiness and wants are tied to each other. He said, To pursue a goal which is by definition unattainable is to condemn oneself to a state of perpetual unhappiness... To achieve any other result, the passions first must be limited. But since the individual has no way of limiting them, this must be done by some force exterior to him. This exterior force of course in his opinion was the society.Which of the following is stated in the passage?

mile Durkheim, a French sociologist who rose to prominence in the late 19thand early 20thcenturies, is credited with being one of the principal founders of modern sociology. When Durkheim began writing, sociology was not recognized as an independent field of study. As part of the campaign to change this scenario, he went to great lengths to separate sociology from all other disciplines, especially philosophy.Durkheims perspective differed from other sociologists of his era as his theories were founded on things external in nature such as social facts, as opposed to those internal in nature, such as the motivations and desires of individuals. As per him, social phenomena arise when a certain reality emerges from the behavior of interacting individuals, but this same reality cannot be explained in terms of the characteristics of individual agents. For instance, he could argue that social formations such as gangs, political parties and associations are comprised of individual members, but the macro outcome resulting from such organizations operates in a different level and produces results that would not occur on an individual level. He, therefore, believed that the society was far superior to any of its individual components and could hence exert a coercive power on individuals to lead them to acceptable levels of satisfaction. His idea was that happiness and wants are tied to each other. He said, To pursue a goal which is by definition unattainable is to condemn oneself to a state of perpetual unhappiness... To achieve any other result, the passions first must be limited. But since the individual has no way of limiting them, this must be done by some force exterior to him. This exterior force of course in his opinion was the society.Which of the following best describes the main focus of the passage?

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Hardin argued that grazing land held in common (that is, open to any user) would always be used less carefully than private grazing land. Each rancher would be tempted to overuse common land because the benefits would accrue to the individuals, while the costs of reduced land quality that results from overuse would be spread among all users. But a study comparing 217 million acres of common grazing land with 433 million acres of private grazing land showed that the common land was in better condition.Which of the following, if true and known by the ranchers, would best help explain the results of the study?a)With private grazing land, both the costs and the benefits of overuse fall to the individual user.b)The cost in reduced land quality that is attributable to any individual user is less easily measured with common land than it is with private land.c)An individual who overuses common grazing land might be able to achieve higher returns than other users can, with the result that he or she would obtain a competitive advantage.d)If one user of common land overuses it even slightly, the other users are likely to do so even more, with the consequence that the costs to each user outweigh the benefits.e)There are more acres of grazing land held privately than there are held in common.Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?
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Hardin argued that grazing land held in common (that is, open to any user) would always be used less carefully than private grazing land. Each rancher would be tempted to overuse common land because the benefits would accrue to the individuals, while the costs of reduced land quality that results from overuse would be spread among all users. But a study comparing 217 million acres of common grazing land with 433 million acres of private grazing land showed that the common land was in better condition.Which of the following, if true and known by the ranchers, would best help explain the results of the study?a)With private grazing land, both the costs and the benefits of overuse fall to the individual user.b)The cost in reduced land quality that is attributable to any individual user is less easily measured with common land than it is with private land.c)An individual who overuses common grazing land might be able to achieve higher returns than other users can, with the result that he or she would obtain a competitive advantage.d)If one user of common land overuses it even slightly, the other users are likely to do so even more, with the consequence that the costs to each user outweigh the benefits.e)There are more acres of grazing land held privately than there are held in common.Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? for GMAT 2025 is part of GMAT preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the GMAT exam syllabus. Information about Hardin argued that grazing land held in common (that is, open to any user) would always be used less carefully than private grazing land. Each rancher would be tempted to overuse common land because the benefits would accrue to the individuals, while the costs of reduced land quality that results from overuse would be spread among all users. But a study comparing 217 million acres of common grazing land with 433 million acres of private grazing land showed that the common land was in better condition.Which of the following, if true and known by the ranchers, would best help explain the results of the study?a)With private grazing land, both the costs and the benefits of overuse fall to the individual user.b)The cost in reduced land quality that is attributable to any individual user is less easily measured with common land than it is with private land.c)An individual who overuses common grazing land might be able to achieve higher returns than other users can, with the result that he or she would obtain a competitive advantage.d)If one user of common land overuses it even slightly, the other users are likely to do so even more, with the consequence that the costs to each user outweigh the benefits.e)There are more acres of grazing land held privately than there are held in common.Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for GMAT 2025 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for Hardin argued that grazing land held in common (that is, open to any user) would always be used less carefully than private grazing land. Each rancher would be tempted to overuse common land because the benefits would accrue to the individuals, while the costs of reduced land quality that results from overuse would be spread among all users. But a study comparing 217 million acres of common grazing land with 433 million acres of private grazing land showed that the common land was in better condition.Which of the following, if true and known by the ranchers, would best help explain the results of the study?a)With private grazing land, both the costs and the benefits of overuse fall to the individual user.b)The cost in reduced land quality that is attributable to any individual user is less easily measured with common land than it is with private land.c)An individual who overuses common grazing land might be able to achieve higher returns than other users can, with the result that he or she would obtain a competitive advantage.d)If one user of common land overuses it even slightly, the other users are likely to do so even more, with the consequence that the costs to each user outweigh the benefits.e)There are more acres of grazing land held privately than there are held in common.Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?.
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Here you can find the meaning of Hardin argued that grazing land held in common (that is, open to any user) would always be used less carefully than private grazing land. Each rancher would be tempted to overuse common land because the benefits would accrue to the individuals, while the costs of reduced land quality that results from overuse would be spread among all users. But a study comparing 217 million acres of common grazing land with 433 million acres of private grazing land showed that the common land was in better condition.Which of the following, if true and known by the ranchers, would best help explain the results of the study?a)With private grazing land, both the costs and the benefits of overuse fall to the individual user.b)The cost in reduced land quality that is attributable to any individual user is less easily measured with common land than it is with private land.c)An individual who overuses common grazing land might be able to achieve higher returns than other users can, with the result that he or she would obtain a competitive advantage.d)If one user of common land overuses it even slightly, the other users are likely to do so even more, with the consequence that the costs to each user outweigh the benefits.e)There are more acres of grazing land held privately than there are held in common.Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? defined & explained in the simplest way possible. Besides giving the explanation of Hardin argued that grazing land held in common (that is, open to any user) would always be used less carefully than private grazing land. Each rancher would be tempted to overuse common land because the benefits would accrue to the individuals, while the costs of reduced land quality that results from overuse would be spread among all users. But a study comparing 217 million acres of common grazing land with 433 million acres of private grazing land showed that the common land was in better condition.Which of the following, if true and known by the ranchers, would best help explain the results of the study?a)With private grazing land, both the costs and the benefits of overuse fall to the individual user.b)The cost in reduced land quality that is attributable to any individual user is less easily measured with common land than it is with private land.c)An individual who overuses common grazing land might be able to achieve higher returns than other users can, with the result that he or she would obtain a competitive advantage.d)If one user of common land overuses it even slightly, the other users are likely to do so even more, with the consequence that the costs to each user outweigh the benefits.e)There are more acres of grazing land held privately than there are held in common.Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?, a detailed solution for Hardin argued that grazing land held in common (that is, open to any user) would always be used less carefully than private grazing land. Each rancher would be tempted to overuse common land because the benefits would accrue to the individuals, while the costs of reduced land quality that results from overuse would be spread among all users. But a study comparing 217 million acres of common grazing land with 433 million acres of private grazing land showed that the common land was in better condition.Which of the following, if true and known by the ranchers, would best help explain the results of the study?a)With private grazing land, both the costs and the benefits of overuse fall to the individual user.b)The cost in reduced land quality that is attributable to any individual user is less easily measured with common land than it is with private land.c)An individual who overuses common grazing land might be able to achieve higher returns than other users can, with the result that he or she would obtain a competitive advantage.d)If one user of common land overuses it even slightly, the other users are likely to do so even more, with the consequence that the costs to each user outweigh the benefits.e)There are more acres of grazing land held privately than there are held in common.Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? has been provided alongside types of Hardin argued that grazing land held in common (that is, open to any user) would always be used less carefully than private grazing land. Each rancher would be tempted to overuse common land because the benefits would accrue to the individuals, while the costs of reduced land quality that results from overuse would be spread among all users. But a study comparing 217 million acres of common grazing land with 433 million acres of private grazing land showed that the common land was in better condition.Which of the following, if true and known by the ranchers, would best help explain the results of the study?a)With private grazing land, both the costs and the benefits of overuse fall to the individual user.b)The cost in reduced land quality that is attributable to any individual user is less easily measured with common land than it is with private land.c)An individual who overuses common grazing land might be able to achieve higher returns than other users can, with the result that he or she would obtain a competitive advantage.d)If one user of common land overuses it even slightly, the other users are likely to do so even more, with the consequence that the costs to each user outweigh the benefits.e)There are more acres of grazing land held privately than there are held in common.Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? theory, EduRev gives you an ample number of questions to practice Hardin argued that grazing land held in common (that is, open to any user) would always be used less carefully than private grazing land. Each rancher would be tempted to overuse common land because the benefits would accrue to the individuals, while the costs of reduced land quality that results from overuse would be spread among all users. But a study comparing 217 million acres of common grazing land with 433 million acres of private grazing land showed that the common land was in better condition.Which of the following, if true and known by the ranchers, would best help explain the results of the study?a)With private grazing land, both the costs and the benefits of overuse fall to the individual user.b)The cost in reduced land quality that is attributable to any individual user is less easily measured with common land than it is with private land.c)An individual who overuses common grazing land might be able to achieve higher returns than other users can, with the result that he or she would obtain a competitive advantage.d)If one user of common land overuses it even slightly, the other users are likely to do so even more, with the consequence that the costs to each user outweigh the benefits.e)There are more acres of grazing land held privately than there are held in common.Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? tests, examples and also practice GMAT tests.
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