Madden: Industrialists address problems by simplifying them, but in farming that strategy usually leads to oversimplification. For example, industrialists see water retention and drainage as different and opposite functions—that good topsoil both drains and retains water is a fact alien to industrial logic. To facilitate water retention, they use a terrace or a dam; to facilitate drainage, they use drain tile, a ditch, or a subsoiler. More farming problems are created than solved when agriculture is the domain of the industrialist, not of the farmer.
Summary
Industrialists solve problems by simplifying them, but if this strategy were applied to farming the result would be oversimplification. For example, an industrialist sees water retention and drainage as opposite functions when in fact these factors aren’t necessarily so. Industrialists would facilitate retention by using a terrace or dam, and they would facilitate drainage using a drain tile, ditch, or subsoiler. In farming, more problems are created than solved using the industrialists’ methods.
Strongly Supported Conclusions
Problems associated with farming should be addressed by recognizing the complexity of a given problem.
A
The handling of water drainage and retention is the most important part of good farming.
This answer is unsupported. We don’t know whether drainage and retention are the most important factors of good farming. These factors were given as an example to illustrate how industrialists would oversimplify these issues.
B
The problems of farming should be viewed in all their complexity.
This answer is strongly supported. The Madden’s criticism with industrialists is that industrialists tend to simplify problems. Applying this strategy to farming would result in oversimplification.
C
Farmers are better than anyone else at solving farming problems.
This answer is unsupported. We don’t know whether farmers are better than anyone else. At best, we only know that farmers are better suited than industrialists to solve farming problems.
D
Industrial solutions for problems in farming should never be sought.
This answer is unsupported. Saying industrial solutions should “never” be sought is too strong. We only know from the stimulus that these solutions usually lead to oversimplification. There could be some instances where these solutions don’t lead to oversimplifications.
E
The approach to problem solving typical of industrialists is fundamentally flawed.
This answer is unsupported. The Madden is not arguing that an industrialist approach to solving problems is “fundamentally flawed.” Rather, the Madden is arguing that these approaches are flawed when specifically applied to farming.
Critic: As modern methods of communication and transportation have continued to improve, the pace of life today has become faster than ever before. This speed has created feelings of impermanence and instability, making us feel as if we never have enough time to achieve what we want—or at least what we think we want.
Summary
As modern ways of communication and transportation improve, the faster the pace of life has become. The faster the pace of life has become, the more we feel as if we never have enough time to achieve what we want or what we think we want.
Strongly Supported Conclusions
Technological changes can result in changing the way people feel about life.
A
The fast pace of modern life has made it difficult for people to achieve their goals.
This answer is unsupported. We don’t know whether or not it is difficult for people to achieve their goals in modern life.
B
The disadvantages of technological progress often outweigh the advantages.
This answer is unsupported. We don’t know from the stimulus what the advantages are from technological progress. It could be that they vastly outweigh the disadvantages.
C
Changes in people’s feelings about life can result from technological changes.
This answer is strongly supported. This answer correctly states the causal relationship between improved technology and the way people feel.
D
The perception of impermanence in contemporary life makes it more difficult for people to know what they want.
This answer is unsupported. We don’t know from the stimulus whether any of the technological improvements are impermanent.
E
Changes in people’s feelings fuel the need for technological advancement.
This answer is unsupported. This answer gets the causal relationship reversed. Rather, it’s technological advancement that fuels the changes in people’s feelings.