Farmer: Because water content is what makes popcorn pop, the kernels must dry at just the right speed to trap the correct amount of water. The best way to achieve this effect is to have the sun dry the corn while the corn is still in the field, but I always dry the ears on a screen in a warm, dry room.
"Surprising" Phenomenon
Why does the farmer dry the kernels inside and not in the field?
Objective
A hypothesis resolving this discrepancy will state some advantage to drying the kernels indoors or some disadvantage to drying them in the field. This must be a good enough reason, in the farmer’s judgment, to dry the kernels indoors.
A
The region in which the farmer grows popcorn experiences a long, cloudy season that begins shortly before the popcorn in fields would begin to dry.
This explains why the farmer dries the kernels indoors. The weather is not sunny consistently enough for the sun to dry them in the field.
B
Leaving popcorn to dry on its stalks in the field is the least expensive method of drying it.
This widens the discrepancy. It is another reason for the farmer to dry the kernels in the field.
C
Drying popcorn on its stalks in the field is only one of several methods that allow the kernels’ water content to reach acceptable levels.
This is necessary for the farmer’s choice to be sound, but not enough to resolve the discrepancy. Sun drying is the most effective method, so the farmer’s decision not to use that method remains a mystery.
D
When popcorn does not dry sufficiently, it will still pop, but it will take several minutes to do so, even under optimal popping conditions.
This offers no reason for the farmer to dry the kernels indoors. It implies that improperly dried kernels are functional, but gives no disadvantage to sun drying and no advantage to drying indoors.
E
If popcorn is allowed to dry too much, it will not pop.
This is not a disadvantage of sun drying, which is the best way to ensure the kernels trap “the correct amount of water.” It is not stated whether indoor drying or sun drying produces kernels with more water.
Summarize Argument
The author concludes that most people need to take vitamin pills. This is because most people don’t hit their recommended intake of fruits and vegetables per day, which would be enough to satisfy their vitamin needs.
Notable Assumptions
The author believes that eating five servings a day of fruits and vegetables is a necessary rather than sufficient condition. This means the author assumes no other foods (grains, dairy, meats and alternatives) would satisfy these vitamin needs.
A
Even five servings of fruits and vegetables a day is insufficient unless the intake is varied to ensure that different vitamins are consumed.
Supposing this is true, most people still aren’t getting five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. We need to weaken the claim that those people need vitamin pills.
B
Certain commonly available fruits and vegetables contain considerably more nutrients than others.
Like (A), most people aren’t getting enough fruits and vegetables. We have no reason to believe the average person is eating especially nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables when they do eat those foods.
C
Nutritionists sometimes disagree on how much of a fruit or vegetable constitutes a complete serving.
Regardless of what constitutes a “complete serving,” the author tells us most people are eating “far less” than five servings. We don’t care about marginal disagreements among nutritionists.
D
Many commonly consumed foods that are neither fruits nor vegetables are fortified by manufacturers with the vitamins found in fruits and vegetables.
The author overlooks a class of foods that would satisfy vitamin requirements: fortified foods. If most people eat these, they don’t need vitamin pills.
E
Fruits and vegetables are also important sources of fiber, in forms not found in vitamin pills.
We don’t care about fiber. We need to weaken the claim that most people need vitamin pills.
Summary
1. Adult frogs are vulnerable to dehydration due to their permeable skin.
2.*Small* adult frogs have a low body weight to skin surface area ratio, making them unable to survive in arid climates.
3. The Yucatán peninsula has an arid climate in the north and a wet climate in the south.
4. Frogs' moisture requirements are the most important factor determining where they can live in the Yucatán peninsula.
2.*Small* adult frogs have a low body weight to skin surface area ratio, making them unable to survive in arid climates.
3. The Yucatán peninsula has an arid climate in the north and a wet climate in the south.
4. Frogs' moisture requirements are the most important factor determining where they can live in the Yucatán peninsula.
Strongly Supported Conclusions
Large adult frogs are better suited to live in the Yucatan peninsula than small adult frogs
A
Large adult frogs cannot coexist with small adult frogs in the wet areas.
This is too strong. The stimulus does not say that small and large frogs cannot coexist, only that large frogs are better suited to the environment.
B
Frogs living in wet areas weigh more on average than frogs in the arid areas.
There is not enough information to support this statement comparing the frogs’ weight. You need to make a lot of assumptions to make this work
C
Large adult frogs can live in more of the area than small adult frogs can.
The stimulus says that small adult frogs cannot survive in an arid climate. The Yucatan has an arid climate in the north. Thus, large adult frogs can live in more of the area than small adult frogs.
D
Fewer small adult frogs live in the south than do large adult frogs.
There is not enough support for this comparative statement. The stimulus does not give any information on how many frogs are in each region.
E
Small adult frogs in the south have less permeable skins than small adult frogs in the north.
There is no information to compare the permeability of small adult frogs in the south vs. the north.
"Surprising" Phenomenon
Automated flight technology is reliable, but still susceptible to human error.
Objective
The correct answer choice will be a hypothesis explaining how automated flight technology can still be affected by human error, even when the technology is functioning correctly.
A
Automated flight technology does not always function correctly.
We’re talking about automated flight technology that functions correctly.
B
Smaller aircraft do not always have their automated flight technology updated regularly.
Like (A), we’re talking about reliable, properly-functioning automated flight technology.
C
If a plane’s automated flight technology malfunctions, crew members have to operate the plane manually.
Like (A) and (B), the paradox is about why properly-functioning automated flight equipment is liable to human error. This talks about malfunctioning flight technology.
D
Some airplane crashes are due neither to human error nor to malfunction of automated flight technology.
This doesn’t show susceptibility to human error, which is what we need.
E
Automated flight technology invariably executes exactly the commands that humans give it.
Automated flight technology is entirely controlled by humans, and by extension liable to human error. One faulty human command can cause reliable, properly-functioning equipment to make mistakes.