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.
Factory manager: One reason the automobile parts this factory produces are expensive is that our manufacturing equipment is outdated and inefficient. Our products would be more competitively priced if we were to refurbish the factory completely with new, more efficient equipment. Therefore, since to survive in today’s market we have to make our products more competitively priced, we must completely refurbish the factory in order to survive.
A
fails to recognize that the price of a particular commodity can change over time
The manager doesn't mention that prices can change over time, but this doesn’t describe a flaw in her argument. Her argument addresses the price of her factory’s automobile parts compared to the price of other factories’ parts. Whether prices change over time is irrelevant.
B
shifts without justification from treating something as one way of achieving a goal to treating it as the only way of achieving that goal
The manager shifts from treating refurbishing the factory as one way of making products more competitively priced to treating it as the only way. In her premises “refurbishing” is a sufficient solution, while in her conclusion it’s a necessary solution.
C
argues that one thing is the cause of another when the evidence given indicates that the second thing may in fact be the cause of the first
The manager doesn’t make this mistake. Instead, she argues that one thing is necessary for another when her evidence indicates that it is in fact only sufficient.
D
recommends a solution to a problem without first considering any possible causes of that problem
The manager’s argument is actually flawed because it recommends— and even requires— a solution to a problem without first considering other possible solutions to that problem.
E
fails to make a definite recommendation and instead merely suggests that some possible course of action might be effective
The manager does make a definite recommendation: refurbishing the factory. She also establishes that refurbishing the factory would be effective at making products more competitively priced.
A
Even five servings of fruits and vegetables a day is insufficient unless the intake is varied to ensure that different vitamins are consumed.
B
Certain commonly available fruits and vegetables contain considerably more nutrients than others.
C
Nutritionists sometimes disagree on how much of a fruit or vegetable constitutes a complete serving.
D
Many commonly consumed foods that are neither fruits nor vegetables are fortified by manufacturers with the vitamins found in fruits and vegetables.
E
Fruits and vegetables are also important sources of fiber, in forms not found in vitamin pills.
Rahima: Your argument for subsidizing art depends on claiming that to gain widespread popular acclaim, artists must produce something other than their best work; but this need not be true.
A
disputes an implicit assumption of Sahira’s
B
presents independent support for Sahira’s argument
C
accepts Sahira’s conclusion, but for reasons different from those given by Sahira
D
uses Sahira’s premises to reach a conclusion different from that reached by Sahira
E
argues that a standard that she claims Sahira uses is self-contradictory
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.
A
Large adult frogs cannot coexist with small adult frogs in the wet areas.
B
Frogs living in wet areas weigh more on average than frogs in the arid areas.
C
Large adult frogs can live in more of the area than small adult frogs can.
D
Fewer small adult frogs live in the south than do large adult frogs.
E
Small adult frogs in the south have less permeable skins than small adult frogs in the north.