genetic modifications to cotton

[aikhan]

Scientists have made genetic modifications to cotton to increase its resistance to insect pests. According to farmers' reports, the amount of insecticide needed per acre to control insect pests was only slightly lower for those who tried the modified seed than for those who did not. Therefore, since the modified seed costs more than ordinary seed without producing yields of higher market value, switching to the modified seed would be unlikely to benefit most cotton farmers economically.

 

Which of the following would it be most useful to know in order to evaluate the argument?

 

A. Whether farmers who tried the modified cotton seed had ever tried growing other crops from genetically modified seed

B. Whether the insecticides typically used on ordinary cotton tend to be more expensive than insecticides typically used on other crops

C. Whether for most farmers who grow cotton it is their primary crop

D. Whether the farmers who have tried the modified seed planted as many acres of cotton, on average, as farmers using the ordinary seed did

E. Whether most of the farmers who tried the modified seed did so because they had previously had to use exceptionally large quantities of insecticide

[Lhomme]

IMO D

 

Scientists have made genetic modifications to cotton to increase its resistance to insect pests. According to farmers' reports, the amount of insecticide needed per acre to control insect pests was only slightly lower for those who tried the modified seed than for those who did not. Therefore, since the modified seed costs more than ordinary seed without producing yields of higher market value, switching to the modified seed would be unlikely to benefit most cotton farmers economically.

 

Which of the following would it be most useful to know in order to evaluate the argument?

 

A. Whether farmers who tried the modified cotton seed had ever tried growing other crops from genetically modified seed.....This is out of scope. This argument needs to be geared towards cotton seeds only.

B. Whether the insecticides typically used on ordinary cotton tend to be more expensive than insecticides typically used on other crops..Again, out of scope.

C. Whether for most farmers who grow cotton it is their primary crop...This will not help us in any way to evaluate the argument.

D. Whether the farmers who have tried the modified seed planted as many acres of cotton, on average, as farmers using the ordinary seed did...Correct, This information is very helpful to evaluate the claim in the argument. As farmers, who use modified cotton seed, on average, plant less acres of cotton compared to the farmers, who use ordinary cotton seed, then it will not be fair to compare the cotton yield for the two types of cotton seeds.

E. Whether most of the farmers who tried the modified seed did so because they had previously had to use exceptionally large quantities of insecticide...Does not help us in evaluating the claim.

[ramgmat]

Imo D

[aikhan]

I also choose D at first but the OA is E

???

[manasdas]

Surprised to know that E is the answer..

Even I chose D

[kino]

answer is E. 800Bob confirmed this in an earlier post.

[kino]

gmat-critical-reasoning/18634-genetic-modifications-good-one.html,DanaInfo=www.www.urch.com+#post102501

[mannu08]

@knio: the link you provided above is taking somewhere else.

 

I also chose D.

wondering how the ans is E.

[defylogic]

I was confused between B and E. But then B compares cotton to other crops which is irrelevant here.

Here is my explanation for E:

 

The argument here is that the new cotton seed would not help farmers economically because for farmers who used new seed, insecticide used per acre was only slightly lower than for those who did not use the new seed.

There are 2 points to note

1. The question talks about insecticide usage per acre (that's why D is ruled out)

2. The argument is based on the comparison of results for those who used the seed and those who did not.

 

If E were true, then those farmers had to initially use a large amount of pesticides and now they would be using substantially less pesticide. Hence, the farmers are benefited economically.

 

I E were false, then as validated by point 2, the farmers would not be benefited economically.

 

Since we get 2 different results by using polar opposites of choice E, E helps us in successfully evaluating the argument.

[kino]

Ohh may be I made a mistake in copying the link...this question has been discussed before answer is E..courtsey 800Bob

[rajivgarg]

hi Kino could you please post the link of the forum where it has been discussed earlier..wondering how can be the answer be E

[kino]

some how I cannot copy the link.but if we search in CR forum by user name 800Bob...we can there.However i have the explanation by 800Bob

 

"For me the answer is E.

 

Evidence:

1) Amount of insecticide needed per acre was only slightly less for farmers who tried modified seed than for farmers who used ordinary seed.

2) Modified seed costs more than ordinary seed.

Conclusion:

Using modified seed probably offers no economic advantage.

 

But if the farmers who tried modified seed had previously had to use exceptionally large quantities of insecticide, then it is possible that using modified seed is saving them money. The higher cost of the modified seed could be more than offset by savings on insecticide."

[defylogic]

I modified kino's link and here it is

 

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/gmat-critical-reasoning/18634-genetic-modifications-good-one.html

[TaTum]

My answer is E. Because the speaker contrast the quantity of pesticide for the new seed with that amount of the traditional seed. So, choice E helps us ensure the comparison has been conducted at the same ground.

[NishantG]

I too choose E. Based on the explanation that if the Genetically modified seeds were grown in by farmers in land that earlier required high amounts of pesticides, then doing a comparison with other farmers whoo already are using lower amounts of pesticides is not correct.

[ameetsingh]

Imo E