GMAT Set 28 CR

[Makumajon]

C seems most plausible.

The herb produces histidine and thrives in toxic metal condition.
If similar other hersb that thrive also produce histidine, then the hypothesis may be verified.

[abraxas]

IMO is D.
It strengthens the argument that the enzym hinder the metals' activity.

[amit_ace]

E is the correct answer

[ranjeet_1975]

IMO C, agree with KillGmat

[simple27]

IMO D. If over an extended period, decayed herbs raise the histadine-levels in the soil and allow other plants to grow in that soil, then the histadine can be rightly identified as the agent which allows plants to grow in soils flush w/ toxic metals.

[phoenix_670]

I'd go with D as an answer looks like that is the option which strengthens the hypothesis that the plant neutralises the toxic metals using histidine..
correct me if i'm wrong

[Dzadz]

Originally Posted by borntorun

IMO E ...
argument based on cause --effect

Histadine causes plant to survive .... no histadine , plant doesn't survive .. option E says this ...

The prompt doesn't mention of the plant losing histidine...

Can someone clarify why E is correct, C seems to make more sense still...

[surfpacifica]

The argument is asking for a strong support and not the conclusion.
So cause...effect is not what we are looking for but what would best support the hypothesis (that the histamine is a factor for its survival in toxic metals)...

C) supports that hypothesis.

or the other way we can support the hypothesis is that...
When the plant matures it has low histadine production, which leads to its death.
E) does not mention that the plant is suffers the toxicity when it matures.

[synfist]

Originally Posted by Man_of_Honour

Which of the following most logically completes the argument?

A certain cultivated herb is one of a group of closely related plants that thrive in soil with high concentrations of metals that are toxic to most other plants.

Agronomists studying the herb have discovered that it produces large amounts of histidine, an amino acid that,in test-tube solutions, renders these metals chemically inert.

Possibly, therefore, the herb’s high histidine production is what allows it to grow in metal-rich soils, a hypothesis that would gain support if ______.

A. histidine is found in all parts of the plant—roots, stem, leaves, and flowers
B. the herb’s high level of histidine production is found to be associated with an unusually low level of production of other amino acids
C. others of the closely related group of plants are also found to produce histidine in large quantities
D. cultivation of the herb in soil with high concentrations of the metals will, over an extended period, make the soil suitable for plants to which the metals are toxic
E. the concentration of histidine in the growing herb declines as the plant approaches maturity

Herbs can grow well in soil with high concentrations of metal----1

Soil with high concentration of Metal is toxic to Other plants ---2

Herbs produces large amounts of histidine which renders these metals chemically inert ---3

3 is the reason why herbs grow in metal rich soil---4


Look for something which bridge the gap between 3 and 4


A and B are out of scope
C : says All the related plants produce histidine !!
Does it say How it is going to help ? Only reason we have is, one of the premises which says it renders the metal inert.

D:This says, when you grow herbs for a extended period of time , they will render almost all the metal into inert. thus any plants can grow there so are herbs.

E: ?

[psingh]

I think its E because we are asked to focus on high Histidine production...which is very well tackled in option E which says as the plant achives maturity the concentration decreases.