Logical Reasoning

PT102 · S4 · Q13 Unlike other primroses, self-pollinating

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Unlike other primroses, self-pollinating primroses do not need to rely on insects for pollination.

Given that ....

Self-pollinating primroses (SPP) have a higher average seed production than non-self-pollinating primroses (~SPP).

How can it be that

SPP's are rarer than ~SPP's?

Evaluate

If you had the same number of self-pollinating and non-pollinating primroses, say 10 each, you get more seeds produced from the self-pollinating primroses.

Since seeds are what give way to new primroses, we'd think "more seeds = more offspring".

But the type of primrose that makes more seeds (the self-pollinating kind) is more rare.

Goal

We need some way of explaining why the self-pollinating primroses are more rare. Do they just grow in fewer habitats? Do they produce more seeds, but the seeds don't ever reach maturity?

13.

Which one of the following, if true, most helps to resolve the apparent discrepancy in the information above?

Insects that collect pollen from
No Impact / No Distinction
This doesn't provide any reason for why self-pollinating primrose are less prevalent than non-self-pollinating primrose. In fact, it doesn't make any distinction between the two types of primrose at all.
7% picked this
Correct
When insect pollinators are scarce,
Why this is right
This gives us a way to explain why self-pollinating primrose are less prevalent than non-self-pollinating primrose. Even though the self-pollinating primrose produce more seeds than the non-self-pollinating primrose do when pollinators are scarce, the seeds produced by the self-pollinating primrose are smaller and less likely to germinate. This explains how there could be more seeds of type X but fewer plants of type X -- the seeds from plant X don't end up sprouting and growing.
Skill tested: Paradox · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.
70% picked this
Self-pollinating primroses that are located
No Impact
This tells us about a specific context in which self-pollinating primroses don't produce fewer seeds. Okay. Well then this won't help us explain why there are fewer self-pollinating primroses.
8% picked this
Many primroses are located in
No Impact / No Distinction
This doesn't provide any reason for why self-pollinating primroses are less prevalent than non-self-pollinating primroses, because it doesn't make any distinction between the two types of primroses at all.
8% picked this
Self-pollinating primroses can be assisted
No Impact
This tells us that self-pollinating primroses are sometimes assisted by insects. So that won't help us explain why there are fewer self-pollinating primroses. We need to hear something that's harder / worse / negative for self-pollinating primroses.
7% picked this

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