Logical Reasoning

PT124 · S1 · Q15 Earthworms, vital to the health

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Earthworms, vital to the health of soil, prefer soil that is approximately neutral on the acid-to-alkaline scale.

Evidence

Earthworms, vital to the health of soil, prefer soil that is approximately neutral on the acid-to-alkaline scale.

Decomposition of dead plants makes the top layer of soil highly acidic.

Conclusion

Application of crushed limestone, which is highly alkaline, to the soil's surface should make the soil more attractive to earthworms.

Evaluate

This argument is fairly strong. However, something could still go wrong with the plan. Suppose a heavy rain storm washed away the crushed limestone, the soil might remain highly acidic. The argument assumes that something that everything goes according to plan.

15.

Which one of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?

  1. As far as soil health

    Supports a Premise

    This supports the premise that earthworms are vital to the health of soil.

    1% picked this

  2. Correct

    After its application to the

    Why this is right

    This protects the argument from something that could seriously derail the plan—the crushed limestone could dissolve into the soil or be washed away by rain before it neutralize some of the soil’s acidity.

    Skill tested: Necessary Assumption · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.

    91% picked this

  3. Crushed limestone contains available calcium

    Out of Scope

    The issue is whether crushed limestone makes soil more attractive to earthworms, not whether it directly contributes to the health of soil.

    2% picked this

  4. By itself, acidity of soil

    Supports a Premise

    This supports the premise that decomposition of dead plants makes the top-layer of soil highly acidic.

    1% picked this

  5. Alkaline soil is significantly more

    Irrelevant Comparison

    The argument is about making soil more attractive to earthworms, not the amount of benefit to the soil those earthworms bring.

    4% picked this

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