Logical Reasoning

PT130 · S4 · Q16 Madden: Industrialists address problems

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Madden: Industrialists address problems by simplifying them, but in farming that strategy usually leads to oversimplification.

Facts

Industrialists try to solve problems by simplifying, but in farming that can lead to oversimplification. For example, they would use separate things to accomplish draining and water retention, whereas farmers would presumably use good topsoil to do both.

You get more farming problems when industrialists, not farmers, are doing the farming.

Evaluation

We need to draw a safely-worded moral to the story. Maybe something like , or .

Goal

Beware strongly-worded answers. Look for something that safely reinforces the story we were told.

16.

The situation as Madden describes it best illustrates which one of the following propositions?

  1. The handling of water drainage

    Too Strong: "most important"

    We were told one example of a general phenomenon. The author didn't give us any indication that this example relates to the most important part of good farming.

    0% picked this

  2. Correct

    The problems of farming should

    Why this is right

    This is akin to saying, "oversimplification leads to problems in farming". We know industrialists tend to oversimplify farming problems and create more problems than they solve in doing so, so this is a safely-worded takeaway. This may sound strong, but it's equivalent to saying, "The problems of farming should not be oversimplified."

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

    67% picked this

  3. Farmers are better than anyone

    Too Strong: "better than anyone"

    All we know is that farmers are better than industrialists at solving farming problems.

    7% picked this

  4. Industrial solutions for problems in

    Too Strong: "never"

    Too harsh. The first sentence says that industrialists usually oversimplify the farming problems they try to solve, but that still leaves room for the possibility that sometimes industrialists could be consulted.

    12% picked this

  5. The approach to problem solving

    Too Strong: "fundamentally flawed"

    Their approach isn't fundamentally flawed, it's just not as good an approach when it comes to farming problems as that of the farmer.

    14% picked this

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