Logical Reasoning

PT130 · S4 · Q7 Farmer: Because water content

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Farmer: Because water content is what makes popcorn pop, the kernels must dry at just the right speed to trap the correct amount of water.

Apparent Paradox

Because water content is what makes popcorn pop, the kernels must dry at just the right speed to trap the correct amount of water.

The best way to achieve this effect is to have the sun dry the corn while the corn is still in the field, but I always dry the ears on a screen in a warm, dry room.

Evaluate

To resolve the apparent discrepancy between the farmer’s theory and practice, the right answer should provide some reason to believe that the farmer’s situation is not typical and warrants deviation from the standard best practice.

7.

Which one of the following, if true, most helps to resolve the apparent discrepancy between the farmer's theory and practice?

  1. Correct

    The region in which the

    Why this is right

    This would explain why this farmer cannot rely on drying the corn in the field, since a long, cloudy season would make that difficult to achieve.

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

    77% picked this

  2. Leaving popcorn to dry on

    Deepens the Paradox

    This makes it more puzzling why the farmer does not leave the popcorn in the field to dry.

    0% picked this

  3. Drying popcorn on its stalks

    Too Weak

    That there are several methods that allow the kernels’ water content to reach acceptable levels, does not indicate why the farmer does not practice the theoretical best way. This does not challenge the assertion that letting popcorn dry in the field is the best way to achieve the correct amount of water.

    18% picked this

  4. When popcorn does not dry

    Out of Scope

    This might explain what happens when popcorn is not sufficient dried, but it does not explain why the farmer dries corn on a screen in a warm, dry room.

    2% picked this

  5. If popcorn is allowed to

    Too Weak

    This would require assuming that corn that dries in the field is more likely to be dry too much.

    3% picked this

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