Logical Reasoning

PT142 · S4 · Q3 The master plan for the

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The master plan for the new park calls for the planting of trees of any species native to this area, except for those native trees that grow to be very large, such as the cottonwood.

Conclusion (thus)

The donated trees are probably consistent with the master plan.

Evidence

The master plan wants trees native to this area, but don't grow very large.

The donated trees come from the Three Rivers Nursery, which sells mostly native trees and shrubs.

Evaluate

Are we convinced that the donated trees are ?

No. All we know is that the donated trees are from a nursery that sells mostly native trees and shrubs. So there could be two possible ways these would fail to conform to the master plan:

1. Even though Three Rivers sells mostly native trees, they do sell some non-native trees. So, maybe the donated trees are non-native.

2. Even if we get a native tree from Three Rivers, it might be a type that grows to be very large.

Goal

We want an answer to convince us that #1 or #2 (or both) aren't happening.

We want reassurance that the trees we got from Three Rivers are, in fact, native, and aren't a species that grows to be very large.

3.

Which one of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument?

  1. Some tree species that grow

    No Impact

    The fact that this is so weakly worded (some) is an instant turn-off. It also seems to just contradict what he heard about the master plan, which was that we were going to "plant trees of any species native to this area, except for those that grow to be very large". So if anything it feels more like it's clashing with the paragraph than supporting it.

    1% picked this

  2. Three Rivers Nursery sells cottonwood

    Weakens, if anything

    Cottonwood was an example of a tree that wouldn't be consistent with the master plan, because it grows very large. If Three Rivers sells cottonwood and Three Rivers donated us some of their trees, then it's possible they donated us some cottonwood. In that case, the donated trees would not be consistent with the master plan.

    1% picked this

  3. Many of the native species

    No Impact

    We know that Three Rivers donated trees, not shrubs. So frankly, we don't care at all about what shrub inventory Three Rivers has.

    1% picked this

  4. Tree species that are not

    No Impact

    By definition, non-native trees that are consistent with the master plan should be hard (if not impossible) to find. That's just an inference we can draw from being told that the master plan calls for "trees of any species native to this area". Any tree species not-native to this area is by definition not consistent with the master plan. Since "we already knew this answer" (we could have derived it from what we were already told), this answer isn't providing us with any new information. Most importantly, it has nothing to do with convincing us that the donated trees from Three Rivers are native and don't grow to be very large.

    1% picked this

  5. Correct

    Three Rivers Nursery does not

    Why this is right

    This rules out one of our two possible objections. To be consistent with the master plan, we need to know that the donated trees are: 1. native to this area 2. don't grow to be very large Since Three Rivers mostly sells native trees the author can feel good about #1 (not certain). She can say "the donated trees are probably native". But we have no idea if they conform to the master plan in regards to the "except for those that grow to be very large" provision. This answer reassures us that they do! The donated trees couldn't possibly illegal ones that grow to be very large because Three Rivers doesn't sell any trees that grow to be very large.

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

    96% picked this

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