Logical Reasoning

PT143 · S1 · Q16 It is possible to grow agricultural crops

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It is possible to grow agricultural crops that can thrive when irrigated with seawater.

Conclusion

Farming in which crops are irrigated with seawater, if done near oceans, would actually be cheaper than most other irrigated agriculture.

Evidence (since)

The greatest expense in irrigated agriculture is in pumping water, the pumping costs increase with the distance water is pumped, and the water wouldn't have to be pumped far (if done near oceans).

Evaluate

Whenever we read the argument on Role or Main Conclusion, we prime our brain with the expectation that first we'll see the Main Conclusion and then we'll hear the supporting ideas ("upside-down arguments").

In this argument, the first sentence sounds like it might be an opinion, but the author doesn't try to convince us that it's possible to grow crops irrigated with seawater.

Meanwhile, the 2nd claim, that such farming would be cheaper is immediately followed by the Support Indicator 'since' (FABS = for, after all, because, since), which shows us that this 2nd claim is probably the conclusion.

Our theory is confirmed when we see that the final sentence also is supporting that idea that irrigating with ocean water, if done near the ocean, would be cheaper.

The last sentence has two claims, joined by "and". The word 'and' (99% of the time) joins together two supporting claims.

Goal

We're being asked about the 2nd to last claim, which is one of our 3 premises.

So look for an answer like, .

16.

Which one of the following most accurately describes the role played in the argument by the claim that the greatest expense in irrigated agriculture is in pumping the water?

  1. It is a claim that

    Opposite

    We're looking for "a claim the author uses to Support her conclusion", not a claim that the author tries to disprove.

    0% picked this

  2. It is a hypothesis that,

    Opposite

    We're looking for "a claim the author uses to Support her conclusion", not a claim that would undermine the conclusion.

    1% picked this

  3. Correct

    It is evidence provided to

    Why this is right

    We were looking for "a claim the author uses to Support her conclusion", and this correctly identifies this claim as a Premise (i.e. evidence / support).

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

    86% picked this

  4. It is the argument's conclusion.

    Wrong Role

    The conclusion is the 2nd claim in the paragraph. We can tell that our claim is not the conclusion because it fails the support test: why should we believe that "the greatest expense in irrigated agriculture is in pumping the water"? The argument doesn't provide any justification for that claim, so that claim can't be a conclusion.

    1% picked this

  5. It is a claim for

    Wrong Role

    This answer describes something like an Intermediate Conclusion (it's supported by a premise, but it supports the Main Conclusion). But we can tell that our claim is not backed up by any evidence because it fails the Support Test: why should we believe that "the greatest expense in irrigated agriculture is in pumping the water"? The argument doesn't provide any evidence for that claim.

    11% picked this

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