Logical Reasoning

PT143 · S3 · Q23 Amateur gardeners who plant based

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Amateur gardeners who plant based on the phases of the moon tend to get better results than those who do not.

Conclusion (So)

Amateur gardeners who use the phases of the moon are less likely to lose plants to a frost.

Evidence

Amateur gardeners who plant during the first warm spell of spring can lose plants when a frost follows.

Evaluate

The conclusion is comparative. Those who use "phases of the moon" are less likely to lose plants to a frost. Less likely than whom?

It has to be the people from the previous sentence, the ones who plant during the first warm spell of spring.

Why are "moon phase" gardeners less likely to lose plants to a frost than "first warm spell" gardeners?

The argument doesn't identify anything that "moon phase" gardeners are doing that's better. We just know that they plant based on the phases of the moon.

Goal

Look for something like, .

23.

The argument requires assuming which one of the following?

  1. Correct

    Using the phases of the

    Why this is right

    This essentially point out the fact that the author is Assuming a Difference when it comes to planting times. If we negate this, it would be saying that "using the phases of the moon usually leads gardeners to plant at least as early as those who plant at the first warm spell". That would indeed weaken, because it would make the moon-phase gardeners seem at least as vulnerable to losing plants to a frost. We were told that people planting at the first warm spell of spring are often jumping the gun. They're hoping it's warm enough to start planting, but if they over-eagerly plant and then a frost follows, they presumably lose some of those plants they recently planted to that frost. In order to not lose plants to a frost, it seems like you wouldn't want to plant until all the frosts are done for the year. So if the author thinks "moon phase" gardeners are less likely to lose plants to frost, he must be thinking that they wait to plant until later in the season, when it's less likely than any more frosts will occur.

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

    85% picked this

  2. The phases of the moon

    Unsupported Causal Relationship

    The author thinks that moon-phase gardeners are less likely to lose plants to frost, but nothing in the argument suggested that the phases of the moon have a causal effect on when frosts occur on Earth. That's a pretty outlandish concept. (Phases of the moon are just caused by where the Moon and Earth and Sun are in relation to each other. When the moon is in its crescent phase, it's because a larger shadow from Earth is being cast on the Moon. That doesn't have any causal effect on Earth.)

    12% picked this

  3. Amateur gardeners who use the

    Out of Scope: different types

    The author doesn't say anything to suggest that moon-phase gardeners use different types of plants. Sure, that could account for why they're less likely to lose plants (maybe the plants they tend to use are more frost-resistant). But that's not necessary to account for why they're less likely to lose plants. Even if the moon-phase gardeners plant the same types of plants as "first warm spell" gardeners, the former could still be less likely to lose plants to a frost (for example, by planting later in the season / by having better soil / by having better equipment / better irrigation / who knows). Admittedly, the correct answer is a little bit speculative. The argument doesn't clearly imply that the reason why moon-phase gardeners fare better with frost is related to when they plant. But it's more implied than any other reason. The author establishes that "first warm spell" gardeners plant during the first warm spell and thus lose plants if a frost follows. Because the author builds off that idea with So, we can tell her argument is connected more to the timing of planting.

    2% picked this

  4. Amateur gardeners cannot improve their

    Too Strong: cannot unless

    There's nothing in this argument that commits the author to this extreme claim, that it's impossible for amateur gardeners to get better results unless they understand why their methods work. Really? It's impossible for an amateur gardener to just have dumb luck and improve their results, despite not fully understanding how their methods work? The author never ruled out that very reasonable possibility.

    1% picked this

  5. Professional gardeners only rarely plant

    Too Strong

    Too Strong: only rarely Out of Scope: professional We know nothing about professional gardeners. We said nothing about them. The author has assumed nothing about them, certainly not a very extreme claim like "only rarely".

    1% picked this

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