Logical Reasoning

PT145 · S2 · Q11 Farmers who use genetically

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Farmers who use genetically engineered plants on a large scale are at great financial risk because at any time a study could be published that would undermine what little confidence consumers have in genetically engineered foods.

Conclusion

It's unwise for farmers to grow genetically engineered crops.

Evidence

At any point, a study might come out that freaks people out about one of the genetically engineered crops you use. genetically engineered crops aren't fetching enough profit/revenue to be worth that risk.

Evaluate

A conclusion should be the Author's Opinion and should be Supported by at least one explicit claim. Here, the word unwise signified Opinion.

And if we ask ourselves, , the other two claims act like an answer to that question:

Goal

Just go find the Conclusion, buddy!

It's your day off. Just find "it is unwise to grow genetically engineered plants", so some equivalent-meaning rephrasing like .

11.

Which one of the following most accurately expresses the conclusion of the argument as a whole?

  1. A farmer who grows genetically

    Intermediate Conclusion

    This is supported by the second half of the first sentence, signified by "because". Why are they taking a risk? Because one bad news story could ruin them. But this idea ultimately serves to support the notion that it's therefore unwise to grow these types of plants.

    15% picked this

  2. Correct

    It is not prudent for

    Why this is right

    I wouldn't have guessed "it is not prudent" as their equivalent-meaning rephrasing for "it is unwise", but they do mean the same thing. This just reiterates the second sentence, which was our main conclusion.

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

    77% picked this

  3. The price paid for genetically

    Premise

    This replicates the meaning of the last sentence, which is a Premise. Why doesn't the price paid for genetically engineered crops compensate for the financial risk? The argument doesn't provide a reason. Presumably a reason would sound something like "the price paid leads to only moderate profits, whereas the risk of total bankruptcy is huge".

    8% picked this

  4. A study could come out

    Premise

    This directly supports the Intermediate Conclusion that starts the first sentence, which in turn supports the Main Conclusion.

    0% picked this

  5. Consumers have very little confidence

    Inference

    This was never said, but it was implied by "it could undermine what little confidence they have", which means "they do not currently have a lot of confidence".

    0% picked this

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