Which of the following most logically completes the argument?
A new machine for harvesting corn will allow rows to be planted only fifteen inches apart, instead of the usual thirty inches. Corn planted this closely will produce lower yields per plant. Nevertheless, the new machine will allow corn growers to double their profits per acre because _______.
A. with the closer spacing of the rows, the growing corn plants will quickly form a dense canopy of leaves, which will, by shading the ground, minimize the need for costly weed control and irrigation -Correct. This shows that the costs will actually reduce. From the premise we already know that the produce will increase, so the cost of maintenance should also reduce so that overall we have a profit even though we have a bad yield.
B. with the closer spacing of the rows, corn plants will be forced to grow taller because of increased competition for sunlight from neighboring corn plants -Let them grow taller. We are worried about the cost.
C. with the larger number of plants growing per acre, more fertilizer will be required -This will weaken the answer, since the profits will actually reduce.
D. with the spacing between rows cut by half, the number of plants grown per acre will almost double -We already know this from the premise. This option doesn't tell us that the costs might reduce; since, there is an equal possibility of an increase in the cost of maintenance
E. with the closer spacing of the rows, the acreage on which corn is planted will be utilised much more intensively than it was before, requiring more frequent fallow years in which corn fields are left unplanted -Out of scope
A new machine for harvesting corn will allow rows to be planted only fifteen inches apart, instead of the usual thirty inches. Corn planted this closely will produce lower yields per plant. Nevertheless, the new machine will allow corn growers to double their profits per acre because _______.
A. with the closer spacing of the rows, the growing corn plants will quickly form a dense canopy of leaves, which will, by shading the ground, minimize the need for costly weed control and irrigation -Correct. This shows that the costs will actually reduce. From the premise we already know that the produce will increase, so the cost of maintenance should also reduce so that overall we have a profit even though we have a bad yield.
B. with the closer spacing of the rows, corn plants will be forced to grow taller because of increased competition for sunlight from neighboring corn plants -Let them grow taller. We are worried about the cost.
C. with the larger number of plants growing per acre, more fertilizer will be required -This will weaken the answer, since the profits will actually reduce.
D. with the spacing between rows cut by half, the number of plants grown per acre will almost double -We already know this from the premise. This option doesn't tell us that the costs might reduce; since, there is an equal possibility of an increase in the cost of maintenance
E. with the closer spacing of the rows, the acreage on which corn is planted will be utilised much more intensively than it was before, requiring more frequent fallow years in which corn fields are left unplanted -Out of scope