Solutions

Get detailed explanations to advanced GMAT questions.



Question

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


 

Option 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

Option 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

Option C:

with the larger number of plants growing per acre, more fertilizer will be required

Option D:

with the spacing between rows cut by half, the number of plants grown per acre will almost double

Option E:

with the closer spacing of the rows, the acreage on which corn is planted will be utilized much more intensively than it was before, requiring more frequent fallow years in which corn fields are left unplanted

Difficulty Level

Easy

Solution

Option A is the correct answer.


Option Analysis

Question type : Inference based question.  

Summary of the argument: The argument concludes that the new method will increase the profits per acre despite the low yield as the corn is planted closer than is usual.  

A) Correct Answer 

B) Growing taller is not related to higher or lower profits.  

C) More fertilizer means more cost and hence lesser profits.  

D) This doesn’t talk about the profits.  

E) We are worried about profits and not the number of fallow years


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