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- Wed May 11, 2016 11:42 am
#24413
Complete Question Explanation
Must Be True. The correct answer choice is (E)
The two absolute and one relative fact presented in the stimulus can be summarized as follows:
Fact 1 (absolute):
Taproot = ½ Plant height
Fact 2 (absolute): >2x(avg. rainfall) 
Above average height
Fact 3 (relative): More rain tends to promote growth
Since the false chicory’s taproot is always ½ as long as the plant is tall, if the plant grows taller, so will its taproot. Given that rain makes the plant grow taller, it is reasonable to conclude that if a false chicory plant receives greater than twice the average rainfall of the species’ usual habitat, then it will have a longer taproot than that of an average-sized false chicory plant. Answer choice (E) is therefore correct.
Answer choice (A): Even though rain makes the false chicory plant grow taller, there is no reason to suspect that rainfall is the only factor affecting its height (and by extension the length of its taproot). The plant with a shorter taproot could have had a disease that prevented it from growing longer. Furthermore, it is entirely possible that both plants received more than twice the average rainfall of the species’ usual habitat – the taller plant simply received more rain than the shorter one.
Answer choice (B): This is a Mistaken Reversal of Fact 2. Just because a taproot is longer than average does not mean that the plant received more than twice the average rainfall. It is possible for it to have received less than twice the average rainfall, and still enough rain to enable it to grow taller. It is also possible that the length of its taproot is entirely due to other causes, such as synthetic pesticides or fertilizers.
Answer choice (C): This is a Mistaken Negation of Fact 2. It is entirely possible that the taproot grew longer for other reasons having nothing to do with the amount of rain received by the plant. Rainfall is just one factor affecting the height of the plant (and the length of its taproot).
Answer choice (D): Even though rain makes the false chicory plant grow taller, there is no reason to suspect that rainfall is the only factor affecting its height (and by extension the length of its taproot). Therefore, if two groups of plants are identical in height, it is entirely possible that they received different amounts of rain.
Answer choice (E): This is the correct answer choice. See discussion above.
Must Be True. The correct answer choice is (E)
The two absolute and one relative fact presented in the stimulus can be summarized as follows:
Fact 1 (absolute):
Taproot = ½ Plant heightFact 2 (absolute):
>2x(avg. rainfall) Above average heightFact 3 (relative):
More rain tends to promote growthSince the false chicory’s taproot is always ½ as long as the plant is tall, if the plant grows taller, so will its taproot. Given that rain makes the plant grow taller, it is reasonable to conclude that if a false chicory plant receives greater than twice the average rainfall of the species’ usual habitat, then it will have a longer taproot than that of an average-sized false chicory plant. Answer choice (E) is therefore correct.
Answer choice (A): Even though rain makes the false chicory plant grow taller, there is no reason to suspect that rainfall is the only factor affecting its height (and by extension the length of its taproot). The plant with a shorter taproot could have had a disease that prevented it from growing longer. Furthermore, it is entirely possible that both plants received more than twice the average rainfall of the species’ usual habitat – the taller plant simply received more rain than the shorter one.
Answer choice (B): This is a Mistaken Reversal of Fact 2. Just because a taproot is longer than average does not mean that the plant received more than twice the average rainfall. It is possible for it to have received less than twice the average rainfall, and still enough rain to enable it to grow taller. It is also possible that the length of its taproot is entirely due to other causes, such as synthetic pesticides or fertilizers.
Answer choice (C): This is a Mistaken Negation of Fact 2. It is entirely possible that the taproot grew longer for other reasons having nothing to do with the amount of rain received by the plant. Rainfall is just one factor affecting the height of the plant (and the length of its taproot).
Answer choice (D): Even though rain makes the false chicory plant grow taller, there is no reason to suspect that rainfall is the only factor affecting its height (and by extension the length of its taproot). Therefore, if two groups of plants are identical in height, it is entirely possible that they received different amounts of rain.
Answer choice (E): This is the correct answer choice. See discussion above.