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- Wed Mar 22, 2017 2:05 pm
#33605
Complete Question Explanation
(See the complete passage discussion here: lsat/viewtopic.php?t=13775)
The correct answer choice is (C)
To answer this Concept Reference question, you need to provide a reason why “pick-your-own” farming is a good idea. Once again, passage organization is key. Whatley’s reasons for promoting a “pick-your-own” farming approach are discussed in the third paragraph: by using clients as harvesters, small farmers can save money, undercut supermarkets and operate their farms at a profit.
Answer choice (A): Customers may well enjoy experiencing firsthand where their produce comes from, but Whatley never mentions this as a reason why “pick-your-own” farming is crucial for profitability.
Answer choice (B): This answer choice contains an exaggeration (“substantial”). Moreover, while Whatley argues that small farms must generate year-round cash flow (lines 14-15), there is no evidence that “pick-your-own” farming guarantees such a cash flow. This is a Mistaken Reversal of the argument in line 26-27, in which “pick-your-own” farming is seen as a necessary, not a sufficient, condition for profitability.
Answer choice (C): This is the correct answer choice: “pick-your-own” farming allows farmers to undercut supermarkets and still operate the farm at a profit (lines 26-31).
Answer choice (D): This is an attractive Shell Game answer choice, because it agrees with Whatley’s recommendation that farmers grow only those crops specifically requested by their clients (lines 21-24). However, this answer choice is incorrect for two reasons: First, Whatley tells farmers to grow only the crops requested by their clients (if clients ask for apples, grow apples), not some specific variety of crops (Granny Smith vs. Fuji, for instance). More importantly, his advice is never advanced as a reason why “pick-your-own” farming is necessary for the operation of small farms. Rather, it is only seen as a strategy to help farmers guarantee a market for all their crops (line 22).
This is a great example of a trap you can easily avoid by focusing on passage structure: the author confines the discussion of why Whatley’s plan is crucial for profitability to the third paragraph only. Any answer choice that mentions ideas brought up elsewhere in the passage is likely to be incorrect.
Answer choice (E): Whatley does not recommend “pick-your-own” farming because there is a strong market for it. Location is important to ensure a sizable market, but that was never advanced as a reason to adopt his plan. If you focused on the argument in the third paragraph, this answer choice would be relatively easy to eliminate.
(See the complete passage discussion here: lsat/viewtopic.php?t=13775)
The correct answer choice is (C)
To answer this Concept Reference question, you need to provide a reason why “pick-your-own” farming is a good idea. Once again, passage organization is key. Whatley’s reasons for promoting a “pick-your-own” farming approach are discussed in the third paragraph: by using clients as harvesters, small farmers can save money, undercut supermarkets and operate their farms at a profit.
Answer choice (A): Customers may well enjoy experiencing firsthand where their produce comes from, but Whatley never mentions this as a reason why “pick-your-own” farming is crucial for profitability.
Answer choice (B): This answer choice contains an exaggeration (“substantial”). Moreover, while Whatley argues that small farms must generate year-round cash flow (lines 14-15), there is no evidence that “pick-your-own” farming guarantees such a cash flow. This is a Mistaken Reversal of the argument in line 26-27, in which “pick-your-own” farming is seen as a necessary, not a sufficient, condition for profitability.
Answer choice (C): This is the correct answer choice: “pick-your-own” farming allows farmers to undercut supermarkets and still operate the farm at a profit (lines 26-31).
Answer choice (D): This is an attractive Shell Game answer choice, because it agrees with Whatley’s recommendation that farmers grow only those crops specifically requested by their clients (lines 21-24). However, this answer choice is incorrect for two reasons: First, Whatley tells farmers to grow only the crops requested by their clients (if clients ask for apples, grow apples), not some specific variety of crops (Granny Smith vs. Fuji, for instance). More importantly, his advice is never advanced as a reason why “pick-your-own” farming is necessary for the operation of small farms. Rather, it is only seen as a strategy to help farmers guarantee a market for all their crops (line 22).
This is a great example of a trap you can easily avoid by focusing on passage structure: the author confines the discussion of why Whatley’s plan is crucial for profitability to the third paragraph only. Any answer choice that mentions ideas brought up elsewhere in the passage is likely to be incorrect.
Answer choice (E): Whatley does not recommend “pick-your-own” farming because there is a strong market for it. Location is important to ensure a sizable market, but that was never advanced as a reason to adopt his plan. If you focused on the argument in the third paragraph, this answer choice would be relatively easy to eliminate.