Kim: The rapidly growing world population is increasing demands of food producers in ways that threaten our natural ...
MalikAugust 30, 2024
How to decide between B and C?
This is a weird question to me because I thought all the answers were wrong at first, then I brought it down to maybe B or C if I made some assumptions, I ended up choosing C. I want to know what makes B a better answer choice and how I could've avoided my mistake for next time?
"B: Continued research into more-efficient agricultural practices and innovative biotechnology aimed at producing more food on less land would be beneficial."
I ruled B out because it talked about 'research about efficient agricultural practices and innovative technology'. I thought that there was not enough information on what Kim thinks about 'research' for this to be correct. Sure they both would agree that more food on less land is good, but Kim does not have to agree with the method of doing so, its an assumption.
C: Agricultural and wilderness areas need to be protected from urban encroachment by preparing urban areas for greater population density.
I also knew this answer was not perfect but I thought the assumption was more reasonable. Kim says that there is "more land needed for both food production and urban areas". So I thought, Kim would agree that agriculture and wildlife need to be protected from urban encroachment because she says more land is needed for urban areas. I thought Hampton would also agree as it's implied he accepts Kim facts about the land needed for food production and urban areas. It just seemed like a more reasonable assumption.
In the explanation you say C is wrong because urban encroachment is out of scope - yes I agree, but B also seems out of scope as Kim never mentioned 'research'. That's why this question really baffles me, I sort of had to pick which assumption the test makers want me to make, none of the answers fit the puzzle like usual. I just want some help on where I am going wrong, what lesson I should takeaway, and how to deal with a question I feel requires assumptions like this?
Replies
Create a free account to read and
take part in forum discussions.
Sorry, the answer explanation says C is wrong because "greater population density" is out of scope. Regardless, I think that's parallel to the 'research' B mentions, both are methods of accomplishing a goal. So then where B and C differ is the actual goal, B is about producing more food on less land, which both speakers clearly agree with. C is about protecting agriculture and wildlife from urban encroachment which while Kim may agree with, its not as clear as Hampton does. That makes more sense but any insight is still appreciated
Emil-KunkinSeptember 3, 2024
I hate the term out of scope so I'm going to try to avoid it in my opinion here. My issue with C is that we really have to stretch to have any idea if H thinks anything about urban density. His view appears to be completely about agriculture and the ability to grow more food on the same amount of land. He does not address Kim's point about urban areas and only responds to the agriculture point. This does not enable us to conclude that he agrees with her about urban areas, since he doesn't actually say anything about the matter. Furthermore, he certainly doesn't give us anything that could support the specificity of the solution mentioned in C. Actually Kim doesn't give us enough to support C either. She would support the first half but there is no evidence she would support greater density rather than some other solution such as decreasing urbanization entirely.
B is right because improvements do not come out of thin air. The technology that seems like it would solve the issue that both of them hope to solve does not spring fully formed. It is created through research. Even if neither explicitly say research is beneficial, if both note there is a problem, and that problem is outside of what current tech and management can solve, then of course we need to research and develop betters solutions.
