(A) is incorrect because Jennifer does not support every claim that Peter makes. She merely agrees with his conclusion.
(B) is incorrect because Jennifer does not add a premise that is necessary for Peter's argument. She agrees with his conclusion and adds another reason why his conclusion is correct.
(C) is incorrect because Jennifer does not offer an explanation to any of Peter's premises. She agrees with his conclusion and adds another reason why his conclusion is correct.
(D) is incorrect because Jennifer does not undermine Peter's conclusion. She agrees with it.
(E) is CORRECT because Jennifer clearly agrees; she responds to Peter's argument with "indeed," showing that she concurs with his conclusion, and adds another reason why the conclusion is correct i.e. drought-stressed plants develop pesticidal toxins which will help minimize crop damage, as well.
Hope that helps! Let me know if you have any questions.
DerekJuly 29, 2014
But doesn't her information still support peter's claims? Jennifer's info about drought stressed plants creating pesticide would support 1) insects not wanting to feed on them and 2) since it would keep away the bugs the farmers would have less crop damage. If the information does support his claims then wouldn't the answer be A? I guess I did not choose E because I don't understand what the "independent grounds" were.
NazAugust 4, 2014
Peter's conclusion is: "to minimize crop damage, farmers should water crops only just enough to ensure that there is no substantial threat, from a lack of water, to either the growth or the yield of the crops."
Why? Insects prefer to feed on the leaves of abundantly watered plants because the leaves of mildly drought-stressed plants are tougher in texture than the leaves of abundantly watered plants.
Jennifer offers the fact that a "mildly drought-stressed plant will divert a small amount of its resources from normal growth to the development of pesticidal toxins, but abundantly watered plants will not."
This does not support Peter's claim that the tough texture of drought-stressed plants causes insects to prefer to feed on the leaves of abundantly watered plants. Remember, Peter's claim is not just that insects prefer to feed on abundantly watered plants, but that this is because the texture of drought-stressed plants is tougher.
Thus, Jennifer's comment merely supports Peter's conclusion, not his claims. She offers an independent reason, i.e. a reason completely separate from the one that Peter gives, as to why farmers should water crops only enough to ensure that there is no substantial threat to either the growth or the yield of the crops.
Hope that helps! Pease let us know if you have any more questions.
Virginia_61092August 4, 2015
Im still confused because I feel like Jennifer undermines Peter's conclusion because it offers an alternative reason why tough leaf plants repel insects. They self-produce insect repellant and the other plants don't. Therefore, while jennifer does agree that tough leaf plants repel more insects because of their leaves texture there is more to it than the amount of water they receive. Doesn't this in essence undermine Peter's conclusion?
smilde11April 24, 2018
What drew me to answer (D) was the undermining of his conclusion.
Peter's conclusion was to water plants "just enough" so there is no substantial threat to to either growth or yield.
Jennifer refers to diverting a small amount of resources from "normal growth".
Can you explain how that doesn't undermine his conclusion?
