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- Fri Jan 21, 2011 12:00 am
#22687
Complete Question Explanation
Must Be True. The correct answer choice is (A).
This stimulus is fairly straightforward. The first sentence offers information about what happens to buried pigweed seeds in the spring. The second sentence tells us what this event accomplishes: it exposes the pigweed seeds to sunlight, which stimulates receptors, which in turn stimulate germination. We know the last sentence is the conclusion because it takes these two observations and makes a broader point based on these premises: without this specific pattern of events, pigweed seeds will not germinate. Any pigweed seed that doesn't undergo these events (being buried for a long time, and then being briefly exposed to sunlight) does not germinate.
The question stem tests our understanding of this conclusion as it applies to a specific example, which the question stem provides. In this example, we know that the first condition of the conclusion has been filled: pigweed seeds have experienced prolonged darkness, because they've been buried in the soil all winter. So one important point we should be looking for is whether the seeds are going to be exposed to sunlight.
Don't forget to sort the answer choices into Contenders and Losers!
Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer choice. Here, in the first example, the seeds are being plowed only at night. This means that they're not being briefly exposed to sunlight, as required for germination. Therefore, they won't germinate! In the second example, the seeds are exposed to sunlight during the day, so they will germinate.
**Note: as we've seen before, it's very important to understand what kinds of valid conclusions can be drawn from a broad, strong statement. Here, the conclusion of the stimulus tells us that all pigweed seeds must have prolonged darkness and then brief exposure to sunlight, or they can't germinate. The first example in answer choice A says "fewer" pigweed plants will grow if these conditions aren't met than if they are met. Based on the stimulus conclusion, however, we could actually say that no pigweed plants will grow when the conditions haven't been met. Is "no plants" fewer than "some plants"? Definitely. Test takers will frequently be tested on your understanding of the relationship between "all", "some", "at least one", and "none".
Answer choice (B) Both of the examples here do not expose the seeds to sunlight, so they both would be equally futile at getting the seeds to germinate. If there's some other factor involved (say, cows walk through the fields at day, exposing the seeds to sunlight even when they aren't plowed), we don't know enough about it to be able to draw any conclusion.
Answer choice (C) Both of the examples here do not expose the seeds to sunlight. Again, we don't know the other possible factors involved, so we can't draw any conclusions about which might be more effective.
Answer choice (D) The conclusion of the stimulus tells us two requirements for germination: prolonged darkness, and exposure to sunlight. We don't know what's required after these two basic requirements are met. We can't conclude that the seeds have to be redeposited under the surface of the soil, as much as common sense might tell us that it's probably true. There's still the possibility that they might germinate on the surface. In Must Be True questions, always use just the information that's been given to you in the stimulus.
Answer choice (E) This one's a bit trickier, because it tests your understanding of the other part of the example: the part where the seeds have been buried in the soil. You should be able to see that the example doesn't tell us that all pigweed seeds in the field have been buried in the soil all winter. It just says "pigweed seeds have been buried". So if we find some seeds already on the surface of the soil before the field has been plowed, there's a chance that these seeds were never buried. The missing "all" and the suspicious circumstances should point you to the possibility that these seeds haven't met the required conditions for germination. Always watch out for qualifiers like "all".
Must Be True. The correct answer choice is (A).
This stimulus is fairly straightforward. The first sentence offers information about what happens to buried pigweed seeds in the spring. The second sentence tells us what this event accomplishes: it exposes the pigweed seeds to sunlight, which stimulates receptors, which in turn stimulate germination. We know the last sentence is the conclusion because it takes these two observations and makes a broader point based on these premises: without this specific pattern of events, pigweed seeds will not germinate. Any pigweed seed that doesn't undergo these events (being buried for a long time, and then being briefly exposed to sunlight) does not germinate.
The question stem tests our understanding of this conclusion as it applies to a specific example, which the question stem provides. In this example, we know that the first condition of the conclusion has been filled: pigweed seeds have experienced prolonged darkness, because they've been buried in the soil all winter. So one important point we should be looking for is whether the seeds are going to be exposed to sunlight.
Don't forget to sort the answer choices into Contenders and Losers!
Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer choice. Here, in the first example, the seeds are being plowed only at night. This means that they're not being briefly exposed to sunlight, as required for germination. Therefore, they won't germinate! In the second example, the seeds are exposed to sunlight during the day, so they will germinate.
**Note: as we've seen before, it's very important to understand what kinds of valid conclusions can be drawn from a broad, strong statement. Here, the conclusion of the stimulus tells us that all pigweed seeds must have prolonged darkness and then brief exposure to sunlight, or they can't germinate. The first example in answer choice A says "fewer" pigweed plants will grow if these conditions aren't met than if they are met. Based on the stimulus conclusion, however, we could actually say that no pigweed plants will grow when the conditions haven't been met. Is "no plants" fewer than "some plants"? Definitely. Test takers will frequently be tested on your understanding of the relationship between "all", "some", "at least one", and "none".
Answer choice (B) Both of the examples here do not expose the seeds to sunlight, so they both would be equally futile at getting the seeds to germinate. If there's some other factor involved (say, cows walk through the fields at day, exposing the seeds to sunlight even when they aren't plowed), we don't know enough about it to be able to draw any conclusion.
Answer choice (C) Both of the examples here do not expose the seeds to sunlight. Again, we don't know the other possible factors involved, so we can't draw any conclusions about which might be more effective.
Answer choice (D) The conclusion of the stimulus tells us two requirements for germination: prolonged darkness, and exposure to sunlight. We don't know what's required after these two basic requirements are met. We can't conclude that the seeds have to be redeposited under the surface of the soil, as much as common sense might tell us that it's probably true. There's still the possibility that they might germinate on the surface. In Must Be True questions, always use just the information that's been given to you in the stimulus.
Answer choice (E) This one's a bit trickier, because it tests your understanding of the other part of the example: the part where the seeds have been buried in the soil. You should be able to see that the example doesn't tell us that all pigweed seeds in the field have been buried in the soil all winter. It just says "pigweed seeds have been buried". So if we find some seeds already on the surface of the soil before the field has been plowed, there's a chance that these seeds were never buried. The missing "all" and the suspicious circumstances should point you to the possibility that these seeds haven't met the required conditions for germination. Always watch out for qualifiers like "all".
