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- Wed Jan 21, 2015 12:00 am
#34810
Complete Question Explanation
Strengthen. The correct answer choice is (E)
This argument has elements of Malthusian thinking within it, namely that at some point the population will exceed our ability to produce food.
The expert opens this stimulus using the “some people say...” technique, first described in our discussion about Question #5. Here, the expert presents the view of “some people,” who argue that there is no need for concern about food shortages, because so far food production has increased faster than the population has. As expected, the expert disagrees with these people, concluding that “widespread food shortages are inevitable.” In support of this view, the expert says that the planet’s resources can support food production at only a few times the current amount and, after that limit is reached, there can be no more increases in production.
The expert’s argument is flawed because it assumes that the population will increase to a point at which the maximum food production level will be insufficient to support the population. The question stem identifies this as a Strengthen question, the third of the section thus far. Our prephrase is that the correct answer choice will strengthen the expert’s conclusion by providing evidence supporting the assumption that the population would grow beyond the planet’s maximum food production capacity.
Answer choice (A): This answer choice addresses the issue of sustainability, not capacity. However, the argument is centered on the planet’s maximum food production capacity.
Answer choice (B): In the stimulus, the expert referred to the “planet’s resources,” which would include food resources from the oceans. This statement adds nothing new to the argument.
Answer choice (C): This answer choice weakens the expert’s conclusion by casting doubt on whether the planet’s population will continue to increase.
Answer choice (D): The historical occurrence of regional food shortages is irrelevant to the conclusion, which dealt with the sufficiency of maximal planetary food production.
Answer choice (E): This is the correct answer choice, because it restates our prephrase, that the planet’s population will grow beyond the maximum level of food production.
Strengthen. The correct answer choice is (E)
This argument has elements of Malthusian thinking within it, namely that at some point the population will exceed our ability to produce food.
The expert opens this stimulus using the “some people say...” technique, first described in our discussion about Question #5. Here, the expert presents the view of “some people,” who argue that there is no need for concern about food shortages, because so far food production has increased faster than the population has. As expected, the expert disagrees with these people, concluding that “widespread food shortages are inevitable.” In support of this view, the expert says that the planet’s resources can support food production at only a few times the current amount and, after that limit is reached, there can be no more increases in production.
The expert’s argument is flawed because it assumes that the population will increase to a point at which the maximum food production level will be insufficient to support the population. The question stem identifies this as a Strengthen question, the third of the section thus far. Our prephrase is that the correct answer choice will strengthen the expert’s conclusion by providing evidence supporting the assumption that the population would grow beyond the planet’s maximum food production capacity.
Answer choice (A): This answer choice addresses the issue of sustainability, not capacity. However, the argument is centered on the planet’s maximum food production capacity.
Answer choice (B): In the stimulus, the expert referred to the “planet’s resources,” which would include food resources from the oceans. This statement adds nothing new to the argument.
Answer choice (C): This answer choice weakens the expert’s conclusion by casting doubt on whether the planet’s population will continue to increase.
Answer choice (D): The historical occurrence of regional food shortages is irrelevant to the conclusion, which dealt with the sufficiency of maximal planetary food production.
Answer choice (E): This is the correct answer choice, because it restates our prephrase, that the planet’s population will grow beyond the maximum level of food production.
