Question

Scientists have modified feed corn genetically, increasing its resistance to insect pests. Farmers who tried out the genetically modified corn last season applied less insecticide to their corn fields and still got yields comparable to those they would have gotten with ordinary corn. Ordinary corn seed, however, costs less, and what these farmers saved on insecticide rarely exceeded their extra costs for seed. Therefore, for most feed-corn farmers, switching to genetically modified seed would be unlikely to increase profits.
Which of the following would it be most useful to know in order to evaluate the argument?
(A) Whether there are insect pests that sometimes reduce feed-corn yields, but against which commonly used insecticides and the genetic modification are equally ineffective
(B) Whether the price that farmers receive for feed corn has remained steady over the past few years
(C) Whether the insecticides typically used on feed corn tend to be more expensive than insecticides typically used on other crops
(D) Whether most of the farmers who tried the genetically modified corn last season applied more insecticide than was actually necessary
(E) Whether, for most farmers who plant feed corn, it is their most profitable crop

Answer 1

Answer:

D) Whether most of the farmers who tried the genetically modified corn last season applied more insecticide than was actually necessary

Explanation:

In order to evaluate this argument, we must first determine the cost equation for corn farmers:

profit = revenue from corn - total costs of producing corn

the total costs of producing corn include coth the price of seeds and pesticide.

Since the price of the seeds is much higher, it can only be offset if the amount of pesticide used was lower. But did the farmers that participated in the research study used the correct amount of pesticide during the last years would be crucial to determining the real impact of the new genetically modified seeds. If the farmers used too much pesticide in the previous years just in case, would mean that the actual use of pesticide should have been less and the costs increase when using the new seeds.