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  3. Cocoa grown organically on trees within the shade of the rain forest canopy commands a premium price. However, acquiring and mai

Cocoa grown organically on trees within the shade of the rain forest canopy commands a premium price. However, acquiring and mai

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问题 Cocoa grown organically on trees within the shade of the rain forest canopy commands a premium price. However, acquiring and maintaining the certification that allows the crop to be sold as organically grown is very time-consuming and laborious. Meanwhile, the price premium for the grower is about 30 percent, whereas cocoa trees grown in full sun using standard techniques can have twice the yield of organic, shade-grown trees. Financially, therefore, standard techniques are the better choice for the farmer.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?
选项 A、Cocoa can be grown only in a climate that has the temperature and moisture characteristics of a tropical rain forest.
B、Cocoa trees grown using standard techniques require costly applications of fertilizer and pesticides, unlike shade-grown trees.
C、Although organically grown cocoa has long commanded a price premium over cocoa grown using standard techniques, its price has fluctuated considerably during that period.
D、Cocoa is not the only cash crop that can be raised on plots that leave the rain forest canopy overhead essentially intact.
E、Governments and international conservation organizations are working to streamline organic certification so as to relieve farmers of unnecessary work.
答案B
解析 Argument Evaluation
Situation Cocoa grown organically under the rain forest canopy can obtain a price premium of 30 percent for the grower. But the certification needed for the cocoa to be sold as organic is time-consuming and laborious. Since cocoa grown in full sun by standard (non-organic) techniques can have twice the yield, it is concluded that standard techniques are better financially for the farmer.
Reasoning Among the pieces of information presented, which one, assuming it is accurate, would most weaken the argument if added to the given information? Specific information about the costs associated with growing cocoa using standard techniques is lacking in the given information. For example, does use of the "standard techniques" entail lower or higher costs than use of organic techniques? If we had information that the costs are much higher, such information would tend to weaken the argument—unless we also knew that the much higher yields more than compensate for the much higher costs. If we had information that consumers are becoming increasingly concerned about chemical residues in cocoa, that information would also tend to weaken the argument.
A If this is true, then the cocoa grown both in rain forest shade and in full sun satisfies the climate requirement.
B Correct. This tells us that use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers entails very high costs for growers; moreover, such use of chemicals risks making the cocoa less attractive to consumers, ultimately impacting the grower’s financial benefits.
C If this were true only of the organic cocoa described in the given information, then it would tend to reinforce the argument rather than weaken it. If it were true of both kinds of cocoa, then it would neither strengthen nor weaken the argument.
D This information has no obvious bearing on the question asked.
E This information suggests that costs associated with growing organic cocoa may eventually decrease and the profits increase. But this does not weaken the argument as given, since its conclusion concerns what growing techniques are currently best for farmers.
The correct answer is B.
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