Rye sown in the fall and plowed into the soil in early spring leaves a residue that is highly effective...
GMAT Critical Reasoning : (CR) Questions
Rye sown in the fall and plowed into the soil in early spring leaves a residue that is highly effective at controlling broad-leaved weeds, but unfortunately for only about forty-five days. No major agricultural crop matures from seed in as little as forty-five days. Synthetic herbicides, on the other hand, although not any longer-lasting, can be reapplied as the crop grows. Clearly, therefore, for major agricultural crops, plowing rye into the soil can play no part in effective weed control.
The argument is most vulnerable to the objection that it fails to
Passage Analysis:
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
| Rye sown in the fall and plowed into the soil in early spring leaves a residue that is highly effective at controlling broad-leaved weeds, but unfortunately for only about forty-five days. |
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| No major agricultural crop matures from seed in as little as forty-five days. |
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| Synthetic herbicides, on the other hand, although not any longer-lasting, can be reapplied as the crop grows. |
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| Clearly, therefore, for major agricultural crops, plowing rye into the soil can play no part in effective weed control. |
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Argument Flow:
The argument starts by establishing rye's 45-day effectiveness limit, then shows that major crops need more than 45 days to grow, then explains that synthetic herbicides can be reapplied while rye cannot, leading to the conclusion that rye is useless for major crops
Main Conclusion:
For major agricultural crops, plowing rye into the soil can play no part in effective weed control
Logical Structure:
The author uses a duration mismatch (rye lasts 45 days, crops need longer) combined with a reapplication advantage of synthetics to conclude rye is completely ineffective. The logic assumes that because rye can't be reapplied and doesn't last the full crop cycle, it has zero value
Prethinking:
Question type:
Misc - This is asking us to identify a flaw in the argument's reasoning. The argument concludes that rye can play 'no part' in effective weed control, but this seems too extreme given the premises.
Precision of Claims
The key issue is the absolute nature of the conclusion - 'no part' is a very strong claim. The argument also focuses specifically on 'effective weed control' as a complete solution rather than considering partial benefits.
Strategy
For this flaw question, we need to identify what the argument overlooks or fails to consider. The argument jumps from 'rye only lasts 45 days and can't be reapplied' to 'rye can play NO part in effective weed control.' This seems too extreme - maybe rye could still be useful even if it's not a complete solution by itself.
This choice suggests the argument fails to consider minor, quick-growing crops that mature in 45 days or less. However, this misses the point because the argument specifically focuses on major agricultural crops in its conclusion. The author isn't making claims about minor crops, so failing to consider them isn't a vulnerability in the argument's logic about major crops.
This choice claims the argument fails to identify alternative weed control methods. But this isn't a flaw because the argument isn't trying to provide a comprehensive survey of weed control options. The argument is specifically comparing rye to synthetic herbicides to conclude that rye is ineffective for major crops. Not mentioning other alternatives doesn't weaken this specific comparison.
This choice suggests the argument should distinguish among various types of synthetic herbicides. However, this level of detail isn't necessary for the argument's logic. The author treats synthetic herbicides as a category that can be reapplied, and this general characterization is sufficient for the comparison being made. More granular distinctions wouldn't address the core reasoning flaw.
This correctly identifies the argument's major vulnerability. The author concludes that rye can play no part in effective weed control, but this extreme conclusion ignores the possibility of using rye and synthetic herbicides together. A combined approach could use rye for initial 45-day protection, then switch to synthetic herbicides for the remaining crop cycle. The argument's binary thinking overlooks this collaborative strategy that could make rye valuable even within its limitations.
This choice suggests the argument fails to consider other plants that might work like rye. While this could be relevant to broader weed control strategies, it doesn't address the core flaw in the argument's reasoning about rye specifically. The argument's main vulnerability is its leap from rye has limitations to rye is completely useless, not its failure to explore plant alternatives.