Planting peach trees on their farm makes more sense for the Johnsons than planting apricot trees. Although fresh, locally grown apricots are very popular in this area, the same is true of peaches. However, individual peach trees cost much less to purchase and plant than do apricot trees, and peach trees also begin bearing fruit at a much younger age.
Summarize Argument
The author concludes that the Johnsons should plant peach trees rather than apricot trees. She supports this by saying that, while both are popular, peach trees are less expensive than apricot trees and they start producing fruit at a much younger age.
Notable Assumptions
The author assumes that planting cheaper trees will increase the Johnsons’ profit without considering other factors, like the cost of maintenance or the price of peaches versus apricots.
She also assumes that, because peach trees produce fruit at a younger age, they will produce more fruit over time. She doesn’t consider whether peach trees stop producing fruit at a young age, or whether they simply produce far less fruit overall.
She also assumes that these are the most important factors in the Johnsons’ decision, overlooking any other factors that might make apricots a better option.
A
Fresh, locally grown apricots sell at a much higher price than do fresh, locally grown peaches.
This weakens the argument by showing that one of the author's assumptions is false. She assumes that cheaper trees will lead to more income for the farm, but (A) points out that apricots, which sell for a higher price, could actually generate more income than peaches long term.
B
Apricot trees tend to stop being productive at a younger age than do peach trees.
This strengthens the argument. If apricots stop being productive at a younger age, it might make more sense for the Johnsons to plant peaches instead.
C
It costs as much to water and fertilize peach trees as it does to water and fertilize apricot trees.
Like (B), this slightly strengthens the argument. If water and fertilizer costs are the same but peach trees are less expensive to buy and plant, it might make more sense for the Johnsons to plant peaches instead of apricots.
D
The market for fresh, locally grown apricots has grown in recent years as awareness of the health benefits of eating fresh fruit has increased.
(D) wants us to assume that the market for apricots has grown more than the market for peaches, but we don’t know this. Since “awareness of the health benefits of eating fresh fruit has increased,” it’s very possible that the market for peaches has grown just as much or more.
E
Peach production has decreased dramatically over the last several years.
This doesn’t address the author’s argument or assumptions. If peach production has decreased, should they plant peaches to fill this gap in production? Or should they avoid planting them due to other factors affecting production? We simply don’t know.
A
The weapons tests had kept wildlife poachers out of the testing range.
B
Weapons testing in the range did more harm to the camels in the first years of the testing than in later years.
C
Because of unexploded bombs, the land within the testing range was still somewhat dangerous after the range closed down.
D
The camels had to overcome two different outbreaks of disease during the time the testing range was in operation.
E
The weapons tests were most harmful to the camels in years when food was scarce.
A
Tourists typically learn something about the places they visit even when they are there only to relax.
B
Tourists gain much more understanding of a place once they have spent several days at that place than they do in their first few days there.
C
Many people report that they can learn far more about a place by visiting it than they can by reading about it.
D
Tourists who have read about a place beforehand tend to stay longer in that place.
E
Some tourists are unconcerned about gaining information about a place other than what is necessary for their immediate enjoyment.
A
Modular furniture, unlike standard furniture, is not mass-produced.
B
The consumer demand for sofas sometimes increases more quickly than the supply.
C
The most fashionable designers tend to use modular furniture designs.
D
Because modular furniture pieces are custom ordered, they are never put on sale.
E
Modular sofas, on average, have a greater area of upholstered surfaces than do standard sofas.