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Difficulty: MediumWeakening Arguments

To reduce regional water consumption, an agricultural cooperative plans to distribute automated soil-moisture sensors to all member farms. The sensors send real-time alerts whenever soil moisture drops below an optimal threshold, allowing farmers to irrigate only when necessary rather than on a fixed calendar schedule. The cooperative's directors conclude that installing these sensors will significantly decrease total agricultural water usage across the region over the next two years. Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the directors' argument?

  1. A
    Fixed-schedule irrigation routinely applies water during afternoon hours of peak evaporation, whereas sensor-based watering typically occurs during cooler evening hours.
  2. B
    The manufacturing process for solar-powered moisture sensors produces industrial chemical waste that requires specialized recycling facilities.
  3. Most member farmers currently irrigate less than the optimal moisture threshold due to water cost concerns, but plan to increase watering to recommended sensor levels once alerts are automated.Answer
  4. D
    Neighboring agricultural districts that installed similar moisture sensors three years ago experienced a minor increase in local technology maintenance jobs.
  5. E
    The automated moisture sensors require periodic recalibration if exposed to extreme frost during winter months.

Answer

The directors' argument is most seriously weakened by the finding that most member farmers currently underwater their crops relative to the optimal threshold and intend to increase watering once sensor alerts are implemented.
The conclusion relies on the unstated assumption that current schedule-based irrigation uses more water than sensor-guided optimal irrigation. The correct choice reveals that farmers currently apply less water than the optimal threshold due to costs, and will increase watering once sensor feedback is available. This counter-behavior causes total water consumption to rise, directly undermining the cooperative's objective.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the argument's premises and conclusion.
Premise: Automated sensors alert farmers to irrigate only when moisture drops below an optimal threshold, replacing fixed schedules. Conclusion: Regional agricultural water usage will decrease significantly.
Understanding the logical jump from premise to conclusion reveals the implicit assumption.
2
Uncover the central unstated assumption.
The argument assumes that farmers' current fixed schedules deliver more water than the sensor-determined optimal threshold requires.
If current watering is equal to or less than optimal levels, adopting precision sensors will not reduce water volume.
3
Evaluate the choices to find new evidence breaking this assumption.
The statement showing that farmers currently underwater their crops and plan to raise irrigation to match sensor recommendations directly refutes the assumption of net water savings.
If farmers increase watering frequency upon receiving sensor data, overall regional consumption will rise rather than fall.

Key Concept

Weakening Plan-to-Goal Arguments by Identifying Unintended Behavioral Counter-Effects
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Topics

Weakening Arguments

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