Agricultural analyst: Drip irrigation systems deliver water directly to plant roots, significantly reducing water evaporation. However, installing such systems requires a heavy upfront capital investment that small-scale farms cannot easily recoup in the short term. Therefore, small-scale farms should delay purchasing drip irrigation equipment until regional grants become available.
In the analyst's argument, what is the relationship between the claim that drip irrigation reduces water evaporation and the claim that small-scale farms should delay purchasing drip irrigation equipment?
- The first claim describes a positive feature of drip irrigation that is acknowledged but ultimately outweighed by a financial obstacle supporting the second claim.Answer
- BThe first claim functions as the main conclusion of the argument, while the second claim acts as a supporting premise.
- CThe first claim is an unstated assumption required to justify the recommendation presented in the second claim.
- DThe first claim provides direct evidence intended to refute the recommendation expressed in the second claim.
- EThe first claim acts as a detail that directly explains why small-scale farms cannot afford the upfront capital investment.
Answer
The statement that drip irrigation reduces evaporation highlights an advantageous property of the technology, but the author uses the contrastive transition 'However' to show that high upfront costs outweigh this advantage in the short term, leading to the conclusion that farms should delay purchasing.
The argument begins by acknowledging a factual advantage of drip irrigation (reducing water evaporation). The transition word 'However' introduces a competing consideration (high upfront cost), which directly supports the main recommendation (to delay purchasing). Thus, the first claim describes a positive feature that is acknowledged but ultimately overridden by a financial obstacle.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Evaluating Inter-Claim Relationships and Argument Flow