Q16 - It is possible to grow agricultural crops

[mshinners]

Question Type:
Determine the Function

Stimulus Breakdown:
It's possible to grow crops with seawater. If this was done by the ocean, it'd be cheaper than traditional irrigation, since:
1) Water wouldn't be pumped far
2) Pumping the water is the greatest expense
3) Pumping costs increase with distance

Answer Anticipation:
That "since" halfway through the second sentence tells us the first half of the sentence is a conclusion, and the second half is a premise. Looking at the rest of the statement they're all facts that build with that first premise to get to the conclusion. The statement in question is one of those premises, so the answer will say it's a premise for the author's conclusion.

Correct answer:
(C)

Answer choice analysis:
(A) Wrong function (counterpoint). Nothing is shown to be false in this argument.

(B) Wrong function (counterpoint). The only hypothesis here is the main conclusion.

(C) Boom. This answer might as well say, "It's a premise."

(D) Wrong function (conclusion). The statement about this farming being cheaper is the conclusion since it has evidence (including the statement in question) backing it up.

(E) Wrong (and unclear) function. This answer could be referring to a premise for a counterpoint with which the author takes some issue, or to an intermediate conclusion. In either case, it's not right. There is no counterpoint, and none of the other statements provide evidence for it.

Takeaway/Pattern:
These structural questions are all about the structural indicator words.

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