/*! This file is auto-generated */ .wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none} Problem 4 Dried grass clippings mixed into... [FREE SOLUTION] | 91Ó°ÊÓ

91Ó°ÊÓ

Dried grass clippings mixed into garden soil gradually decompose, providing nutrients for beneficial soil bacteria. This results in better-than-average plant growth. Yet mixing fresh grass clippings into garden soil usually causes poorer-than-average plant growth. Which one of the following, if true, most helps to explain the difference in plant growth described above? (A) The number of beneficial soil bacteria increases whenever any kind of plant material is mixed into garden soil. (B) Nutrients released by dried grass clippings are immediately available to beneficial soil bacteria. (C) Some dried grass clippings retain nutrients originally derived from commercial lawn fertilizers, and thus provide additional enrichment to the soil. (D) Fresh grass clippings mixed into soil decompose rapidly, generating high levels of heat that kill beneficial soil bacteria. (E) When a mix of fresh and dried grass clippings is mixed into garden soil, plant growth often decreases.

Short Answer

Expert verified
(D) Fresh grass clippings generate heat that kills beneficial bacteria.

Step by step solution

01

Identify the Problem Statement

The key issue in this exercise is understanding why dried grass clippings lead to better-than-average plant growth, while fresh grass clippings cause poorer-than-average plant growth when both are mixed into garden soil.
02

Analyze the Given Options

Examine each option to see which one provides a plausible explanation for the difference in plant growth when dried versus fresh grass clippings are used.
03

Evaluate Option D

Option D states that fresh grass clippings decompose rapidly, generating high levels of heat, which kill beneficial soil bacteria. This option directly addresses why fresh clippings might cause poorer plant growth: the heat from decomposition may harm the bacteria necessary for healthy plant growth.
04

Consider the Relevance of Other Options

Options A, B, C, and E do not directly explain the negative effect of fresh clippings. They provide general information about the nutrients or bacteria but do not address the harmful effects specifically caused by fresh clippings.
05

Choose the Best Explanation

Based on the analysis, Option D is the only one that explains the detrimental impact of fresh grass clippings through the heat generated during decomposition.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with 91Ó°ÊÓ!

Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Critical Thinking
Critical thinking in LSAT Logical Reasoning involves breaking down complex scenarios and understanding the underlying principles and differences. In the exercise about grass clippings and plant growth, we need to think critically about why dried clippings are beneficial while fresh clippings are not.

To apply critical thinking, follow these steps:
  • Analyze the problem: determine what specific change occurs when dried versus fresh clippings are used.
  • Consider all aspects: factor in decomposition rate, heat generation, nutrient release, and bacterial impacts.
  • Eliminate distractions: remove any options that provide unrelated or generic benefits without addressing the harm (like Options A, B, C, and E).
Critical thinking is about asking the right questions and considering all angles before reaching a conclusion.
Problem Solving
Problem solving in logical reasoning requires evaluating various pieces of information to deduce the most effective solution. Here, the task is to find why fresh clippings harm plant growth while dried clippings do not. Start by reviewing each provided option: - Focus on how each option relates to the problem. - Compare how fresh and dried clippings differently affect soil conditions. Through this structured approach, choose Option D, which reveals that heat from decomposing fresh clippings harms beneficial bacteria, impairing plant growth.

Effective problem solving means understanding cause-and-effect, carefully dissecting potential solutions, and selecting the logical conclusion that directly addresses the problem at hand.
Logical Analysis
Logical analysis emphasizes understanding relationships and drawing conclusions based on evidence provided. In this exercise, you need to identify why dried and fresh clippings influence plant growth differently. Follow these guidelines: - Identify the cause-and-effect: assess how the decomposition process affects bacteria and consequently plant growth. - Consider logical consistency: determine which explanation aligns with observable outcomes. Option D fits this model, explicitly linking fresh clipping decomposition to harmful heat production. Logical analysis combines observation with evidence to find the most reasonable explanation.

This concept requires breaking complexities down into understandable components, examining the validity of each piece, and synthesizing them into a coherent conclusion.

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

Alice: Quotas on automobile imports to the United States should be eliminated. Then domestic producers would have to compete directly with Japanese manufacturers and would be forced to produce higher-quality cars. Such competition would be good for consumers. David: You fail to realize, Alice, that quotas on automobile imports are pervasive worldwide. Since Germany, Britain, and France have quotas, so should the United States. Which one of the following most accurately characterizes David's response to Alice's statement? (A) David falsely accuses Alice of contradicting herself. (B) David unfairly directs his argument against Alice personally. (C) David uncovers a hidden assumption underlying Alice's position. (D) David takes a position that is similar to the one Alice has taken. (E) David fails to address the reasons Alice cites in favor of her conclusion.

More than a year ago, the city announced that police would crack down on illegally parked cars and that resources would be diverted from writing speeding tickets to ticketing illegally parked cars. But no crackdown has taken place. The police chief claims that resources have had to be diverted from writing speeding tickets to combating the city's staggering drug problem. Yet the police are still writing as many speeding tickets as ever. Therefore, the excuse about resources being tied up in fighting drug-related crime simply is not true. The conclusion in the passage depends on the assumption that (A) every member of the police force is qualified to work on combating the city's drug problem (B) drug-related crime is not as serious a problem for the city as the police chief claims it is (C) writing speeding tickets should be as important a priority for the city as combating drug-related crime (D) the police could be cracking down on illegally parked cars and combating the drug problem without having to reduce writing speeding tickets (E) the police cannot continue writing as many speeding tickets as ever while diverting resources to combating drug-related crime

The "suicide wave" that followed the United States stock market crash of October 1929 is more legend than fact. Careful examination of the monthly fugures on the causes of death in 1929 show that the number of suicides in October and in November was comparatively low. In only three other months were the monthly figures lower. During the summer months, when the stock market was flourishing, the number of suicides was substantially higher. Which one of the following, if true, would best challenge the conclusion of the passage? (A) The suicide rate is influenced by many psychological, interpersonal, and socictal factors during any given historical period. (B) October and November have almost always had relatively high suicide rates, even during the 1920 s and 1930 s. (C) The suicide rate in October and November of 1929 was considerably higher than the average for those months during several preceding and following years. (D) During the years surrounding the stock market crash, suicide rates were typically lower at the beginning of any calendar year than toward the end of that year. (E) Because of seasonal differences, the number of suicides in October and November of 1929 would not be expected to be the same as those for other months.

In a large residential building, there is a rule that no pets are allowed. A group of pet lovers tried to change that rule but failed. The rule-changing procedure outlined in the building's regulations states that only if a group of tenants can obtain the signatures of 10 percent of the tenants on a petition to change a rule will the proposed change be put to a majority vote of all the tenants in the building. It follows that the pet lovers were voted down on their proposal by the majority of the tenants. The argument depends on which one of the following assumptions? (A) The pet lovers succeeded in obtaining the signatures of 10 percent of the tenants on their petition. (B) The signatures of less than 10 percent of the tenants were obtained on the pet lovers' petition. (C) Ninety percent of the tenants are against changing the rule forbidding pets. (D) The support of 10 percent of the tenants for a rule change ensures that the rule change will be adopted. (E) The failure of the pet lovers to obtain the signatures of 10 percent of the tenants on their petition for a rule change ensures that the rule change will be voted down by a majority of the tenants.

Although this bottle is labeled "vinegar," no fizzing occurred when some of the liquid in it was added to powder from this box labeled "baking soda." But when an acidic liquid such as vinegar is added to baking soda the resulting mixture fizzes, so this bottle clearly has been mislabeled. A flaw in the reasoning in the argument above is that this argument (A) ignores the possibility that the bottle contained an acidic liquid other than vinegar (B) fails to exclude an altemative explanation for the observed effect (C) depends on the use of the imprecise term "fizz" (D) does not take into account the fact that scientific principles can be definitively tested only under controlled laboratory conditions (E) assumes that the fact of a labeling error is proof of an intention to deceive

See all solutions

Recommended explanations on English Textbooks

View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.