Question

Botanist: The Lady's Slipper is a type of orchid that requires bright light, but no direct sun, relatively consistent room temperature, and water no more than twice a month for maximum growth. Our newest greenhouse comes with a watering system that has been tested with the Lady's Slipper orchids, and can be programmed to release water onto the orchids once every two weeks. The new greenhouse is already capable of maintaining a constant room temperature and blocking out direct sunlight, so we can confidently state the new greenhouse is ideal for their growth.
Which of the following is an assumption required by the botanist's conclusion?

• A. The watering system will not over-water the orchids when it does release water.
• B. The new greenhouse is capable of either emitting or permitting light to reach the Lady's Slipper.
• C. The average consumer will have the ability to program the watering system.
• D. The constant room temperature can be set at a variety of degrees.
• E. The greenhouse is large enough to accommodate the average maximum growth of the Lady's Slipper.

Hint:

When identifying assumptions, focus on the underlying conditions necessary for the argument to hold true.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the passage.
The botanist claims that the new greenhouse is ideal for the Lady's Slipper, assuming that the watering system functions as intended. For this conclusion to hold, we must assume that the watering system will not over-water the orchids.

Step 2: Analysis of options.
- (A) This is the correct assumption, as over-watering would contradict the botanist's claim that the greenhouse is ideal for the orchids.
- (B) The passage doesn't discuss the greenhouse emitting or permitting light, so it is not a required assumption.
- (C) While consumers programming the watering system is important, it is not explicitly required for the conclusion that the greenhouse is ideal for the orchids.
- (D) The constant room temperature is mentioned, but the ability to set it at various degrees is not necessary for the conclusion.
- (E) The passage doesn't mention the size of the greenhouse relative to the orchids' growth, so it's not a required assumption.

Step 3: Conclusion.
The correct answer is (A), as the watering system's ability to avoid over-watering is essential for the botanist's conclusion.