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, look for necessary conditions that must be true for the conclusion to hold.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Analyzing the passage.
The botanist concludes that the new greenhouse is ideal for the Lady's Slipper, assuming that the watering system will not over-water the orchids. Without this assumption, the conclusion would not hold true.

Step 2: Analysis of options.
- (A) This is the correct answer, as it addresses a key assumption that over-watering would contradict the conclusion that the greenhouse is ideal for the orchids.
- (B) The passage doesn't imply that light emission or permitting is a key assumption, as the primary concern is water and temperature.
- (C) While the ability to program the watering system is important, it isn't directly relevant to the conclusion that the greenhouse is ideal.
- (D) The passage does not discuss the ability to set a variety of temperatures, but rather the consistency of the temperature.
- (E) The passage doesn't address the size of the greenhouse in relation to the orchids' growth, so this isn't an assumption for the conclusion.

Step 3: Conclusion.
The correct answer is (A) because the success of the greenhouse for the Lady's Slipper orchids depends on the watering system not over-watering them.