PrepTest 26, Section 3, Question 8
Grasses and woody plants are planted on dirt embankments to keep the embankments from eroding. The embankments are mowed to keep the grasses from growing too tall; as a result, clippings pile up. These piles of clippings smother the woody plants, causing their roots, which serve to keep the embankments from eroding, to rot; they also attract rodents that burrow into the dirt and damage the woody plants' roots. Therefore, bringing in predators to eradicate the rodents will prevent erosion of the embankments.
Grasses and woody plants are planted on dirt embankments to keep the embankments from eroding. The embankments are mowed to keep the grasses from growing too tall; as a result, clippings pile up. These piles of clippings smother the woody plants, causing their roots, which serve to keep the embankments from eroding, to rot; they also attract rodents that burrow into the dirt and damage the woody plants' roots. Therefore, bringing in predators to eradicate the rodents will prevent erosion of the embankments.
Grasses and woody plants are planted on dirt embankments to keep the embankments from eroding. The embankments are mowed to keep the grasses from growing too tall; as a result, clippings pile up. These piles of clippings smother the woody plants, causing their roots, which serve to keep the embankments from eroding, to rot; they also attract rodents that burrow into the dirt and damage the woody plants' roots. Therefore, bringing in predators to eradicate the rodents will prevent erosion of the embankments.
Grasses and woody plants are planted on dirt embankments to keep the embankments from eroding. The embankments are mowed to keep the grasses from growing too tall; as a result, clippings pile up. These piles of clippings smother the woody plants, causing their roots, which serve to keep the embankments from eroding, to rot; they also attract rodents that burrow into the dirt and damage the woody plants' roots. Therefore, bringing in predators to eradicate the rodents will prevent erosion of the embankments.
Which one of the following is an error of reasoning in the argument?
Two events that merely co-occur are treated as if one caused the other.
A highly general proposal is based only on an unrepresentative set of facts.
The conclusion is no more than a restatement of one of the pieces of evidence provided to support it.
One possible solution to a problem is claimed to be the only possible solution to that problem.
An action that would eliminate one cause of a problem is treated as if it would solve the entire problem.
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