Kale has more nutritional value than spinach. But since collard greens have more nutritional value than lettuce, it follows that kale has more nutritional value than lettuce.
Any of the following, if introduced into the argument as an additional premise, makes the argument above logically correct EXCEPT:
(A) Collard greens have more nutritional value than kale.
(B) Spinach has more nutritional value than lettuce.
(C) Spinach has more nutritional value than collard greens.
(D) Spinach and collard greens have the same nutritional value.
(E) Kale and collard greens have the same nutritional value.
Solution
Passage Analysis
Kale has more nutritional value than spinach.
This statement says that the nutritional value of kale is greater than that of spinach.
But since collard greens have more nutritional value than lettuce, it follows that kale has more nutritional value than lettuce.
The first part of this statement says that collard greens have more nutritional value than lettuce. From this information, the author concludes that kale has more nutritional value than lettuce.
What does the author assume here? From the author’s reasoning, the author assumes that the nutritional value of kale is at least as much as the nutritional value of collard greens: that is, the nutritional value of kale is greater than or equal to that of collard greens.
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Pre-thinking
Any of the following, if introduced into the argument as an additional premise, makes the argument above logically correct EXCEPT:
Let’s first understand the question stem. This question asks us to identify which of the options, if introduced into the argument as an additional premise, makes the argument logically correct. So, this question asks us to strengthen the argument. This is an ‘except’ question. So, four of the choices, if introduced into the argument, will make the argument logically correct. The one that does not is the right answer.
Which part of the argument do we need to strengthen? We need to strengthen the part that says that kale has more nutritional value than lettuce. As discussed in the passage analysis, the author assumes that the nutritional value of kale must be equal to or greater than that of collard greens. So, the correct answer will be the one that does not show that the nutritional value of kale is greater than or equal to that of collard greens.
Analysis of Option Statements
(A) Collard greens have more nutritional value than kale.
This option says that the nutritional value of kale is less than that of collard greens. To strengthen the argument, we need an answer choice that says that the nutritional value of kale is not less than that of collard greens.
If collard greens have more nutritional value than kale, then we are not sure whether the conclusion holds or not. So, this choice is the correct answer.
(B) Spinach has more nutritional value than lettuce.
The argument says that kale has more nutritional value than spinach. If spinach has more nutritional value than lettuce, then kale definitely has more nutritional value than lettuce. So, this choice strengthens the argument and can be eliminated.
(C) Spinach has more nutritional value than collard greens.
This choice also strengthens the argument. The argument tells us that kale has more nutritional value than spinach. If spinach has more nutritional value than collard greens, then kale definitely has more nutritional value than collard greens. So, this choice strengthens the argument and can be eliminated.
(D) Spinach and collard greens have the same nutritional value.
This choice also strengthens the argument. we know from the argument that kale has more nutritional value than spinach. So, if spinach has the same nutritional value as collard greens, then the nutritional value of kale is definitely more than that of collard greens. This choice strengthens the argument and can be eliminated.
(E) Kale and collard greens have the same nutritional value.
As discussed in the passage analysis, the author assumes that the nutritional value of kale must be either equal to or greater than that of collard greens. If they have the same nutritional value, the argument is strengthened. So, this choice can also be eliminated.
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