Digital PSAT Reading and Writing Practice Question 7: Answer and Explanation

Question: 7

Intentional cultivation of non-native invasive plants is generally far more beneficial than accidental introduction.

Which of the following, if true, would most undermine the statement made above?

• A. A historical investigation into the origins of invasive plants that demonstrates that the majority were introduced by accident
• B. A global statistical analysis that demonstrates the net harmful effect from purposefully introduced invasive plant species
• C. A genetic analysis that establishes that invasive plant species share several fundamental characteristics in their DNA
• D. Discovery of three instances of invasive plant introduction that had a beneficial impact on the surrounding environments

Correct Answer: B

Explanation:

(B) The author argues in these lines that intentional cultivation of non-native plants is usually a good thing. A global analysis demonstrating that non-native plants are typically harmful when introduced would therefore undermine, i.e. weaken, this argument. It is not (A), because knowing that most invasive plants were introduced by accident would not give information about their relative benefit. It is not (C), because this too would not give any facts about how harmful the plants were to their surroundings. And it is not (D), because this would be too small a sample size to make such a sweeping claim.