Help!

We know that if uncontrollable factors cause farmers' wheat crops to fail, "fertilizer and seed dealers, as well as truckers and mechanics, lose business, and fuel suppliers are unable to sell enough diesel fuel to make a profit." UFWF = uncontrollable factors cause farmers' wheat crops to fail FLB = fertilizer dealers lose business SLB = seed dealers lose business TLB = truckers lose business MLB = mechanics lose business FSSDP = fuel suppliers able to sell enough diesel fuel to make a profit UFWCF ==> FLB & SLB & TLB & MLB & not FSSDP FSSDP or not MLB or not TLB or not SLB or not FLB ==> not UFWCF Thus, when uncontrollable factors cause farmers' wheat crops to fail, not only do the wheat farmers suffer, but also the fertilizer and seed dealers, as well as truckers and mechanics, as well as the fuel suppliers. Answer choice (E), therefore, follows logically from the stimulus: "the consequences of a drought are not restricted to the drought's impact on farm productivity." Hope that was helpful! Please let us know if you have any other questions.

why not B

I am also interested in knowing why answer choice 'B' is incorrect

@esther @jstaff B is incorrect because we can only reach a conclusion IF uncontrollable factors (such as a lack of rain) cause farmers' wheat crops to fail. The passage does not state that a lack of rain guarantees farmers' wheat crops to fail. Therefore below average rainfall is not sufficient to conclude "those businesses that profit from farmers' purchases tend to lose money." I hope that helps!