Question

select the correct answer from the drop - down menu. a study revealed that most orchards that used a new fertilizer harvested peaches with multiple pits. however, orchards that did not use the new fertilizer did not harvest any peaches with multiple pits. the most reasonable conclusion that can be made from the study is that the new fertilizer
options:
causes the growth of peaches with multiple pits
is associated with the growth of peaches with multiple pits, but does not cause it
prevents the growth of peaches with multiple pits
is not related to the growth of peaches with multiple pits

Explanation:

The study shows a correlation between the new fertilizer and peaches with multiple pits (orchards using it had such peaches, others didn't). But correlation doesn't prove causation. So the fertilizer is associated (correlated) with the growth of peaches with multiple pits, but we can't say it causes it (since other factors could be at play, or it could be a coincidence in the study's sample). The first option ("causes...") assumes causation which isn't proven. The third option ("is not related") contradicts the study's finding of a difference between fertilizer - using and non - using orchards. The fourth option ("prevents...") is wrong as the fertilizer - using orchards had the peaches with multiple pits, not prevention. So the most reasonable conclusion is the second option: the new fertilizer is associated with the growth of peaches with multiple pits, but does not cause it.

Answer:

is associated with the growth of peaches with multiple pits, but does not cause it