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

• is not related to the growth of peaches with multiple pits
• prevents the growth of peaches with multiple pits
• causes the growth of peaches with multiple pits
• is associated with the growth of peaches with multiple pits, but does not cause it

Explanation:

The study only shows a correlation: orchards using the fertilizer had peaches with multiple pits, while those not using it did not. Correlation alone does not prove causation, as there could be other unmeasured factors linking the fertilizer to the multiple pits. We can only confirm an association, not a direct causal relationship.

Answer:

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