5. A student performs an experiment testing her hypothesis that a slightly acidic soil environment is more beneficial for the growth of the plant Brassica rapa parachinensis (a vegetable commonly known as choy sum) than a neutral soil environment. She plants sixteen seeds of choy sum in a mixture of equal amounts of coffee grounds (which are highly acidic) and potting soil and another sixteen seeds in potting soil without coffee grounds as the control for the experiment The two groups of seeds were exposed to the same growing conditions and monitored for three weeks. Which finding, if true, would most directly weaken the student's hypothesis? A) The choy sum planted in the soil without coffee grounds were significantly taller at the end of the experiment than the choy sum planted in the mixture of soil and coffee grounds. B) The choy sum grown in the soil without coffee grounds weighed significantly less at the end of the experiment than the choy sum grown in the mixture of soil and coffee grounds. C) The choy sum seeds planted in the soil without coffee grounds sprouted significantly later in the experiment than did the seeds planted in the mixture of soil and coffee grounds D) Significantly fewer of the choy sum seeds planted in the soil without coffee grounds sprouted plants than did the seeds planted in the mixture of soil and coffee grounds.

The student's hypothesis is that a slightly acidic soil environment is more beneficial for the growth of Brassica rapa parachinensis than a neutral soil environment. To test this hypothesis, the student planted sixteen seeds of choy sum in a mixture of equal amounts of coffee grounds (which are highly acidic) and potting soil, and another sixteen seeds in potting soil without coffee grounds as the control for the experiment. The two groups of seeds were exposed to the same growing conditions and monitored for three weeks.<br /><br />To weaken the student's hypothesis, we need to find evidence that shows that the slightly acidic soil environment is not more beneficial for the growth of choy sum than the neutral soil environment. <br /><br />Option A states that the choy sum planted in the soil without coffee grounds were significantly taller at the end of the experiment than the choy sum planted in the mixture of soil and coffee grounds. This finding would directly weaken the student's hypothesis because it shows that the neutral soil environment is more beneficial for the growth of choy sum in terms of height.<br /><br />Option B states that the choy sum grown in the soil without coffee grounds weighed significantly less at the end of the experiment than the choy sum grown in the mixture of soil and coffee grounds. This finding would actually support the student's hypothesis because it suggests that the slightly acidic soil environment is more beneficial for the growth of choy sum in terms of weight.<br /><br />Option C states that the choy sum seeds planted in the soil without coffee grounds sprouted significantly later in the experiment than did the seeds planted in the mixture of soil and coffee grounds. This finding would actually support the student's hypothesis because it suggests that the slightly acidic soil environment is more beneficial for the growth of choy sum in terms of sprouting time.<br /><br />Option D states that significantly fewer of the choy sum seeds planted in the soil without coffee grounds sprouted plants than did the seeds planted in the mixture of soil and coffee grounds. This finding would actually support the student's hypothesis because it suggests that the slightly acidic soil environment is more beneficial for the growth of choy sum in terms of sprouting rate.<br /><br />Therefore, the finding that would most directly weaken the student's hypothesis is option A.