PrepTest 144, Section 2, Question 11
A hardware store generally sells roughly equal numbers(49 more words not shown)
Which one of the following,(9 more words not shown)
- AFor the first(17 more words not shown)
- BMost of the(13 more words not shown)
- CCustomers who bought(19 more words not shown)
- DThe hardware store(10 more words not shown)
- EIn general, a(18 more words not shown)
Reading the argument
A better deal only helps if shoppers notice it.
The two brands normally sell in roughly equal numbers. If we lower the price of Maxlast hammers, I'd expect Maxlast to gain an advantage. But the store did something else too: it moved all of them to a display just inside the entrance.
Imagine coming in to buy a hammer. You head to the usual hammer aisle, where the Styron hammers are still waiting. Did you notice the Maxlast display on your way in? Maybe you walked past it while getting oriented. The store could have made Maxlast cheaper and harder for hammer shoppers to find at the same time.
What we’re looking for
To explain why Styron still outsold Maxlast, I'd look for something along those lines: customers aren't noticing the discounted hammers. The lower price doesn't ensure greater sales if the relocation keeps shoppers from seeing the offer.
Working the answers
- ACorrect
This doesn't literally say customers go straight to the hammer aisle, but it identifies the problem with the display's location. The Maxlast hammers are just inside the entrance, where shoppers aren't yet taking detailed notice of merchandise. They may miss the discounted hammers and later encounter Styron in its usual place. That helps explain why the sale failed to give Maxlast the expected advantage.
- B
A preference for quality and service may explain why people like this store. It doesn't establish that they prefer Styron over Maxlast or explain how last week's change affected the two brands differently. The brands previously sold in roughly equal numbers among the store's customers.
- C
Some customers did respond to the sale. That explains those Maxlast purchases, not why Maxlast failed to outsell the other brand. Knowing that the discount motivated the people who bought it leaves the surprising comparison unanswered.
- D
Publicizing the discount would give shoppers a reason to seek out Maxlast. By itself, that makes the failure to outsell Styron more surprising. It doesn't identify an obstacle that kept the sale from producing the expected advantage.
- E
We don't need shoppers to make a special trip for the discount to change which hammer they buy. Someone already shopping for hardware could choose the cheaper Maxlast hammer. A lack of extra trips doesn't explain why those existing shoppers bought more Styron hammers.
More Paradox questions
Learn the LSAT our way
Our platform drills Paradox questions at your level and adjusts as you improve.