Logical reasoning PrepTest 144 · Section 2 · Question 11

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Facts

Question Type:
Paradox

Stimulus Summary:
Generally, Maxlast and Styron hammers sell equally. During a recent sale of Maxlast where they were put at the front of the store, Styron sold better.

Answer Anticipation:
The paradox—why did this sale and promotional effort on Maxlast hammers result in their competitors outselling them? The correct answer will need to establish a reason that this is the case, and there are two details to work with.

The first detail is the lower price. Maybe people associated the lower price with lower quality, and thus they purchased Styron sales instead. Any answer that suggests a lower price could result in higher sales for a competitor would serve to resolve this paradox.

The second detail is the relocation in the store. Maybe people looking for a new hammer went to the hammer section and thus missed the Maxlast hammers. Any answer suggesting that the relocation could have resulted in fewer sales for Maxlast will resolve this paradox.

Time to head to the answer choices to look for either of them!

Answer Explanation:
This answer choice deals with the second details from the stimulus—the Maxlast hammers were moved up front. If shoppers don't look around at first, they could have missed the Maxlast hammers and thus been more likely to buy the Styron ones. This answer provides a potential explanation for the relative sale levels, and so it's correct.

Key Takeaway:
When a Paradox question introduces multiple pieces of information about a situation, any of them could individually (or jointly) be connected to the explanation, so be sure to identify all relevant pieces of information and stay flexible in looking for an answer dealing with any of them.

Incorrect. Even if that's what attracts them to the store, the low prices might get them to buy one option over another. This answer doesn't explain why the Styron hammers would sell slightly better than the Maxlast ones, so it's incorrect.

Incorrect. Since the paradox is related to the higher sale of the hammers that weren't on sale and being promoted, this answer doesn't provide information that helps to resolve it. We need to know why those who bought the Styron hammers went for them despite the sale/promotion on Maxlast.

Incorrect. If anything, this answer makes the paradox worse as presumably the ads would attract people to the store to buy these hammers in a way that shouldn't have an impact on Styron hammer sales.

Incorrect. Even if shoppers aren't going to the store to buy the Maxlast hammers, presumably some would be enticed to do so once there, so there's still no explanation for how the other hammers sold better.