Logical reasoning PrepTest 145 · Section 4 · Question 21

Incorrect. If a price war drove prices down right before the study, then that could explain why the prices were lower than suggested in the annually published guidebook.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Facts

Question Type:
Bizarro Paradox

Stimulus Summary:
Study Ð The 300 most common drugs from the leading wholesalers for bulk sales are at a certain level.
Popular pharmaceutical price guide Ð The suggested prices on the same drugs in the annual edition were much higher

Answer Anticipation:
The paradox in this stimulus is related to a price discrepancy between a study on what a set of businesses was charging for a group of products, and the suggested price in a widely used book. Since we're tasked with explaining a difference between the two, we'll be looking for answers that bring up relevant differences. And since this is a Bizarro question, there are going to be a lot of them!

Incorrect answers could bring up a brand new difference, but there are also a lot of small details in the stimulus that could be referenced. For instance, the stimulus notes that the leading wholesalers specialize in bulk sales—maybe the guidebook is targeted at all wholesalers and thus might suggest higher prices to account for the smaller sellers. Also, the guidebook is an annual publication—maybe the market changed in a relevant way since it was published.

There are a few other small details like that we can be on the lookout for in the answers, but, again, stay flexible and look for answers that bring up a brand new, relevant difference!

Answer Explanation:
The comparison in the stimulus is between the 300 most common drugs and "the same drugs" in a certain publication, so the prices of less common drugs wouldn't factor in at any point and thus are out of scope. Since they don't factor into the paradox, they don't help explain it, making this the correct answer in a Bizarro question.

Key Takeaway:
When we're tasked with explaining a difference in a Paradox question, relevant difference will generally be correct. Details in the stimulus can suggest differences the answers might bring up. And especially in difficult questions, irrelevant differences will be trap answers, or, in a Bizarro question, correct.

Incorrect. If prices fluctuate dramatically, then the market might be in a downward fluctuation away from the suggested prices.

Incorrect. The prices in the study reflected what the bulk wholesalers were selling. If the guidebook is also targeted at those who sell smaller lots, that would mean the suggested prices would be higher.

Incorrect. If the guidebook is written for smaller sales, then the prices in it would make sense as being much higher than what is being charged by bulk wholesalers.