Critical Reasoning

Many large department stores in Montalia now provide shopping carts for their customers. Since customers using shopping carts tend to buy more than those without shopping carts, most of these stores are experiencing strong sales growth, while most other department stores are not. Therefore, in order to boost sales, managers of Jerrod’s, Montalia’s premier department store, are planning to purchase shopping carts and make them available to the store’s customers next month.


Which of the following, if true, casts most doubt whether the managers’ plan, if implemented, will achieve its goal?


A. Since most customers associate shopping carts with low-quality discount stores, Jerrod’s high-quality image would likely suffer if shopping carts were introduced.


B. Because the unemployment rate has declined to very low levels, Jerrod’s now has to pay significantly higher wages in order to retain its staff.


C. A number of department stores that did not make shopping carts available to their customers have had to close recently due to falling profits.


D. Shopping carts are not very expensive, but they generally need to be replaced every few years.


E. Stores that make shopping carts available to their customers usually have to hire people to retrieve the carts from parking areas.


Please explain your answer. ?

I will try to elimination here

B
unemployment rate is out of scope

C
This supports the idea that carts may help the store

D
Again not expansive so can be easily purchased
and need to replace is ok as sales will increase
Even cost of cart is not relevant to our conclusion
we are not talking about profits... we are concerned about sales...

E
stores will have to hire ppl
so cost will increase.. but sales also so no Issue


Now A
I found it to be better than others
The image of Jerrod’s store will suffer
hence the sales will decrease
so carts will not be successful.

Hope this helps

IMO Gud Expl. by Priyanaka...

But i think, We can not eliminate B just bcoz of "unemplyement rate"
as we need to consider the new information in "if true" questions

We can eliminate B as it is true for both entities...so no actual comparison as it is in A.

Jatinder
Not to aim high is sin

Jatinder wrote:IMO Gud Expl. by Priyanaka...

Small correction
IMO Gud Question by Priyanaka...

But i think, We can not eliminate B just bcoz of "unemplyement rate"
as we need to consider the new information in "if true" questions

We can eliminate B as it is true for both entities...so no actual comparison as it is in A.

Jatinder
Not to aim high is sin

I will go with A.
As far as B is concerned i think, Manager's plan is to boost sales and that is the thing stated in the stem.
and from B , Profits can decline due to high wages but how it can effect on sales. So, it will not cast any doubt on sales growth, as it can be assumed that , he will retain his staff despite of higher wages and declining profits from higher wages

However, his sale & Plan can hit badly , if his store's image tarnishes. So, he will not acheive growth in Sales.
IMO A
OA Pls

I am 100% sure that OA should be (B). The reason being to choose is same as you all have refused to choose (B).

Please read the question again.

Which of the following, if true, casts most doubt whether the managers’ plan, if implemented, will achieve its goal?

It states that whether the plan IS IMPLEMENTED or NOT but goal should not be achieved. And this only done by option (B) as it is not even nearer to the plan.

Sorry for my language, but I get excited after seeing this question.

Hope it helps...
Code Snooker

A for me!!

IMO the main essence of d CR is abt "attracting the customers"..

conclusion: Therefore, in order to boost sales, managers of Jerrod’s, Montalia’s premier department store, are planning to purchase shopping carts and make them available to the store’s customers next month.

A says: Since most customers associate shopping carts with low-quality discount stores, Jerrod’s high-quality image would likely suffer if shopping carts were introduced

This wud be a hindrance in attacting the customers and hence to boost the sales.
Hence A

B i feel is invalid!!!unemployment is not discussed!!

wats d OA??

codesnooker wrote:I am 100% sure that OA should be (B). The reason being to choose is same as you all have refused to choose (B).

Please read the question again.

Which of the following, if true, casts most doubt whether the managers’ plan, if implemented, will achieve its goal?

It states that whether the plan IS IMPLEMENTED or NOT but goal should not be achieved. And this only done by option (B) as it is not even nearer to the plan.

Sorry for my language, but I get excited after seeing this question.

Hope it helps...
Code Snooker

Code Snooker - Thas wht i am saying it wll cast doubt , if goal is not acheived bt i am unable to get, how employment rate will effect, due to high wages, his profits can decline but his aim is to boost sales
Sales & Profit are diff things.

and if u see in A., if image tarnishes,sales can effect and his goal will not be acheived.

vivek.kapoor83 wrote:

codesnooker wrote:I am 100% sure that OA should be (B). The reason being to choose is same as you all have refused to choose (B).

Please read the question again.

Which of the following, if true, casts most doubt whether the managers’ plan, if implemented, will achieve its goal?

It states that whether the plan IS IMPLEMENTED or NOT but goal should not be achieved. And this only done by option (B) as it is not even nearer to the plan.

Sorry for my language, but I get excited after seeing this question.

Hope it helps...
Code Snooker

Code Snooker - Thas wht i am saying it wll cast doubt , if goal is not acheived bt i am unable to get, how employment rate will effect, due to high wages, his profits can decline but his aim is to boost sales
Sales & Profit are diff things.

and if u see in A., if image tarnishes,sales can effect and his goal will not be acheived.

May be you are right but in real GMAT but I would have chosen (B) only. Now OA can only tell by Priyanka. So let's wait for reply.

i know the source of the ques and OA is A only, coz after writing this post, i found this in my material also/.

vivek.kapoor83 wrote:i know the source of the ques and OA is A only, coz after writing this post, i found this in my material also/.

Can you tell me the source? Because these days I found so many questions on net but not able find in any Prep books.

Thanks,
CodeSnooker

codesnooker wrote:I am 100% sure that OA should be (B). The reason being to choose is same as you all have refused to choose (B).

Please read the question again.

Which of the following, if true, casts most doubt whether the managers’ plan, if implemented, will achieve its goal?

It states that whether the plan IS IMPLEMENTED or NOT but goal should not be achieved. And this only done by option (B) as it is not even nearer to the plan.

Sorry for my language, but I get excited after seeing this question.

Hope it helps...
Code Snooker

The question asks about Jerrod's plan to provide customers with shopping carts could go wrong, and A rightly relates to the plan. B, even though new and should be considered does not have anything to do with the plan and A is a better choice.

Hi,

IMO A for following reasons -

Cause: Shopping carts
Effect: increase in sales

A: Shopping carts associate with low discount store and Jerrod's is high qulaity and hence will decrease the sales.
Thus, cause is there but opposite effect

B: unemployemnt rate will lead to reduced profits. Profits are after sales and is irrelevant

C: Opposite answer. Support the arg

D. Irrelevant

E. Same as B

hence the ans is A

OA pls

I chose A

B, D, and E all deal with the store needing to purchase more money.

A is about something other than cost, reputation and image, which is priceless.

and C was already stated in the passage.


A is correct.

Thanks for explanations.

OA is A .Sorry for late reply..