BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

Assumption question

This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 105
Joined: Tue Oct 16, 2007 5:57 am
Thanked: 3 times

Assumption question

by abhi75 » Thu Sep 18, 2008 6:52 pm
FoodMart, a grocery store in Palmont, o¤ers special discounts
to customers who sign up for a FoodCard. Between 1990 and
1995, the number of FoodMart locations in Palmont increased
from 3 to 16. However, since the number of customers who had
FoodCards was about the same in 1995 as in 1990, the number
of Palmonters taking advantage of special discounts from
FoodMart probably did not increase signi…cantly.

Which of the following is an assumption on which the
argument depends?

(A) Few if any of the additional FoodMart locations that
opened between 1990 and 1995 served customers
who signed up for FoodCards.
(B) In 1995 most Palmonters who lived within 10 miles of
a FoodMart did not have a FoodCard.
(C) O¤ering discount programs such as the FoodCard does
not decrease the pro…t margin of a grocery store.
(D) In 1995 Palmonters who did not have FoodCards usually
chose to shop at grocery stores other than FoodMart
locations.
(E) The discounts o¤ers to FoodCard holders in 1995 were
not the same at all FoodMart locations.


Can someone please explain this. I tried to apply negation test but couldnt justify that it undermines the conclusion.
Top
Source: — Critical Reasoning |
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 259
Joined: Thu Jan 18, 2007 8:30 pm
Thanked: 16 times

by amitabhprasad » Thu Sep 18, 2008 7:24 pm
IMO "D" whats OA?
Top
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 267
Joined: Wed Jul 16, 2008 12:20 am
Thanked: 4 times
Followed by:1 members

by Mani_mba » Thu Sep 18, 2008 11:00 pm
I choose A.
Top
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 871
Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2008 7:48 am
Thanked: 48 times

by stop@800 » Fri Sep 19, 2008 2:51 am
The no of ppl taking advantage did not increase

D:
1995, ppl who do not have card shopped outside
this does not have anything todo with assumption
Had it been %age than I think it can be the answer

A:
I think this also can not link the evidence with conclusion

I can not find the answer.
In my opinion the answer should be something like
one card is not used by more than 1 ppl or family


Whats the OA?
Top
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 28
Joined: Wed Sep 17, 2008 12:10 pm
Location: Atlanta, USA
GMAT Score:480

by jeenashiva » Fri Sep 19, 2008 6:17 am
I will go with A.

What is the OA?
Top
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 81
Joined: Thu Jun 12, 2008 1:57 pm
Thanked: 1 times

by nikhilagrawal » Fri Sep 19, 2008 12:58 pm
D ... not sure!!!!
Top
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 258
Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2007 3:15 am
Thanked: 7 times
Followed by:1 members

by anju » Fri Sep 19, 2008 2:04 pm
is it C.

(C) O¤ering discount programs such as the FoodCard does
not decrease the pro…t margin of a grocery store.
Reasoning: Since the profit margin of a grocery store does not decrease even after having "O¤ering discount programs" that means that the purchase price for any item at the store remains the same even after discount which means that for customer there is no advantage in registering for O¤ering discount programs.
I am not sure if this is correct reasoning or am I thinking too much?

Looking at other options, none fit the correct choice..

What's the OA?
Top
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 105
Joined: Tue Oct 16, 2007 5:57 am
Thanked: 3 times

by abhi75 » Fri Sep 19, 2008 7:42 pm
The OA is A.

I tried to apply the negation test but it didnt seem to work.

Option A) Few if any of the additional FoodMart locations that
opened between 1990 and 1995 served customers
who signed up for FoodCards.

Most of the additional FoodMart locations that opened between 90 and 95 served customers who signed for FoodCards.

Now even if they offered the FoodCards, its not necessary that Palmonters may start taking advantage of it. Maybe there are other stores else where that offer more discounts. Just because FoodMart offers discount does not mean people will take advantage of that. So according to me it doesnt affect conclusion.

Would stuart like to elaborate on this one.
Top
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 28
Joined: Wed Sep 17, 2008 12:10 pm
Location: Atlanta, USA
GMAT Score:480

by jeenashiva » Fri Sep 19, 2008 8:10 pm
There are few more new stores, but the number of customer is not increased significantly.

That will happen only when the new stores served only the old customers, not anyone new.

This is what I thought...
Top
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 46
Joined: Tue May 27, 2008 11:31 pm
Thanked: 1 times
GMAT Score:760

by rogue_rohit » Sat Sep 20, 2008 11:06 am
Is there a possibility that the question can be incorrect?

I can not see how any of the given options can be a correct choice :?:
Top
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 871
Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2008 7:48 am
Thanked: 48 times

by stop@800 » Sun Sep 21, 2008 11:23 am
Whats the source of this question?
Top
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 138
Joined: Tue Aug 26, 2008 8:23 am
Location: New York, NY
Thanked: 2 times

by banker1 » Sun Sep 21, 2008 1:29 pm
I think we can all agree (B), (C), and (E) are out of scope.

I was stuck between (A) and (D).

Based on the conclusion: However, since the number of customers who had FoodCards was about the same in 1995 as in 1990, the number of Palmonters taking advantage of special discounts from FoodMart probably did not increase significantly. I eliminated (D).

(D) implies FoodMart lost customers. The conclusion says those shopping at FoodMart probably did not take advantage of special discounts, the conclusion does not imply a loss of customers.

(A) seems like a better answer. The new stores can service existing customers as well as new customers who do not sign up for the FoodCard.
Top
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Jun 26, 2008 3:19 am

by nirav1982 » Wed Sep 24, 2008 4:33 am
Conclusion is " the number of Palmonters taking advantage of special discounts from FoodMart probably did not increase signi…cantly .....even after increase in no. of FoodMart locations"

How this can be true?
This can be true if newly opened locations do not serve foodcard discounts.
And thats what A points out. and hence the answer.
Top
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 198
Joined: Fri Mar 09, 2007 8:40 pm
Thanked: 7 times

by kris610 » Fri Sep 26, 2008 11:04 am
abhi75 wrote:The OA is A.

I tried to apply the negation test but it didnt seem to work.

Option A) Few if any of the additional FoodMart locations that
opened between 1990 and 1995 served customers
who signed up for FoodCards.

Most of the additional FoodMart locations that opened between 90 and 95 served customers who signed for FoodCards.

Now even if they offered the FoodCards, its not necessary that Palmonters may start taking advantage of it. Maybe there are other stores else where that offer more discounts. Just because FoodMart offers discount does not mean people will take advantage of that. So according to me it doesnt affect conclusion.

Would stuart like to elaborate on this one.
When you negate and answer choice, it does not have to affect the original conclusion dramatically. Here, if A is true, then the number of FoodMart shoppers taking advantage of discounts *probably did increase*. This affects the original conclusion.
Top
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 293
Joined: Thu Jan 14, 2010 9:08 am
Location: India
Thanked: 36 times
Followed by:5 members
GMAT Score:730

by mohit11 » Tue Jun 01, 2010 1:31 am
abhi75 wrote:FoodMart, a grocery store in Palmont, o�ers special discounts
to customers who sign up for a FoodCard. Between 1990 and
1995, the number of FoodMart locations in Palmont increased
from 3 to 16. However, since the number of customers who had
FoodCards was about the same in 1995 as in 1990, the number
of Palmonters taking advantage of special discounts from
FoodMart probably did not increase signi...cantly.

Conclusion: the number of Palmonters taking advantage of special discounts from
FoodMart probably did not increase significantly

Premise: Stores went up from 3 to 16.

Various Gaps that i can spot are
1. There could be other methods for providing special discounts.
2. New stores do not offer special discounts

Lets attack the answer choices

Which of the following is an assumption on which the
argument depends?

(A) Few if any of the additional FoodMart locations that
opened between 1990 and 1995 served customers
who signed up for FoodCards. - Correct. Few if any = from a logical standpoint means approaching 0, so approximately 0 new stores provided special discounts.
(B) In 1995 most Palmonters who lived within 10 miles of
a FoodMart did not have a FoodCard. - Does not affect the conclusion
(C) Offering discount programs such as the FoodCard does
not decrease the profit margin of a grocery store. - Out of Scope
(D) In 1995 Palmonters who did not have FoodCards usually
chose to shop at grocery stores other than FoodMart
locations. - Even if this is true, it does help us reach the conclusion that more people are not taking advantage of special discounts. Out
(E) The discounts o�ers to FoodCard holders in 1995 were
not the same at all FoodMart locations. - Does not affect the conclusion


Can someone please explain this. I tried to apply negation test but couldnt justify that it undermines the conclusion.
Top
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1