reevamishra wrote:A study of ticket sales at a summer theater festival found that people who bought tickets to individual plays had a no-show rate of less than 1 percent, while those who paid in advance for all ten plays being performed that summer had a no-show rate of nearly 30 percent. This may be at least in part because the greater the awareness customers retain about the cost of an item, the more likely they are to use it.

Which of the following would, if true, best serve as an alternative explanation of the results of the study?
A) The price per ticket was slightly cheaper for those who bought all ten tickets in advance
B) Many people who attended the theater festival believed strongly that they should support it financially.
C) Those who attended all ten plays became eligible for a partial refund.
D) Usually, people who bought tickets to individual plays did so immediately prior to each performance that they attended.
E) People who arrived just before the performance began could not be assured of obtaining seats in a preferred location.

My doubt is between option C and D. Please help!!

This questions is #583 in OG2018 (edits in red above).

If we're asked for an ALTERNATIVE EXPLANATION, we're looking for something that gives a causal connection.

Given:
- people who bought tickets to individual plays had a no-show rate of less than 1 percent
- those who paid in advance for all ten plays had a no-show rate of nearly 30 percent

Is there a reason that there might be a higher no-show rate for advance 10-packs than awareness of cost?

A) The price per ticket was slightly cheaper for those who bought all ten tickets in advance
This supports the original explanation that the 1-ticket purchasers are more cost-aware. It does not give us a new explanation.

B) Many people who attended the theater festival believed strongly that they should support it financially.
This doesn't help to draw a distinction between 1-ticketers and 10-ticketers, and whether they show up.

C) Those who attended all ten plays became eligible for a partial refund.
This would NOT explain why people with the 10-ticket pack don't show up. In fact, it makes it more surprising - people have more incentive to show up to all 10, so it's surprising that they don't show up for 30%.

D) Usually, people who bought tickets to individual plays did so immediately prior to each performance that they attended.
This explains the very low no-show rate for people who only buy 1 ticket - they're already there at the door! People who purchase the 10-pack aren't purchasing it immediately prior to each show, so other events/plans might come up that cause them to miss a few shows.

E) People who arrived just before the performance began could not be assured of obtaining seats in a preferred location.
We don't know whether these people are 1-ticketers or 10-ticketers, so this is irrelevant.

The answer is D.