Fastfood - Tough for me :(

[GmatKiss]

In January of last year, Fastfood King started using a new lowfat oil to cook its Fast Fries, instead of the less healthful corn oil that it had been using. Now Fastfood King is planning to switch back, saying that the change has hurt sales of Fast Fries. However, this claim is incorrect, since according to Fastfood King's own sales figures, Fastfood King sold 10 percent more Fast Fries last year than in the previous year.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the argument against Fastfood King's claim?

Total sales of all foods at Fastfood King's locations increased by less than 10 percent last year.

Fastfood King enjoys higher profit margins on its Soft Drinks than it does on Fast Fries.

Fastfood King's customers prefer the taste of Fast Fries cooked in corn oil to Fast Fries cooked in lowfat oil.

The number of customers that visited Fastfood King locations was more than 20 percent higher last year than the year before.

The year before last, Fastfood King experienced a 20 percent increase in Fast Fries sales over the previous year.

[ice_rush]

(A) seems fine. if the sales of all other items increased by LESS than 10%, then the claim that the change has hurt sales of fast fries is definitely not correct.



hope this helps.

[Brent@GMATPrepNow]

In January of last year, Fastfood King started using a new lowfat oil to cook its Fast Fries, instead of the less healthful corn oil that it had been using. Now Fastfood King is planning to switch back, saying that the change has hurt sales of Fast Fries. However, this claim is incorrect, since according to Fastfood King's own sales figures, Fastfood King sold 10 percent more Fast Fries last year than in the previous year.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the argument against Fastfood King's claim?

Total sales of all foods at Fastfood King's locations increased by less than 10 percent last year.

Fastfood King enjoys higher profit margins on its Soft Drinks than it does on Fast Fries.

Fastfood King's customers prefer the taste of Fast Fries cooked in corn oil to Fast Fries cooked in lowfat oil.

The number of customers that visited Fastfood King locations was more than 20 percent higher last year than the year before.

The year before last, Fastfood King experienced a 20 percent increase in Fast Fries sales over the previous year.

FF King claims that the lowfat oil is negatively impacting sales of its fries.

The author says that this claim is incorrect. In other words, the author is suggesting that FF King's fry sales are not negatively impacted by the lowfat oil.
We're looking for a new premise that strengthens the author's conclusion.

(A) If all of FF King's menu items were considered equal, then each menu item would have experienced the same rate of increased sales. For example, if the total sales increased by 7%, then we'd expect hamburger sales to increase by 7%, milkshake sales to increase by 7%, . . . and Fast Fry sales to increase by 7%.

Since Fast Fry sales increased 10% last year (and total sales increased less than 10 percent), it looks like the new lowfat oil may have helped sales. Since this strengthens the author's conclusion, it is the best answer.

(B) Doesn't affect the author's conclusion
(C) Weakens the author's conclusion
(D) Weakens the author's conclusion
(E) Doesn't affect the author's conclusion

Cheers,
Brent

[GMATGuruNY]

I received a PM asking me to comment, but it looks as though Brent and ice-rush have this one covered.

For another perspective, please feel free to read my post here:

https://www.beatthegmat.com/fastfood-kin ... 10868.html