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Re: Pretzel vendor: The new license fee for operating a pretzel stand outs
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18 Jan 2023, 07:14
CONCLUSION -- I could not break even running a pretzel stand outside the art museum, much less turn a profit.
Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the pretzel vendor’s argument?
(A) There is currently no license fee for operating a pretzel stand outside city hall.
Irrelevant as we need to support the conclusion that the Pretzel vendor could not break even running a pretzel stand outside the art museum. Knowing whether there is a current fees OR not for operating a pretzel stand outside city hall is irrelevant. INCORRECT.
(B) Pretzel vendors who operate stands outside the art museum were making a profit before the imposition of the new license fee.
So what? we are concerned with the Pretzel vendor who is operating at city hall and we have to support his conclusion that he could not even break even by selling outside the art museum. INCORRECT.
(C) The number of pretzel stands outside the art museum is no greater than the number of pretzel stands now outside city hall.
This option does NOT add anything. Everything remains as it is even if this is true.
Let's explore this option in more detail,
Case 1 : The number of pretzel stands outside the art museum is greater than the number of pretzel stands now outside city hall.
The chances of number of pretzels sold per hour would be even less. This is in terms with the statement made by the Pretzel vendor This would support the conclusion.
But here in this option we are having the opposite case :
Case 2 : The number of pretzel stands outside the art museum is no greater than the number of pretzel stands now outside city hall.
Means almost equal, so how does this affect the conclusion, if the number of stands are almost equal.
(D) People who buy pretzels at pretzel stands are most likely to do so during the hours at which the art museum is open to the public.
Here, it is possible that the people who buy pretzels when the museum is open will purchase far more than 25 pretzels per hour, WEAKENING the conclusion that the vendor will not be able to earn a profit.
Since the correct answer choice must STRENGTHEN the conclusion, eliminate D.
(E) Fewer people passing the art museum than passing city hall are likely to buy pretzels.
To strengthen that argument, we either need an answer that confirms everything the vendor assumes OR that points out that the situation is even worse than the vendor thinks it would be.
Answer E describes how the situation would be even worse because the potential customer base would be even lower than what the vendor sees at city hall.
CORRECT.
Answer: E
86% (02:28) correct
