KHow wrote:
Hello,
I am also torn regarding why B is not the correct answer. Could someone please provide insight about why B is out? It seems like a valid argument to me.
Thank you!
lexis and ankita nail it above - it's that addition of the word "major" that dooms (B). We don't need rosewood to be a MAJOR factor in the price...as long as it's a factor at all, then the increase in rosewood cost can still be reflected in the overall price.
Two big lessons here:
1) Precision in wording matters! Especially in the cases of the conclusions of arguments, the major premise leading to a conclusion, or assumption answer choices, if an adjective (like "major") or modifier is added, it's usually a huge deal.
Here without "major" (B) would be correct. But like lexis and ankita mentioned, we don't
need rosewood to be a
major cost contributor, and assumptions are necessary premises.
2) Whenever a conclusion of a strengthen/weaken/assumption question, or the objective of a plan/strategy question, mentions an increase or decrease, even a marginal increase or decrease will satisfy that! Unless that conclusion/objective specifically calls out a threshold (a major reduction, a 50% increase), then you just need to get some, even small, level of increase/decrease. But the testmakers know that your mind wants to go to a big increase/decrease, so there will be trap answers that tempt you with "but it won't be that big of an increase/decrease." Make sure you stay tight to the actual conclusion, which in this case is just "an increase."