KAPLAN OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

STEP 1: IDENTIFY THE QUESTION TYPE
The question stem asks for the answer choice that will most strengthen the argument, making this a Strengthen question.

STEP 2: UNTANGLE THE STIMULUS
This is a causality argument. It concludes that playing music increases customer spending more than advertising specials over an in-store audio system. The evidence given is a report on two chains of stores. According to the report, Quarx stores play music on their audio systems and saw customers buy 25% more, on average, than customers at Cubix stores, which advertise specials on their audio systems.

STEP 3: PREDICT THE ANSWER
The correct answer will either make it more likely that hearing music causes customers to increase their spending or make it less likely that some other factor caused Quarx customers to outspend Cubix customers.

STEP 4: EVALUATE THE CHOICES
(A) strengthens the conclusion. The study found a direct link between how music makes customers feel and their willingness to spend more than they initially planned, supporting the conclusion that music increases how much money is spent. (B) does not say anything about how much is spent at the time the ads are heard. Since the argument is about what is spent on a particular shopping trip, future shopping trips are irrelevant. (C) does not strengthen (or weaken) the conclusion because it doesn’t link this information about product selection to how much money customers spend. (D) does not provide any information about the impact customers’ opinions of hearing music while shopping has on how much money customers spend. Finally, (E) also fails to establish any connection to how much is spent. Furthermore, it fails to mention music at all.
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Premise - Customers spend on average 25 percent more per shopping trip if the store plays music than if the store plays advertisements.
Conclusion - Hearing music has a greater impact than hearing advertisements on how much money customers spend when shopping.

Prethink - This is a very common problem type in which a conclusion is generalised statement supported by an specific case/situation. . To strengthen the conclusion of such arguments, we need to look for an information that makes the conclusion independent of the specific situation i.e. something that says that the usual conclusion is not based on just a specific case.
Let's have a look on choices now.

(A) A study conducted by a psychologist found that hearing music makes shoppers feel financially secure, so they are more likely to make impulse purchases.
This clearly states the reason for the greater impact of hearing music i.e. an usual case for the conclusion and the conclusion is not just by chance.
(B) Customers who hear advertisements for things they dislike form a negative association between their shopping experience and what they heard, making them less likely to return to the store where they heard the advertisement.
We don't know the kind of advertisements the store play. Are they the ones that customers dislike?
(C) Stores that play music tend to carry products that are essential to daily life, while those that advertise specials often stock unessential, fun items that the stores hope consumers will decide to buy on a whim if offered a special price.
Do the stores offer the special price? The stimulus does not say anything about it.
(D) An economist who studied consumer shopping habits found that about half the population likes to listen to music while shopping, while the other half reports either disliking music or not noticing that music is playing.
The information does not say anything about the consumers listening advertisements. We need to add an information that supports the conclusion.
(E) According to a recent sociological study, customers say that hearing specials announced while they are shopping is irritating, but they often take advantage of the discounts offered in those announcements.
If it's true, the conclusion is weakened and hence the argument.

A

A corporation’s recent financial report indicates that customers in its Quarx stores, which play upbeat music through an in-store audio system, spend on average 25 percent more per shopping trip thancustomers in its Cubix stores, which advertise specials over the audio system. Clearly, hearing music has a greater impact than hearing advertisements on how much money customers spend when shopping.

Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the argument above?


(A) A study conducted by a psychologist found that hearing music makes shoppers feel financially secure, so they are more likely to make impulse purchases. Correct

supports conclusion

(B) Customers who hear advertisements for things they dislike form a negative association between their shopping experience and what they heard, making them less likely to return to the store where they heard the advertisement. Incorrect

it says, sometimes advertisements is the cause of customer losses, but it cant explain about music

(C) Stores that play music tend to carry products that are essential to daily life, while those that advertise specials often stock unessential, fun items that the stores hope consumers will decide to buy on a whim if offered a special price. Incorrect

it express that other factor are the cause for more sales

(D) An economist who studied consumer shopping habits found that about half the population likes to listen to music while shopping, while the other half reports either disliking music or not noticing that music is playing. Incorrect

not related with sales

(E) According to a recent sociological study, customers say that hearing specials announced while they are shopping is irritating, but they often take advantage of the discounts offered in those announcements. Incorrect

cant explain about music

Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the argument above?


(A) A study conducted by a psychologist found that hearing music makes shoppers feel financially secure, so they are more likely to make impulse purchases. This is our answer (This option gives the exact reason as to why "hearing music has a greater impact than hearing advertisements on how much money customers spend when shopping. ").

(B) Customers who hear advertisements for things they dislike form a negative association between their shopping experience and what they heard, making them less likely to return to the store where they heard the advertisement. Not our answer (We cannot gauge this from the stimulus.)

(C) Stores that play music tend to carry products that are essential to daily life, while those that advertise specials often stock unessential, fun items that the stores hope consumers will decide to buy on a whim if offered a special price. Not our answer (Irrelevant, the stimulus says nothing about all of this.)

(D) An economist who studied consumer shopping habits found that about half the population likes to listen to music while shopping, while the other half reports either disliking music or not noticing that music is playing. Not our answer (Out of Scope)

(E) According to a recent sociological study, customers say that hearing specials announced while they are shopping is irritating, but they often take advantage of the discounts offered in those announcements. Not our answer (Out of Scope)

The OA is A.

Conclusion: Hearing music has a greater impact than hearing advertisements on how much money customers spend when shopping.

We need to strengthen this. Clearly A does that with a psychological finding.

(A) A study conducted by a psychologist found that hearing music makes shoppers feel financially secure, so they are more likely to make impulse purchases.

Conclusion: hearing music has a greater impact than hearing advertisements on how much money customers spend when shopping.

Pre-thinking: To strengthen, how can we relate hearing music to customer spending.

Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the argument above?

(A) A study conducted by a psychologist found that hearing music makes shoppers feel financially secure, so they are more likely to make impulse purchases. -> It is as per our thinking. Let's keep it. If we get a better choice, we shall drop it.

(B) Customers who hear advertisements for things they dislike form a negative association between their shopping experience and what they heard, making them less likely to return to the store where they heard the advertisement. -> return to the store, it is not the conclusion. Incorrect.

(C) Stores that play music tend to carry products that are essential to daily life, while those that advertise specials often stock unessential, fun items that the stores hope consumers will decide to buy on a whim if offered a special price. -> Buy on whim, is also not as per the conclusion.

(D) An economist who studied consumer shopping habits found that about half the population likes to listen to music while shopping, while the other half reports either disliking music or not noticing that music is playing. -> Liking music during buy and Music drives customers to buy are different aspects. Incorrect.

(E) According to a recent sociological study, customers say that hearing specials announced while they are shopping is irritating, but they often take advantage of the discounts offered in those announcements. -> It shouldn't be irritating, as we have to support the conclusion.

So, I think A

Summary:

Upbeat music = 25% higher spend on shopping

We need an option that explicitly supports the cause and effect between the kind of music and amount spent.


(A) A study conducted by a psychologist found that hearing music makes shoppers feel financially secure, so they are more likely to make impulse purchases. Customer's buying pattern is positively affected by the music they listen. Looks like a winner, in my opinion.

(B) Customers who hear advertisements for things they dislike form a negative association between their shopping experience and what they heard, making them less likely to return to the store where they heard the advertisement.

What is it that customer dislike?. Incorrect

(C) Stores that play music tend to carry products that are essential to daily life, while those that advertise specials often stock unessential, fun items that the stores hope consumers will decide to buy on a whim if offered a special price.

The relation between customer buying or not buying is depending on the PRICE. Incorrect.

(D) An economist who studied consumer shopping habits found that about half the population likes to listen to music while shopping, while the other half reports either disliking music or not noticing that music is playing.

Okay few people like music and others don't. Gives a generic statement and no cause and effect. Incorrect.

(E) According to a recent sociological study, customers say that hearing specials announced while they are shopping is irritating, but they often take advantage of the discounts offered in those announcements.

If they are taking advantage of those specials, this option is clearly going in the opposite direction than that we want. Incorrect

A corporation’s recent financial report indicates that customers in its Quarx stores, which play upbeat music through an in-store audio system, spend on average 25 percent more per shopping trip than customers in its Cubix stores, which advertise specials over the audio system. Clearly, hearing music has a greater impact than hearing advertisements on how much money customers spend when shopping.

Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the argument above?

Conclusion: hearing music has a greater impact than hearing advertisements on how much money customers spend when shopping

(A) A study conducted by a psychologist found that hearing music makes shoppers feel financially secure, so they are more likely to make impulse purchases.
This explains why customers in its Quarx stores spend on average 25 percent more per shopping trip

(B) Customers who hear advertisements for things they dislike form a negative association between their shopping experience and what they heard, making them less likely to return to the store where they heard the advertisement.
The argument is that 'hearing music has a greater impact'. If this statement is true, it weakens the argument by saying that people who hear the advertise shop less, and therefore people who listen music will automatically be the ones spending more as the other group is spending less. Thus, music has no impact on people who shop more.

(C) Stores that play music tend to carry products that are essential to daily life, while those that advertise specials often stock unessential, fun items that the stores hope consumers will decide to buy on a whim if offered a special price.
Weakener

(D) An economist who studied consumer shopping habits found that about half the population likes to listen to music while shopping, while the other half reports either disliking music or not noticing that music is playing.
This does not have any impact.

(E) According to a recent sociological study, customers say that hearing specials announced while they are shopping is irritating, but they often take advantage of the discounts offered in those announcements.
Similar to B

Choice A is the answer.