A new polymer, recently developed as a material for minor car repairs

(A) Whether the use of polymers without professional safety equipment such as gas masks can be harmful to the health of the average consumer
If yes- Country M consumers would reject the use of polymer since they are critical.
If no - no influence of this
Hence - it is a potential answer(Keep it )

(B) Whether consumers in Country M are prepared to perform repairs on their own cars instead of hiring paid professionals
irrelevant

(C) Whether consumers in Country M are open-minded as far as the introduction of new products to the market is concerned
Irrelevant

(D) Whether the polymer's effectivity is influenced by climactic differences between regions
If yes- Do we have any information that suggests climate of country M and B are different- No; so, it is a tempting option but IMO not a right answer

(E) Whether repairs done using the new polymer can be painted with regular car paint
Irrelevant

Among A and D,I believe A is the right answer

Premise: A polymer successful in country B is imported by country M. Despite, the hype and initial purchases the sales dropped in Country M.

Conclusion: It must be because the consumers in country B are more critical about their car repairs.


(A) Whether the use of polymers without professional safety equipment such as gas masks can be harmful to the health of the average consumer

Health is irrelevant and is not a concern. Eliminate

(B) Whether consumers in Country M are prepared to perform repairs on their own cars instead of hiring paid professionals

Hiring paid professionals or not does not affect the usage or efficacy of the product. Eliminate

(C) Whether consumers in Country M are open-minded as far as the introduction of new products to the market is concerned

But they were open minded as the initial purchases were high. Eliminate

(D) Whether the polymer's effectivity is influenced by climactic differences between regions

It is possible that product due to climatic differences might have proved less effective but if that is not the case it would surely mean that deduction in original argument is true. Correct

(E) Whether repairs done using the new polymer can be painted with regular car paint

If it can be done or not done in one country, it will be true for another country as well. Eliminate

IMO D

A new polymer, recently developed as a material for minor car repairs, was imported to Country M after being sold successfully in Country B. Despite a high number of initial purchases following an effective marketing campaign, sales figures in Country M were unsatisfactory, and importation of the product was eventually discontinued. It can be deduced that consumers in Country M are more critical about car repair products than they are in Country B.

Which of the following would it be most useful to establish in order to evaluate the argument?

Premise :
1. new polymer - sold in country B, now wanting to be sold in country M
2. high number of initial purchases - this means people liked it but something happened inspite of that
3. sales eventually discontinued

Conclusion:
consumers (Country M) more critical about car repair products than consumers (Country B)

Now, we need to find that gap which would've eventually been the cause behind the decline.
It can be any 3rd factor.

(A) Whether the use of polymers without professional safety equipment such as gas masks can be harmful to the health of the average consumer
Not mentioned in the scope

(B) Whether consumers in Country M are prepared to perform repairs on their own cars instead of hiring paid professionals
Not mentioned in the scope

(C) Whether consumers in Country M are open-minded as far as the introduction of new products to the market is concerned
Refer to "despite a high number of initial purchases"
Hence eliminate the option

(D) Whether the polymer's effectivity is influenced by climactic differences between regions
Correct, inline with our thinking.

(E) Whether repairs done using the new polymer can be painted with regular car paint
Not mentioned in the scope

Conclusion:
consumers in Country M are more critical about car repair products than they are in Country B.

Premise1: material is successfully in Country B
Premise2: sales figures in Country M were unsatisfactory


Country B - good (Material )
Country M - unsatisfactory (Material )



(A) Whether the use of polymers without professional safety equipment such as gas masks can be harmful to the health of the average consumer - Wrong, because it is not answering why it is good in one country and unsatisfactory in other
(B) Whether consumers in Country M are prepared to perform repairs on their own cars instead of hiring paid professionals - Wrong, it speaks about how consumers prefer to perform service in Country M . It doesn't speaks about preference in Country B
(C) Whether consumers in Country M are open-minded as far as the introduction of new products to the market is concerned - Wrong, it speaks about consumers in Country M.It doesn't speaks about Country B
(D) Whether the polymer's effectivity is influenced by climactic differences between regions - Correct, It speaks about two regions
(E) Whether repairs done using the new polymer can be painted with regular car paint - Wrong, it doesn't speak about country M or Country B

A new polymer, recently developed as a material for minor car repairs, was imported to Country M after being sold successfully in Country B. Despite a high number of initial purchases following an effective marketing campaign, sales figures in Country M were unsatisfactory, and importation of the product was eventually discontinued. It can be deduced that consumers in Country M are more critical about car repair products than they are in Country B.

Which of the following would it be most useful to establish in order to evaluate the argument?

(A) Whether the use of polymers without professional safety equipment such as gas masks can be harmful to the health of the average consumer -> then it will affect sales in both countries. There is something different between countries. Incorrect.

(B) Whether consumers in Country M are prepared to perform repairs on their own cars instead of hiring paid professionals -> these products are for minor repairs, they may not need paid professional. In that case, the product would be selling in Country M. So, It can't be the reason, we need to justify low/No sales in country M. Incorrect.

(C) Whether consumers in Country M are open-minded as far as the introduction of new products to the market is concerned -> Irrelevant.

(D) Whether the polymer's effectivity is influenced by climactic differences between regions -> If there is something to do with the climate in Country M and B, then we can have a reason for Low/No sales in Country M. Let's keep it.

(E) Whether repairs done using the new polymer can be painted with regular car paint -> Irrelevant.

So, I think D.

Let’s look at the stimulus given-
A new polymer, recently developed as a material for minor car repairs, was imported to Country M after being sold successfully in Country B.
Despite a high number of initial purchases following an effective marketing campaign, sales figures in Country M were unsatisfactory, and importation of the product was eventually discontinued.
Conclusion- consumers in Country M are more critical about car repair products than they are in Country B.

We need to evaluate the argument that- consumers in Country M are more critical about car repair products than they are in Country B.

(A) Whether the use of polymers without professional safety equipment such as gas masks can be harmful to the health of the average consumer.
Irrelevant. The answer to this doesn’t help us evaluate whether consumers in Country M are more critical about car repair products than they are in Country B. Eliminate

(B) Whether consumers in Country M are prepared to perform repairs on their own cars instead of hiring paid professionals
The question is did consumers in country M not use the new polymer because they are more critical about car repair products than they are in Country B? Option B doesn’t help us evaluate the argument. Eliminate

(C) Whether consumers in Country M are open-minded as far as the introduction of new products to the market is concerned

If the consumers in Country M were not open-minded as far as the introduction of new products to the market is concerned, they wouldn’t have tried the new product when it was introduced at all. But the premise tells us that the initial sales were high. Eliminate.


(D) Whether the polymer's effectivity is influenced by climatic differences between regions

This helps us evaluate the argument. The answer to this would explain if the sales of the new polymer in country M went down because people were more critical or because the effectivity of the polymer did not suit the country’s climate.
Correct.

(E) Whether repairs done using the new polymer can be painted with regular car paint
Irrelevant. Eliminate.

Vishnupriya
GMAT Verbal SME

A new polymer, recently developed as a material for minor car repairs, was imported to Country M after being sold successfully in Country B. Despite a high number of initial purchases following an effective marketing campaign, sales figures in Country M were unsatisfactory, and importation of the product was eventually discontinued. It can be deduced that consumers in Country M are more critical about car repair products than they are in Country B.

Which of the following would it be most useful to establish in order to evaluate the argument?


(A) Whether the use of polymers without professional safety equipment such as gas masks can be harmful to the health of the average consumer
Irrelevant in evaluating the argument.

(B) Whether consumers in Country M are prepared to perform repairs on their own cars instead of hiring paid professionals
Even if the consumers are prepared to perform repair works, they can save costs by using the polymer.

(C) Whether consumers in Country M are open-minded as far as the introduction of new products to the market is concerned
Does not help to evaluate the argument given the context of the argument. Open mindedness does not help explain the conclusion of the argument.

(D) Whether the polymer's effectivity is influenced by climactic differences between regions
Because of different climatic conditions, may be the polymer generates a desired effect for repair works in country B but not in country M.
Can very well explain why the importation was discontinued.

(E) Whether repairs done using the new polymer can be painted with regular car paint
The same factor plays a role in country B.
Does not help to spot the difference.

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