After Company K released its low-fat butter substitute into

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

Solution: A

This is a Weaken question, due to the phrase, “which of the following…casts the most doubt”. This particular problem highlights one of the sub-types of Weaken questions: notice that we are not necessarily looking at a logical argument, but instead at a proposed solution or plan. Whenever we hit these kinds of Weaken questions, we need to mind the gap between the proposed goal of the plan and the methods used to obtain that goal. The disconnect often lies between those two components. In the case of this particular problem, Company K’s plan is to increase market share by pumping money into marketing the new product as the “new low-fat alternative to butter.” The question naturally arises: does marketing a product in a certain way increase market share? Any answer choice that undermines this would weaken the plan.

Answer choice “A” shows that there could be cultural causes unrelated to marketing that may be keeping the substitute from gaining market share across Europe. Naturally, if their marketing plan depends on calling the product “low-fat” – a phrase with negative connotations – market share would not necessarily increase. “A” shows how Company K’s plan might not work, and therefore is the correct answer.

“B” is an answer that uses statistical measures in a deceiving way. It focuses on the decreasing total size of the yellow fats market, but this is substantially different than the notion of market share. Market share (or a percentage of the total) could still proportionally increase, even if the total market is shrinking.

“C” is a classic misdirection answer. It gets us thinking about the sustainability of the market increase, when the original goal is simply to increase market share. “C” indicates that Company K could not maintain the proposed marketing campaign long-term, but the campaign could still be successful in meeting the goal of increasing market share before they are forced to scale back the campaign.

While “D” seems to strengthen the answer (and is therefore wrong!), there is a deeper issue at play here. Answer choice “D” tells us how Company K did something similar in a very different situation. Just because something works in one set of circumstances doesn’t mean it would necessarily work in a different set of circumstances. The Testmaker is trying to use this answer choice to lure novice test takers who are prone to either overgeneralizing or picking Strengthen answers when a Weaken answer is necessary.

Answer choice “E” is completely irrelevant. Showing an increase in market share without marketing in one location doesn’t mean marketing can’t help in another.

GMATNinja GMATNinjaTwo, Could you please help to explain in a simple language? I could not understand why B is incorrect and why A is the correct answer.