Almost all the fish sold in Eastville is sold in small seafood stores. Fish at such stores in Eastville’s downtown Old Market is much cheaper than similar fish sold at large uptown stores. Old Market vendors buy fish of similar quality from the same wholesalers and at the same prices as uptown vendors do, and their other business expenses are also about the same. Yet the Old Market stores are just as profitable as the uptown stores.The statements given, if true, most strongly support which of the following?To find the correct answer to this Conclusion question, we have to identify the choice such that what it says is supported by something we can point to in the passage.
A. Small seafood stores are less profitable than large seafood stores.This is counter to what the passage indicates, which is that the small "Old Market stores are just as profitable as the uptown stores."
Eliminate.
B. Some varieties of fish that are not available at Old Market stores can be found occasionally at large uptown seafood stores.The passage says nothing about varieties of fish.
Eliminate.
C. The amount of fish sold at stores in the Old Market is, on average, much higher than that sold at large uptown stores.This choice is interesting. After all, the passage says that fish is cheaper at Old Market stores while other aspects of Old Market stores' businesses are about the same as those of uptown stores, yet Old Market stores are just as profitable as uptown stores.
So, how could that be the case?
What makes sense is that Old Market stores can sell fish at lower prices but be just as profitable by selling greater amounts of fish.
So, this choice is supported by information we can point to in the passage.
Keep.
D. Most of the people who live in uptown Eastville buy fish from their neighborhood stores.This is plausible. At the same time, the passage does not say anything about who buys where.
Eliminate.
E. There are many more seafood stores in uptown Eastville than there are in the downtown Old Market.If anything, this is counter to what the passage says, which is that "Almost all the fish sold in Eastville is sold in small seafood stores," whereas the uptown stores are "large."
So, if most is sold in small stores, then it makes sense that there are more such stores.
Eliminate.
Correct answer: C