NandishSS wrote:
Although its name sounds like a possessive, the Ralphs chain of supermarkets does not include an apostrophe and is in fact named for its founder George Ralphs. Therefore, it is unlikely that the chain was given its name in an effort to invoke the feel of a local, owner-operated store.
Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the argument above?
A) None of the other supermarket chains owned by the Yucaipa Companies, which purchased the Ralphs chain in 1994, has a person's name as the store's brand.
B) Supermarkets and other retailers often go by a founder's name as a way to create a locally-owned, community feel.
C) The Ralphs name has remained unchanged since the store was founded in 1873, even though ownership of the chain has changed several times.
D) When George Ralphs filed his initial permit for a business license for his first store, he omitted a company name and the licensing bureau simply used his surname to finish the paperwork.
E) In many communities it is common for regular patrons of retailers to colloquially add a possessive apostrophe-S to store names, such as Kroger's or Ford's, that do not actually involve possessives in the official names.
Dear
NandishSS,
I'm happy to respond.
Conclusion: the author believes that the chain was not given its name in an effort to invoke the feel of a local owner-operated store.
A)
None of the other supermarket chains owned by the Yucaipa Companies, which purchased the Ralphs chain in 1994, has a person's name as the store's brand.This is vaguely suggestive, but does not provide clear evidence about how Ralphs got its name. This is incorrect.
B)
Supermarkets and other retailers often go by a founder's name as a way to create a locally-owned, community feel.This is a general pattern. Did Ralphs follow this pattern when it was named? We don't know. This is incorrect.
C)
The Ralphs name has remained unchanged since the store was founded in 1873, even though ownership of the chain has changed several times.While that's interesting, it doesn't reveal any motivation about why it was named "Ralphs" in the first place. This is incorrect.
D)
When George Ralphs filed his initial permit for a business license for his first store, he omitted a company name and the licensing bureau simply used his surname to finish the paperwork.Interesting. This tells us about the actual process by which the store acquired its name, and it appears that it was somewhat accidental, certainly not an intentional act. This is a promising choice.
E)
In many communities it is common for regular patrons of retailers to colloquially add a possessive apostrophe-S to store names, such as Kroger's or Ford's, that do not actually involve possessives in the official names. This speaks more to common misunderstandings, not to the original motivations in choosing a name. This is incorrect.
(D) is a strong answer. If George Ralphs simply forgot to enter a company name, perhaps this was by accident, but he certainly would not have known how that blank might be filled in. The clerk who put his surname into that slot simply was trying to fill in every part of a bureaucratic form: the furthest concern from that pencil-pusher's mind was the marketing appeal of one name vs. another. Therefore, this piece of information definitely strengthens the argument.
OA =
(D) Does all this make sense?
Mike
close
08 Feb 2018, 04:03
38%
(02:16)
wrong 
