Group 19 Question 91: A public library uses some of its space...

A public library uses some of its space to offer coffee and pastries to its patrons in a little café. However, a nearby coffee shop offers similar items that cost less, so the library’s café has struggled to sell enough to make use of the space worthwhile. The manager of the café has decided to exclusively sell a new line of locally-prepared pastries that will only be available at the libraries in that county.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the library manager’s projection that its plan will lead to an increase in its sales?

A. The cost of the new pastries offered at the library will be up to 20% more than that of the pastries they had been selling. Incorrect

cost of pastries is not a fact in argument

B. Because of nationwide trends in the cost of certain goods, the cost of pastry items are expected to increase throughout the state in which the library is located. Incorrect

cost of pastries is not a fact in argument

C. The amount of profit that the library expects to make on the new pastries is somewhat less than what they make on those they used to offer. Incorrect

profit of pastries is not a fact in argument

D. The coffee shop near the library plans to offer its own line of pastries within the coming months. Incorrect

so, it can reduce sales; against argument

E. Nearly 90% of the patrons of the library who were given samples of the new pastries stated that they preferred the taste to that of any other pastries sold in the area. Correct

it supports plan that new pastries increase sales because most people preferred new pastries more than any other pastries

Official Explanation:

A public library uses some of its space to offer coffee and pastries to its patrons in a little café. However, a nearby coffee shop offers similar items that cost less, so the library’s café has struggled to sell enough to make use of the space worthwhile. The manager of the café has decided to exclusively sell a new line of locally-prepared pastries that will only be available at the libraries in that county.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the library manager’s projection that its plan will lead to an increase in its sales?

A. The cost of the new pastries offered at the library will be up to 20% more than that of the pastries they had been selling.
B. Because of nationwide trends in the cost of certain goods, the cost of pastry items are expected to increase throughout the state in which the library is located.
C. The amount of profit that the library expects to make on the new pastries is somewhat less than what they make on those they used to offer.
D. The coffee shop near the library plans to offer its own line of pastries within the coming months.
E. Nearly 90% of the patrons of the library who were given samples of the new pastries stated that they preferred the taste to that of any other pastries sold in the area.

Question Type: Strengthen
Boil It Down: Their competitor sells similar pastries for less, so the library’s cafe should sell different pastries to increase their own sales.
Goal: Find the option that most strongly supports that manager’s idea to sell different pastries to increase their sales.

Analysis:

Argument structure:
(P) = Premise/Evidence/Support (C) = Conclusion

P1: Competitor sells same pastry items for less
P2: Library’s pastry sales have struggled
C: The manager’s new pastry plan will yield increase sales

The argument suggests that the library is losing business to the competitor because the library is offering the same pastries at a higher price. Two factors are at play: pastry type and cost. To stop the loss of business, the library can deal with either of the two factors. The manager reasons that if different pastries are offered, then losing business due to getting underbid can be reduced. The correct answer choice will strengthen this reasoning.

Put simply, the correct answer choice needs to show a way that the new plan will reduce the flow of customers from the library to the competitor and where pastry type and not cost is the factor being dealt with.


A. The cost of the new pastries offered at the library will be up to 20% more than that of the pastries they had been selling.
Incorrect. Answer choice A weakens the argument by giving a further reason for the patrons to frequent the competitor.

B. Because of nationwide trends in the cost of certain goods, the cost of pastry items is expected to increase throughout the state in which the library is located.
Incorrect. As discussed in the argument analysis section above, the manager is not reasoning based on cost. As such, increases in pastry costs across the state is irrelevant.

C. The amount of profit that the library expects to make on the new pastries is somewhat less than what they make on those they used to offer.
Incorrect. The issue involves reducing the flow of patrons to the competitor by changing the pastry type. Profits are not part of this argument. As such, answer choice C is irrelevant.

D. The coffee shop near the library plans to offer its own line of pastries within the coming months.
Incorrect. This answer choice weakens the manager’s argument by offering an overlooked possibility. The manager is banking on attracting patrons by offering unique and different pastries. If the competitor does the same, then the manager’s argument gets undercut.

E. Nearly 90% of the patrons of the library who were given samples of the new pastries stated that they preferred the taste to that of any other pastries sold in the area.
Correct. Rather than dealing with price, the manager is banking on the belief that different pastries than the competitor will attract patrons. Answer choice E supports the manager’s belief by providing a reason why the different pastries will attract patrons, namely that they taste better.


Don’t study for the GMAT. Train for it.

Great work winterschool, minalgambhir, and Rajat8!

You all cracked the code on this one. Kudos to you!

The next question is up now. Can't wait to see how you tackle the next one!