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Let me help you tackle this assumption question systematically. The key here is recognizing what the argument doesn't tell us but must be true for the conclusion to follow.
Step 1: Identify the Argument Structure
Premise 1: Brindon Bolt Barn supplies virtually all fasteners to workshops/manufacturing firms in Brindon County
Premise 2: Many of these local businesses have closed; no new ones opened
Conclusion: Brindon Bolt Barn will undoubtedly show sharp decline in sales/revenue
Step 2: Find the Logical Gap
The argument jumps from "local customers decreased" to "overall sales will sharply decline." But wait - what if Brindon Bolt Barn has significant business outside Brindon County? The conclusion would fall apart.
Think about it: If 80% of their revenue comes from customers in neighboring counties or states, then losing some local customers might barely affect their overall sales.
Step 3: Apply the Negation Test
For assumption questions, negating the correct answer should destroy the argument:
Option E: "The Brindon Bolt Barn is not a company that gets the great majority of its business from customers outside Brindon County."
Negated: "Brindon Bolt Barn does get the great majority of its business from outside the county."
If this negation is true, then the closure of local businesses wouldn't necessarily cause a sharp overall decline. The argument collapses!
Step 4: Eliminate Wrong Answers
Option A Past year's performance trend - irrelevant to this year vs. last year comparison
Option B Remaining firms' work volume - not necessary; fewer total firms alone could cause decline
Option C Future competition - doesn't affect current year's performance based on closures
Option D Operating expenses - relates to profit, not sales volume/revenue
Answer: E
The argument critically depends on assuming that Brindon County customers represent a significant portion of Brindon Bolt Barn's total business. Without this assumption, local closures wouldn't guarantee overall sales decline.
Want to master the complete framework for solving assumption questions and learn advanced pattern recognition techniques? Check out the step-by-step solution on Neuron by e-GMAT, which includes 3 alternative approaches and shows how this pattern appears across similar CR problems. You can also explore all GMAT Official Guide questions with detailed solutions on Neuron for structured practice.
Step 1: Identify the Argument Structure
Premise 1: Brindon Bolt Barn supplies virtually all fasteners to workshops/manufacturing firms in Brindon County
Premise 2: Many of these local businesses have closed; no new ones opened
Conclusion: Brindon Bolt Barn will undoubtedly show sharp decline in sales/revenue
Step 2: Find the Logical Gap
The argument jumps from "local customers decreased" to "overall sales will sharply decline." But wait - what if Brindon Bolt Barn has significant business outside Brindon County? The conclusion would fall apart.
Think about it: If 80% of their revenue comes from customers in neighboring counties or states, then losing some local customers might barely affect their overall sales.
Step 3: Apply the Negation Test
For assumption questions, negating the correct answer should destroy the argument:
Option E: "The Brindon Bolt Barn is not a company that gets the great majority of its business from customers outside Brindon County."
Negated: "Brindon Bolt Barn does get the great majority of its business from outside the county."
If this negation is true, then the closure of local businesses wouldn't necessarily cause a sharp overall decline. The argument collapses!
Step 4: Eliminate Wrong Answers
Option A Past year's performance trend - irrelevant to this year vs. last year comparison
Option B Remaining firms' work volume - not necessary; fewer total firms alone could cause decline
Option C Future competition - doesn't affect current year's performance based on closures
Option D Operating expenses - relates to profit, not sales volume/revenue
Answer: E
The argument critically depends on assuming that Brindon County customers represent a significant portion of Brindon Bolt Barn's total business. Without this assumption, local closures wouldn't guarantee overall sales decline.
Want to master the complete framework for solving assumption questions and learn advanced pattern recognition techniques? Check out the step-by-step solution on Neuron by e-GMAT, which includes 3 alternative approaches and shows how this pattern appears across similar CR problems. You can also explore all GMAT Official Guide questions with detailed solutions on Neuron for structured practice.
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