Akela wrote:
In order to save money, many consumers redeem coupons that are distributed by retail stores. However, in general, retail stores that distribute and accept store coupons as a way of discounting the prices on certain products charge more for their products, on average, than other retail stores charge for the same products-even after lower prices available on coupon-discounted products are factored in. This is because producing and distributing coupons usually costs a great deal. To compensate for this expense without reducing profits, retail stores must pass it on to consumers.
Which one of the following can be properly inferred from the information above?
(A) Many consumers who redeem coupons save little if any money, overall, by doing so.
(B) Retail stores that distribute coupons generally compensate for the expense of producing and distributing coupons by charging higher prices for certain products.
(C) The profits of retail stores that use coupons are not significantly lower, on average, than the profits of similar stores that do not use coupons.
(D) At least some retail stores that do not use coupons do not have expenses that they pass on to consumers.
(E) The undiscounted price charged for a good for which a retail store offers a coupon will be higher than the price charged for that same good by a retail store that does not offer a coupon for it.
Source: LSAT
The key to answering inference/conclusion questions is to look for the answer choice that
MUST follow from the argument.
The passage tells us that,
in general, retail stores that distribute and accept store coupons as a way of discounting the prices on certain products charge more for their products, on average, than other retail stores charge for the same products-even after lower prices available on coupon-discounted products are factored in.
Notice that the phrase "in general" allows for the possibility that some stores may not 100% adhere to this practice.
Since the passage does not include strong/absolute language, it's doubtful that a conclusion can have strong/absolute language.
The two most tantalizing answers choices here are B and E, and each illustrates our need to find the answer choice that
MUST follow from the argument.
Answer choice B says Retail stores that distribute coupons
generally compensate for the expense of producing and distributing coupons by charging higher prices for certain products.
Perfect.
This is just a rewording of part of the passage. More importantly, the language is not strong/absolute.
Answer choice E has very strong wording. It says that the undiscounted price
WILL be higher than the price charged for that same good by a retail store that does not offer a coupon for it.
This does not match the passage, which tells us that,
in general, retail stores behave a certain way.
Given this strong language, we can eliminate E
Answer: B
Cheers,
Brent