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Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
25%
(medium)
Question Stats:
81% (01:13) correct
19%
(01:55)
wrong
based on 27
sessions
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Not Attempted Yet
Which of the following, if true, most logically completes the argument below?
Most storeowners have installed specialized surveillance measures to prevent cashier theft. However, these measures are unlikely to significantly reduce the amount of retail revenue stolen by cashiers, because experienced cashiers can figure out how to get past the measures and ______.
(A) retail operations have become more expensive due to the addition of the surveillance measures
(B) unlike stores that have specialized surveillance measures, stores that do not can lose up to ten percent of their yearly revenue to cashier theft
(C) many instances of cashier theft are quickly found out by storeowners
(D) storeowners are more likely to fail to audit daily earnings if the store has the measures in place than if the store does not
(E) roughly seven percent of revenue lost in the retail sector per year was found to be the result of cashier theft before the specialized surveillance measures became commonplace
Most storeowners have installed specialized surveillance measures to prevent cashier theft. However, these measures are unlikely to significantly reduce the amount of retail revenue stolen by cashiers, because experienced cashiers can figure out how to get past the measures and ______.
(A) retail operations have become more expensive due to the addition of the surveillance measures
(B) unlike stores that have specialized surveillance measures, stores that do not can lose up to ten percent of their yearly revenue to cashier theft
(C) many instances of cashier theft are quickly found out by storeowners
(D) storeowners are more likely to fail to audit daily earnings if the store has the measures in place than if the store does not
(E) roughly seven percent of revenue lost in the retail sector per year was found to be the result of cashier theft before the specialized surveillance measures became commonplace
26 Dec 2025, 00:08
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Step 1: Understand the Structure
Premise 1: Storeowners installed surveillance to prevent cashier theft
Premise 2: Experienced cashiers can bypass the measures
Conclusion: Theft is unlikely to significantly decrease
Step 2: Spot the Gap
The argument jumps from "experienced cashiers CAN bypass" to "theft WON'T decrease."
But wait - just because some cashiers bypass doesn't mean TOTAL theft stays the same!
What if most cashiers aren't experienced? What if measures still deter some theft?
Step 3: What Completes the Logic?
We need: Bypass + ______ = No net reduction
The blank must show why bypassing the measures actually keeps theft levels constant.
Step 4: Answer Choice Analysis
(A) Operations became more expensive → Talks about COST, not theft levels. Irrelevant.
(B) Stores without measures lose up to 10% → Hurts the argument! Suggests measures DO work.
(C) Many thefts are quickly found out → Doesn't connect to why theft won't decrease.
(D) Storeowners stop auditing when measures are installed → PERFECT!
(E) 7% of revenue was lost before measures → Just historical data. No logical connection.
Why D Works — The "False Sense of Security" Pattern:
• Surveillance installed → Storeowners feel protected
• Feeling protected → Stop auditing daily earnings
• Experienced cashiers → Bypass surveillance
• No auditing → NEW theft opportunity
Result: Measures block one door, but complacency opens another. Net theft = unchanged.
Simple Analogy:
Installing a fancy front door lock, then leaving the back door wide open because you "feel safe."
Answer: D
Takeaway: In "complete the argument" questions, look for compensating mechanisms — when a solution creates a new problem that cancels out its benefit. The classic pattern is: Safety measure → Complacency → New vulnerability → No net improvement.
Premise 1: Storeowners installed surveillance to prevent cashier theft
Premise 2: Experienced cashiers can bypass the measures
Conclusion: Theft is unlikely to significantly decrease
Step 2: Spot the Gap
The argument jumps from "experienced cashiers CAN bypass" to "theft WON'T decrease."
But wait - just because some cashiers bypass doesn't mean TOTAL theft stays the same!
What if most cashiers aren't experienced? What if measures still deter some theft?
Step 3: What Completes the Logic?
We need: Bypass + ______ = No net reduction
The blank must show why bypassing the measures actually keeps theft levels constant.
Step 4: Answer Choice Analysis
(A) Operations became more expensive → Talks about COST, not theft levels. Irrelevant.
(B) Stores without measures lose up to 10% → Hurts the argument! Suggests measures DO work.
(C) Many thefts are quickly found out → Doesn't connect to why theft won't decrease.
(D) Storeowners stop auditing when measures are installed → PERFECT!
(E) 7% of revenue was lost before measures → Just historical data. No logical connection.
Why D Works — The "False Sense of Security" Pattern:
• Surveillance installed → Storeowners feel protected
• Feeling protected → Stop auditing daily earnings
• Experienced cashiers → Bypass surveillance
• No auditing → NEW theft opportunity
Result: Measures block one door, but complacency opens another. Net theft = unchanged.
Simple Analogy:
Installing a fancy front door lock, then leaving the back door wide open because you "feel safe."
Answer: D
Takeaway: In "complete the argument" questions, look for compensating mechanisms — when a solution creates a new problem that cancels out its benefit. The classic pattern is: Safety measure → Complacency → New vulnerability → No net improvement.
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