A certain towns pizza shop initiated an advertising campaign to bring

KAPLAN OFFICIAL EXPLANATION:

STEP 1: IDENTIFY THE QUESTION TYPE
The question stem asks you to “explain the apparent discrepancy,” so this is an Explain question. Furthermore, you know from the question stem that the mystery will involve advertisements and sales.

STEP 2: UNTANGLE THE STIMULUS
The stimulus should be viewed as a set of statements that present an apparent contradiction. The key words “even though” in the stimulus indicate a contrast or discrepancy. The discrepancy here is that pizza sales in December did not increase despite an increase in the number of emailed advertisements.

STEP 3: PREDICT THE ANSWER
The correct answer must explain why sales remained flat despite the fact that thousands of people were offered a two-for-one deal on sheet pizzas. There may be some reason this deal was unappealing to the people who received the emails. Alternatively, perhaps many people who took advantage of the sale would normally have bought pizzas at full price, so overall revenues did not increase.

STEP 4: EVALUATE THE CHOICES
(D) states that the emails were sent only to customers who were already loyal customers and already getting special deals on pizza. This explains why they did not increase their pizza purchases and is the correct answer. (A) does not account for the advertisement’s lack of effect on sales because the emails promoted a special price and not the variety of pizzas available. (B) mentions that a new coffee shop opened nearby, but because it’s a very different kind of restaurant, it would not be a direct competitor to the pizza shop. Therefore, its presence does not explain the lack of appeal of two-for-one pizzas. The fact that some people in the area don’t have email doesn’t explain why the advertisement failed to attract those who do have email, so (C) doesn’t explain the mystery. (E) mentions that the two other pizza shops in town offer more expensive gourmet pizzas. This would explain why not everyone would buy pizza at this pizza shop, but it doesn’t explain why emails offering a special deal failed to attract more business from people who don’t want more expensive pizza.