The country of Ertland has never imported apples in any significant

Please provide the source

This is not a 700 level IMO

This is from the Souvik's Official GMAT collection. I invariably "assumed" that all of the questions in the document were of 700 level.

Edit: This is the link the-most-comprehensive-collection-of-everything-official-cr-140375.html

6th question in the document.

The key points of the given passage are:
1) Consumers of Ertland are fond of their home grown apples due to the unique texture of the apples.
2) Apple growers from Kosolia plan to sell their apples in Ertland at half the price of local apples and promoting them as a nourishing, low-cost alternative.

We need to select the option which casts the most doubt on the viability of Kosolian apple growers' plans.

Let us examine the options.

Option A: Most of the varieties of apples grown in Ertland were originally derived from common Kosolian varieties.
This option in fact reinforces their plan because if the Ertland apples were originally derived from Kosolian varieties then the texture of the both apples is most probably the same. This adds to the advantage of the Kosolian apple growers' plan to sell their apples in Ertland because Ertland consumers like their own apples because of the texture of the apple.
Hence Option A is wrong.

Option B: Consumers in Ertland tend to spend about the same proportion of their income on fresh fruits and vegetables as do consumers in Kosolia.
This option too strengthens the Kosolian apple growers' plan because they are planning to sell their apples in Ertland at half the price of local apples and promoting them as a nourishing, low-cost alternative.
Hence Option B is incorrect.

Option C: At times in the past, Ertland has exported significant quantities of apples to Kosolia.
This is irrelevant to the plan.
Hence Option C is incorrect.

Option D: Some varieties of apples grown in Kosolia can be harvested throughout most of the year, whereas the varieties grown in Ertland can be harvested only during two months of the year.
This again strengthens the Kosolian apple growers' plan. Because of the abundant supply of their apples, they can always sell their apples to the Ertland people who need apples.
Hence Option D is incorrect.

Option E: Profit of Ertland-grown apples are high enough in Ertland that growers, wholesalers, and retailers there could easily afford to reduce the price at which these apples are sold.
This will be a problem for the Kosolian apple growers because this will prove detrimental to their plan of selling apples as a low-cost alternative.
Hence Option E is correct.

So the correct answer is Option E.

damn. got the countries mixed up, why cant they just use real countries or at least some from lord of the rings

I concur with you guys IMO it's E. having high profit margin, local apple growers, distributors and resellers will be able to reduce the price to remain competitive yet still make profit. And since Ertland's consumers prefer local apples, their apples will have a competitive edge over foreign apples and remain their positions in the market.

The country of Ertland has never imported apples in any significant quantity because consumers there generally prefer the unique texture of Ertland-grown apples. Nevertheless, apple growers from Kosolia, a neighboring country, plan to sell their apples in Ertland by selling Kosolia-grown apples at half the price of local apples and promoting them as a nourishing, low-cost alternative.

Which of the following, if true, casts most doubt on the viability of the plan by Kosolia's apple growers to sell their apples in Ertland?

(A) Most of the varieties of apples grown in Ertland were originally derived from common Kosolian varieties.
(B) Consumers in Ertland tend to spend about the same proportion of their income on fresh fruits and vegetables as do consumers in Kosolia.
(C) At times in the past, Ertland has exported significant quantities of apples to Kosolia.
(D) Some varieties of apples grown in Kosolia can be harvested throughout most of the year, whereas the varieties grown in Ertland can be harvested only during two months of the year.
(E) Profiles of Ertland-grown apples are high enough in Ertland that growers, wholesalers, and retailers there could easily afford to reduce the price at which these apples are sold.

Assumption: Kosolia growers assumes that with low cost apples they can capture market.

Option E: Is related to our assumption. It says if ertland growers reduce their prices than whole plan falters

Conclusion : K’s plan to sell apple in E at half the price will not succeed
Missing info : Any reasons that makes K’s apple price less attractive as compared to E’s apple price to the consumers

(A) Most of the varieties of apples grown in Ertland were originally derived from common Kosolian varieties.
This is irrelevant as E’s apple are more preferred due its texture and not the lineage.
At the very best, due to the common lineage, this option may indicate that both the apples are very similar - in which case, K may succeed in selling its apple in E.

(B) Consumers in Ertland tend to spend about the same proportion of their income on fresh fruits and vegetables as do consumers in Kosolia.
Consumer’s spending behaviour is irrelevant here

(C) At times in the past, Ertland has exported significant quantities of apples to Kosolia.
Information about past is not useful here at all. Irrelevant

(D) Some varieties of apples grown in Kosolia can be harvested throughout most of the year, whereas the varieties grown in Ertland can be harvested only during two months of the year.
Again, this may support the conclusion that K will be able to sell its apple in E as during certain period of the year, E does not produce apple at all whereas K does.
Incorrect.

(E) Profiles of Ertland-grown apples are high enough in Ertland that growers, wholesalers, and retailers there could easily afford to reduce the price at which these apples are sold.
This suggests that if K reduce the price, E also has a significant scope to reduce its apple’s price and thus the benefit that K is seeking due to reduced price will be nullified.
So, correct option.

The country of Ertland has never imported apples in any significant quantity because consumers there generally prefer the unique texture of Ertland-grown apples. Nevertheless, apple growers from Kosolia, a neighboring country, plan to sell their apples in Ertland by selling Kosolia-grown apples at half the price of local apples and promoting them as a nourishing, low-cost alternative.

1. Ertland people love Ertland apples because of these apples' texture.
2. Kosolia wants to sell apples to Ertland because: half-price, nourishing

Which of the following, if true, casts most doubt on the viability of the plan by Kosolia's apple growers to sell their apples in Ertland?
Weaken question --> We have to find an answer for the question "Why Kosolia apples cannot be sold in Ertland"

(A) Most of the varieties of apples grown in Ertland were originally derived from common Kosolian varieties.
--> Same apple type --> maybe same texture --> can be sold

(B) Consumers in Ertland tend to spend about the same proportion of their income on fresh fruits and vegetables as do consumers in Kosolia.
--> Out of scope when comparing proportion in the income of people in 2 countries

(C) At times in the past, Ertland has exported significant quantities of apples to Kosolia.
--> Out of scope. We are talking about selling apples from K to E, not E to K

(D) Some varieties of apples grown in Kosolia can be harvested throughout most of the year, whereas the varieties grown in Ertland can be harvested only during two months of the year.
--> Apple can be sold because Ertland will not have enough apples to sell domestically throughout most of the year

(E) Profit of Ertland-grown apples are high enough in Ertland that growers, wholesalers, and retailers there could easily afford to reduce the price at which these apples are sold.
Even when Kosolia sells apples at a cheaper price, the price of apples in Ertland will reduce too --> apples from Kosolia cannot be sold.

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