Since Java coffee shop began advertising on the local radio station 3

Question

Since Java coffee shop began advertising on the local radio station 3 months ago, its business volume has increased by 15%. In order to increase its business volume, Java's next door competitor, Kahva, should also start advertising on the local radio station.

Which of the following most weakens the argument's conclusion?

Which of the following most weakens the argument's conclusion?

(A) Kahva's number of customers went down 15% last year.

(B) Of the 9 coffee shops that advertised on the local radio, only Java's business increased.

(C) 78% of the businesses that advertise on the local radio report an increase in business volume.

(D) The local radio station has over 10,000 listeners.

(E) The local radio station dedicates 15% of its air time to commercials.

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Joe258 · Answer

Please correct me...

I chose B because it seems like advertising on the local radio resulting in an increase in business volume was not typical because out of the 9 shops who advertised, only Java's was effective. The way I interpret this point is that there is something special about Java's advertisement that captured the rest of the local radio audience, or it was just a very rare coincident that Java's business increased due to other reasons. Thus, this strategy might be ineffective for Kahva. This may suggest that Kahva could be creative like Java in designing the advertisement to possibly be successful. But this is a little too far off what is mentioned n the passage.

My interpretation for other choices:
A. I find it irrelevant about whether Kahva's customer base fell or not. We are focusing on the effectiveness of advertising on local radio which Java did and was successful.
C. I find this sort of strengthening the argument because the majority (78%) of those who advertised on the local radio saw their strategy effective (increase in business volume).
D. The amount of listeners in this case seems irrelevant to the argument, in my opinion.
E. I did not find this relevant to the argument because 15% of the local radio's air time for commercials can be attributed to multiple commercials; and while some harvested success like Java did, some may also gained nothing from it, we don't know.

Abhiswarup · Answer

Answer should be B

The argument is as Java sales have increased by 15 % by advertising in Radio station, Kahva should also advertise. Lets analyze statement which weakens the argument:

(A) Kahva's number of customers went down 15% last year.
Factual information no relevance with argument. Eliminate
(B) Of the 9 coffee shops that advertised on the local radio, only Java's business increased.
As advertisement is successful only for Java it is not sure Kahva will benefit from the decision. So it weakens the argument. Lets keep the option.
(C) 78% of the businesses that advertise on the local radio report an increase in business volume.
Strengthen the argument. Eliminate
(D) The local radio station has over 10,000 listeners.
Irrelevant and factual information. Eliminate
(E) The local radio station dedicates 15% of its air time to commercials.
Irrelevant and factual information. Eliminate

Correct answer is B.

A_Nishith · Answer

(B) Of the 9 coffee shops that advertised on the local radio, only Java's business increased.
As advertisement is successful only for Java it is not sure Kahva will benefit from the decision. So it weakens the argument. Lets keep the option.

Answer:B

Bunuel · Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

Since Java coffee shop began advertising on the local radio station 3 months ago, its business volume has increased by 15%. In order to increase its business volume, Java's next door competitor, Kahva, should also start advertising on the local radio station.

Which of the following most weakens the argument's conclusion?

Which of the following most weakens the argument's conclusion?

(A) Kahva's number of customers went down 15% last year.

Incorrect.

To solve this Conclusion Weakening question, first break down the argument. The first sentence is a premise which provides factual data; the second sentence is a recommendation (should) so it's the conclusion:

Premise A: After Java advertised on the radio for 3 months, its business went up by 15%
 =
Conclusion: if Kahva advertises on the radio, its business will also increase

Possible assumption: Java's rise in business was a result of the advertisement -AND- all coffee shops which advertise get the same results

Weakening Data: ?

You are required to find data that weakens the conclusion that if Kahva copied Java's behavior, it too would increase its business. The correct answer could be one that exposes the argument's assumption.

Because this answer choice deals with the past, it neither weakens nor strengthens the argument's conclusion. The argument, and more importantly the conclusion, deals with the positive effect of radio advertising on business volume. This answer choice does not even mention radio advertising. Kahva's history is irrelevant to our task since the conclusion focuses on a possible future event.

(B) Of the 9 coffee shops that advertised on the local radio, only Java's business increased.

This answer choice weakens the argument's second assumption that the example of Java's case is something that may apply to all coffee shops that advertise. It does so by stating that the success rate of radio commercials for coffee shops is 1 out of 9.

(C) 78% of the businesses that advertise on the local radio report an increase in business volume.

Incorrect.

This answer choice strengthens the conclusion whereas we were asked to weaken it. The success rate of 78% presented by this statement supports the belief that radio advertising works. However, we are supposed to be showing that this is not always true.

(D) The local radio station has over 10,000 listeners.

Incorrect.

This answer choice neither weakens nor strengthens the conclusion. The conclusion favors radio advertising as a way of increasing business volume. In order to weaken the conclusion, we need to show that radio advertising does NOT contribute to such an increase. We cannot assume that over 10,000 listeners is a small number or that these listeners ignore the commercials broadcasted on the station. Therefore, we cannot assume that this figure is information that undermines the author's view.

(E) The local radio station dedicates 15% of its air time to commercials.

Incorrect.

This answer choice neither weakens not strengthens the conclusion. The conclusion favors radio advertising as a way of increasing business volume. In order to weaken the conclusion, we need to show that radio advertising does NOT contribute to such an increase. We cannot assume that 15% of total air time is too little to have any effect on listeners. Therefore, we cannot assume that this percentage is information that undermines the author's view.

Since Java coffee shop began advertising on the local radio station 3

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Since Java coffee shop began advertising on the local radio station 3

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