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IMO D

All last three choices can be very tempting but we have to be very careful with the argument. We have to notice that argument mostly talks about INTERNAL COMPETITION AMONGST TIERS OF SUBSCRIPTION. Argument ultimately assumes that if we give more access in basic, but limit a very specific constraint, people will upgrade rather than reacting in any other manner, it talks about the member being upgrading rather than of any other behaviour.

Option D states exactly that Limiting convinient time slots is a strong incentive to upgrade to be able to use new equipments.

Why i think other's are wrong?

A. OOS. Cost isn't the issue, irrelevant.
B. Weakens if anything, not what assumptions rely upon.
C. Even if some people would do this, plan would still succeed.
E. Again, tempting but out of scope. IT TALKS ABOUT CURRENT MEMBERS (INTERNAL COMPETITION). Not whats gonna happen outside.
Bunuel
PulsePoint Gym recently upgraded the equipment in the basic-members area so that it now matches many of the features previously available only in the elite zone. This makes the basic membership far more attractive and risks reducing upgrades to elite memberships. To prevent that, PulsePoint plans to restrict basic members from using the new equipment during the most convenient time slots, even though the facility has enough capacity to allow it.

Which of the following is an assumption on which the plan depends?

(A) Elite memberships are currently too expensive for most basic members.
(B) Most basic members prefer to work out during inconvenient time slots anyway.
(C) Basic members will not respond to the restrictions by switching to another gym.
(D) Restricting access during convenient time slots will give basic members enough reason to upgrade.
(E) Other gyms in the area do not offer comparable equipment.

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A This would make the plan fail, so the gym must assume this is not true.

B The plan's success requires that basic members do value convenient hours, so this statement must be false for the plan to work.

C If restrictions cause members to leave entirely, the gym loses them completely instead of converting them to elite. The plan depends on this not happening. But is more of a pre-condition against an unintended side effect.

D This is the core causal assumption of the plan. If this is false, the restriction won't lead to more upgrades, so the plan fails for its main purpose.

E If other gyms offer similar equipment, members might switch rather than upgrade. But this is just one possible reason they might leave. It's not required for the plan, though it helps.


The correct answer is D
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Let's deep dive into all of these statements one by one:

Statement A: This statement states that the current memberships might be too expensive, but even if the difference in price compared with the basic memberships is marginal - it makes more sense to buy the basic membership only. Eliminate.
Statement B: This cannot be an assumption because if the basic members prefer working at inconvenient times, then that would render this plan obsolete. Assumption would be directly opposite to this statement. Eliminate.
Statement C: The question is not about the basic members switching gyms, but about them switching to the elite memberships. This option looks like a trap option. It can be a weakening point but certainly not an assumption. Eliminate.
Statement D: Restricting access will give basic members enough reason to upgrade. This seems to be a viable option as this seems to be assumed that if basic members are pushed to work out during inconvenient times, they will switch to the elite memberships. Keep for now.
Statement E: Other gyms are out of scope. The argument is about upgrading to elite memberships. This cannot be an assumption. Eliminate.

Correct Answer => D
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bb

Just to check - at the end of the day, which one is the correct one? C or D?
It says D in the actual question, but judging by the explanation below, C looks stronger, while D is 'correct enough':-o
Bunuel

GMAT Club Official Explanation:



PulsePoint plans to protect elite-membership upgrades by limiting basic members’ access to the new equipment during convenient time slots. For this plan to work, basic members must stay at the gym and view upgrading as a reasonable response to the new restriction. If instead they leave for a competitor, the restriction cannot achieve its purpose.

(A) Incorrect. This answer choice tells us that the upgrade plan is doomed anyway, but that's not our argument or the assumption we need. We would not bother if the Elite upgrades were too expensive and even if they were, we don't need to worry about it. Eliminate.

(B) Incorrect. This is a funny statement since by stating that the most convenient times are being restricted, it implies that the most convenient times are actually convenient, so this is definitely not accurate and not the assumption. Moreover, this statement is not needed for the argument to hold if you are using the negation test to check the assumption.

(C) Correct. If basic members respond to the restriction by switching gyms, the plan cannot preserve or increase elite upgrades. The plan depends on basic members staying and considering an upgrade instead of leaving.

(D) Correct. Originally was a trap but it seems it is too subtle so this answer choice is also correct-enough.

(E) Incorrect. Even if competitors offer similar equipment, the plan’s success hinges on how PulsePoint’s members react to its own restriction, not on market comparisons.
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Yes, D was supposed to be a trap. :)


Lizaza
bb

Just to check - at the end of the day, which one is the correct one? C or D?
It says D in the actual question, but judging by the explanation below, C looks stronger, while D is 'correct enough':-o


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