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16 Feb 2018, 14:26
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Sol Citrus, a small orchard that produces only organic citrus fruit, has faced new competition ever since Mega Citrus, a much larger orchard from a neighboring state, began shipping fruit across state lines. In an attempt to increase its market share and take business away from Sol Citrus, Mega Citrus recently began competing directly with Sol Citrus at local farmers’ markets, selling non-organic oranges at a price per pound that is 30% lower than Sol Citrus’s current price. Although most of the patrons of those farmers' markets consider low prices to be a priority when selecting fruit, the owners of Sol Citrus have decided that they will not lower current orange prices in response to Mega Citrus's move.
Which of the following, if true, best explains Sol Citrus’s decision not to lower prices?
A. Some consumers consider higher prices to a be a sign of higher quality.
B. In each of the five years before Mega Citrus began shipping fruit across state lines, sales of Sol Citrus oranges at local farmers' markets exceeded combined sales of oranges from all other orchards selling fruit at the markets.
C. If Sol Citrus were to lower its prices by just 20%, most of its regular farmers' market customers would continue buying Sol Citrus oranges instead of Mega Citrus oranges.
D. When purchasing citrus fruit, most customers of the farmers' markets consider the fruit’s classification as "organic" to be more important than the cost of the fruit.
E. Unlike Sol Citrus, Mega Citrus grows genetically modified fruits sprayed with pesticides that are illegal in the state in which Sol Citrus is located.
Which of the following, if true, best explains Sol Citrus’s decision not to lower prices?
A. Some consumers consider higher prices to a be a sign of higher quality.
B. In each of the five years before Mega Citrus began shipping fruit across state lines, sales of Sol Citrus oranges at local farmers' markets exceeded combined sales of oranges from all other orchards selling fruit at the markets.
C. If Sol Citrus were to lower its prices by just 20%, most of its regular farmers' market customers would continue buying Sol Citrus oranges instead of Mega Citrus oranges.
D. When purchasing citrus fruit, most customers of the farmers' markets consider the fruit’s classification as "organic" to be more important than the cost of the fruit.
E. Unlike Sol Citrus, Mega Citrus grows genetically modified fruits sprayed with pesticides that are illegal in the state in which Sol Citrus is located.
16 Feb 2018, 14:27
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Official Solution:
Sol Citrus, a small orchard that produces only organic citrus fruit, has faced new competition ever since Mega Citrus, a much larger orchard from a neighboring state, began shipping fruit across state lines. In an attempt to increase its market share and take business away from Sol Citrus, Mega Citrus recently began competing directly with Sol Citrus at local farmers’ markets, selling non-organic oranges at a price per pound that is 30% lower than Sol Citrus’s current price. Although most of the patrons of those farmers' markets consider low prices to be a priority when selecting fruit, the owners of Sol Citrus have decided that they will not lower current orange prices in response to Mega Citrus's move.
Which of the following, if true, best explains Sol Citrus’s decision not to lower prices?
A. Some consumers consider higher prices to a be a sign of higher quality.
B. In each of the five years before Mega Citrus began shipping fruit across state lines, sales of Sol Citrus oranges at local farmers' markets exceeded combined sales of oranges from all other orchards selling fruit at the markets.
C. If Sol Citrus were to lower its prices by just 20%, most of its regular farmers' market customers would continue buying Sol Citrus oranges instead of Mega Citrus oranges.
D. When purchasing citrus fruit, most customers of the farmers' markets consider the fruit’s classification as "organic" to be more important than the cost of the fruit.
E. Unlike Sol Citrus, Mega Citrus grows genetically modified fruits sprayed with pesticides that are illegal in the state in which Sol Citrus is located.
Here we have an apparent discrepancy: Mega Citrus and Sol Citrus are directly competing at farmers' markets where MOST customers consider low prices to be a priority when selecting fruit. If Mega Citrus is selling non-organic oranges at a price per pound that is 30% lower than Sol Citrus’s current price, you would think that Sol Citrus would have to lower its prices in order to stay competitive
So which of the following, if true, best explains Sol Citrus’s decision not to lower prices
(A) Some consumers consider higher prices to a be a sign of higher quality
Even if SOME consumers consider higher prices to be a sign of higher quality, that doesn't change the fact that MOST customers at these particular farmers' markets consider low prices to be a priority. Thus, we would still expect that Sol Citrus would have to lower its prices in order to stay competitive. (A) does not resolve the discrepancy and can be eliminated
(B) In each of the five years before Mega Citrus began shipping fruit across state lines, sales of Sol Citrus oranges at local farmers' markets exceeded combined sales of oranges from all other orchards selling fruit at the markets
It doesn't matter how successful Sol Citrus was BEFORE Mega Citrus arrived at the markets. If Mega Citrus is now offering better prices, it might steal all or most of Sol Citrus's business. Choice (B) can be eliminated
(C) If Sol Citrus were to lower its prices by just 20%, most of its regular farmers' market customers would continue buying Sol Citrus oranges instead of Mega Citrus oranges
This statement suggests that Sol Citrus SHOULD lower its prices and does not explain why it would not. Eliminate (C)
(D) When purchasing citrus fruit, most customers of the farmers' markets consider the fruit’s classification as "organic" to be more important than the cost of the fruit
The passage tells us that most of the customers consider cost to be a priority, but it does not tell us whether cost is the HIGHEST priority. Choice (D) tells us that most customers consider the fruit's classification as "organic" to be more important than the cost. Since Sol Citrus produces only organic citrus fruit, that might explain why customers are willing to pay more for fruit from Sol Citrus. Choice (D) helps to resolve the apparent discrepancy
(E) Unlike Sol Citrus, Mega Citrus grows genetically modified fruits sprayed with pesticides that are illegal in the state in which Sol Citrus is located
We cannot assume that the farmers' market customers know or care that Mega Citrus grows genetically modified fruits sprayed with those pesticides. Choice (E) is tempting but, on its own, does not explain the discrepancy
Choice (D) is the best answer
Answer: D
Sol Citrus, a small orchard that produces only organic citrus fruit, has faced new competition ever since Mega Citrus, a much larger orchard from a neighboring state, began shipping fruit across state lines. In an attempt to increase its market share and take business away from Sol Citrus, Mega Citrus recently began competing directly with Sol Citrus at local farmers’ markets, selling non-organic oranges at a price per pound that is 30% lower than Sol Citrus’s current price. Although most of the patrons of those farmers' markets consider low prices to be a priority when selecting fruit, the owners of Sol Citrus have decided that they will not lower current orange prices in response to Mega Citrus's move.
Which of the following, if true, best explains Sol Citrus’s decision not to lower prices?
A. Some consumers consider higher prices to a be a sign of higher quality.
B. In each of the five years before Mega Citrus began shipping fruit across state lines, sales of Sol Citrus oranges at local farmers' markets exceeded combined sales of oranges from all other orchards selling fruit at the markets.
C. If Sol Citrus were to lower its prices by just 20%, most of its regular farmers' market customers would continue buying Sol Citrus oranges instead of Mega Citrus oranges.
D. When purchasing citrus fruit, most customers of the farmers' markets consider the fruit’s classification as "organic" to be more important than the cost of the fruit.
E. Unlike Sol Citrus, Mega Citrus grows genetically modified fruits sprayed with pesticides that are illegal in the state in which Sol Citrus is located.
Here we have an apparent discrepancy: Mega Citrus and Sol Citrus are directly competing at farmers' markets where MOST customers consider low prices to be a priority when selecting fruit. If Mega Citrus is selling non-organic oranges at a price per pound that is 30% lower than Sol Citrus’s current price, you would think that Sol Citrus would have to lower its prices in order to stay competitive
So which of the following, if true, best explains Sol Citrus’s decision not to lower prices
(A) Some consumers consider higher prices to a be a sign of higher quality
Even if SOME consumers consider higher prices to be a sign of higher quality, that doesn't change the fact that MOST customers at these particular farmers' markets consider low prices to be a priority. Thus, we would still expect that Sol Citrus would have to lower its prices in order to stay competitive. (A) does not resolve the discrepancy and can be eliminated
(B) In each of the five years before Mega Citrus began shipping fruit across state lines, sales of Sol Citrus oranges at local farmers' markets exceeded combined sales of oranges from all other orchards selling fruit at the markets
It doesn't matter how successful Sol Citrus was BEFORE Mega Citrus arrived at the markets. If Mega Citrus is now offering better prices, it might steal all or most of Sol Citrus's business. Choice (B) can be eliminated
(C) If Sol Citrus were to lower its prices by just 20%, most of its regular farmers' market customers would continue buying Sol Citrus oranges instead of Mega Citrus oranges
This statement suggests that Sol Citrus SHOULD lower its prices and does not explain why it would not. Eliminate (C)
(D) When purchasing citrus fruit, most customers of the farmers' markets consider the fruit’s classification as "organic" to be more important than the cost of the fruit
The passage tells us that most of the customers consider cost to be a priority, but it does not tell us whether cost is the HIGHEST priority. Choice (D) tells us that most customers consider the fruit's classification as "organic" to be more important than the cost. Since Sol Citrus produces only organic citrus fruit, that might explain why customers are willing to pay more for fruit from Sol Citrus. Choice (D) helps to resolve the apparent discrepancy
(E) Unlike Sol Citrus, Mega Citrus grows genetically modified fruits sprayed with pesticides that are illegal in the state in which Sol Citrus is located
We cannot assume that the farmers' market customers know or care that Mega Citrus grows genetically modified fruits sprayed with those pesticides. Choice (E) is tempting but, on its own, does not explain the discrepancy
Choice (D) is the best answer
Answer: D
08 Dec 2025, 07:09
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I don’t quite agree with the solution. The passage mentions that Sol Citrus decided that they would not lower prices, but they don’t say anything about the organic quality of their citruses. After reading the explanation, I understand why this is the correct answer but the wording of the answer choice is tricky - it makes it seem like it could be a trap answer.
