A car dealer runs an advertisement claiming that the

Question

A car dealer runs an advertisement claiming that the imported cars he sells cost much less and are more reliable than those of the competition because the factory his cars are made in uses an efficient, high-tech, robotic manufacturing line. But the dealer sees a decline in sales rather than the increase he expected.

Which of the following, if true, constitutes the best explanation for this discrepancy?

 
(A) The cars the dealer sells get much better gas mileage than their competitors.
(B) Gas has recently gone up in price all over the nation.
(C) Cars sold by the competition do not offer the warranty package this dealer can offer.
(D) The town he sells in is home to a factory where big layoffs because of outsourcing are on the horizon.
(E) The dealer`s cars are made in the United States.

rahulraao · Answer

A pretty tough one!!

It is between B and D!

On exam day, I would have picked D!

nakib77 · Answer

another good one.

i am torn between B and D 

I will choose D on the exam day.

christoph · Answer

D)...as well...IMO B) is out b/c when prices are high and his cars cost much less then his cars are still the better altenative. BUT when there are no buyers b/c of an uncertain event, then his cars as well as other cars wouldnt be bought.

GMATT73 · Answer

Good work guys! OA is D.

OE:

Step 1: ID Question Type and Task
A question that contains an apparent contradiction indicates a Paradox Question.

Task: Find the seemingly contradictory issue.

Step 2: Read the Argument and Extract Necessary Information: 
The necessary information is the paradox, identify the paradox and pose it to yourself as a question. 

Paradox: Why did the expected increase in sales not occur based on the benefits of the cars and the reason for those benefits?

Step 3: Formulate an Answer to the Question
Formulate a resolution to the paradox (if possible). 

Remember, the best answer provides a connection between the two sides of the paradox without changing or discounting either side.

Step 4: Eliminate Answer Choices:

(A) Eliminate. This exacerbates the paradox in that it makes the cars that much more appealing. 

(B) Eliminate. This only addresses the side of the issue that sales are down, it doesn`s like it to the reasons stated for the expected increase in sales.

(C) Eliminate. This exacerbates the paradox by making the cars more appealing.

(D) Keep. This could explain why the expected sales did not occur because of people`s disposition toward robot-produced products.

(E) Eliminate. This is irrelevant to the argument.

Step 5: Identify differences in remaining choices
(D) is the only remaining answer choice and is the correct answer.

vc019 · Answer

I vote for D.

A,C - Car sales should go up.
B - May be but we donot know if the sales of other dealers are going up/down.
E -How does that mater

Hence D.

A car dealer runs an advertisement claiming that the

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