Last visit was: 19 Nov 2025, 19:55 It is currently 19 Nov 2025, 19:55
Home
GMAT
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Rewards
Chat
My Profile
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
Back to Forum
Create Topic
User avatar
mymba99
User avatar
Joined: 06 Jan 2008
Last visit: 25 Sep 2015
Posts: 297
Own Kudos:
4,498
 [25]
Given Kudos: 2
Posts: 297
Kudos: 4,498
 [25]
When a new restaurant, Martin's Cafe, opened in Riverville last year, Updated on: 05 Jan 2019, 02:20
Originally posted by mymba99 on 22 Apr 2008, 18:38.
Last edited by Bunuel on 05 Jan 2019, 02:20, edited 3 times in total.
OA updated
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
24
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
00:00
Start Timer
Pause Timer
Resume Timer
Show Answer
Hide
Show
History
B
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!

Difficulty:

15% (low)

Question Stats:

81% (01:39) correct 19% (02:09) wrong based on 1579 sessions

History

Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
When a new restaurant, Martin's Cafe, opened in Riverville last year, many people predicted that business at the Wildflower Inn, Riverville's only other restaurant, would suffer from the competition. Surprisingly, however, in the year since Martin's Cafe opened, the average number of meals per night served at the Wildflower Inn has increased significantly.

Which of the following, if true, most helps to explain the increase?


(A) Unlike the Wildflower Inn, Martin's Cafe serves considerably more meals on weekends than it does on weekdays.

(B) Most of the customers of Martin's Cafe had never dined in Riverville before this restaurant opened, and on most days Martin's Cafe attracts more customers than it can seat.

(C) The profit per meal is higher, on average, for meals served at Martin's Cafe than for those served at the Wildflower Inn.

(D) The Wildflower Inn is not open on Sundays, and therefore Riverville residents who choose to dine out on that day must either eat at Martin's Cafe or go to neighboring towns to eat.

(E) A significant proportion of the staff at Martin's Cafe are people who formerly worked at the Wildflower Inn and were hired away by the owner of Martin's Cafe.
ShowHide Answer
Official Answer
B
User avatar
gixxer1000
User avatar
Joined: 26 Jul 2007
Last visit: 05 Aug 2009
Posts: 359
Own Kudos:
419
 [4]
Concentration: Real Estate Development
Schools:Stern, McCombs, Marshall, Wharton
Posts: 359
Kudos: 419
 [4]
When a new restaurant, Martin's Cafe, opened in Riverville last year, 13 May 2008, 06:26
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
2
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I go with B as well.

This is a paradox question. Increased competition should reduced business but instead it has actually increased it.

B. Most of the customers of Martin’s Cafe had never dined in Riverville before this
restaurant opened, and on most days Martin’s Cafe attracts more customers than it
can seat.

Martin's Cafe is attracting new customers to the area and cannot serve them all. These new customers must now go to the Wildflower. So instead of Martin's and the Wildflower fighting for the same market, Martin's has actually increased the market benefiting both of them.
User avatar
bkk145
User avatar
Joined: 10 Jun 2007
Last visit: 23 Feb 2014
Posts: 647
Own Kudos:
1,765
Posts: 647
Kudos: 1,765
When a new restaurant, Martin's Cafe, opened in Riverville last year, 13 May 2008, 13:22
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
saravalli
When a new restaurant, Martin’s Cafe, opened in Riverville last year, many people
predicted that business at the Wildflower Inn, Riverville’s only other restaurant, would
suffer from the competition. Surprisingly, however, in the year since Martin’s Cafe
opened, the average number of meals per night served at the Wildflower Inn has
increased significantly.
Which of the following, if true, most helps to explain the increase?
A. Unlike the Wildflower Inn, Martin’s Cafe serves considerably more meals on
weekends than it does on weekdays.
B. Most of the customers of Martin’s Cafe had never dined in Riverville before this
restaurant opened, and on most days Martin’s Cafe attracts more customers than it
can seat.
C. The profit per meal is higher, on average, for meals served at Martin’s Cafe than
for those served at the Wildflower Inn.
D. The Wildflower Inn is not open on Sundays, and therefore Riverville residents
who choose to dine out on that day must either eat at Martin’s Cafe or go to
neighboring towns to eat.
E. A significant proportion of the staff at Martin’s Cafe are people who formerly
worked at the Wildflower Inn and were hired away by the owner of Martin’s
Cafe.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Show more

B
The overflow from Martin's Cafe goes to Wildflower Inn.
User avatar
yavasani
User avatar
Joined: 28 Apr 2008
Last visit: 12 Jan 2009
Posts: 66
Own Kudos:
813
Posts: 66
Kudos: 813
When a new restaurant, Martin's Cafe, opened in Riverville last year, 13 May 2008, 16:04
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
New Rest. MC in Rville opens
Many predict bus. at W.Inn would suffer from competition.
Since MC opened - no.of meals/night served at W.Inn incr. significantly.

saravalli
When a new restaurant, Martin’s Cafe, opened in Riverville last year, many people
predicted that business at the Wildflower Inn, Riverville’s only other restaurant, would
suffer from the competition. Surprisingly, however, in the year since Martin’s Cafe
opened, the average number of meals per night served at the Wildflower Inn has
increased significantly.
Which of the following, if true, most helps to explain the increase?
A. Unlike the Wildflower Inn, Martin’s Cafe serves considerably more meals on
weekends than it does on weekdays
>> does not explain why no.of meals/night at W.Inn has increased.

B. Most of the customers of Martin’s Cafe had never dined in Riverville before this
restaurant opened, and on most days Martin’s Cafe attracts more customers than it
can seat.
>> New customers coming in and they cant be seated so may be they are heading to W.Inn.

C. The profit per meal is higher, on average, for meals served at Martin’s Cafe than
for those served at the Wildflower Inn.
>> Out of scope.

D. The Wildflower Inn is not open on Sundays, and therefore Riverville residents
who choose to dine out on that day must either eat at Martin’s Cafe or go to
neighboring towns to eat.
>> Does not explain the significant increase in no. of meal serverd per night at W.Inn.

E. A significant proportion of the staff at Martin’s Cafe are people who formerly
worked at the Wildflower Inn and were hired away by the owner of Martin’s
Cafe.
>> Does not explain the situation.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Show more
User avatar
thangvietname
User avatar
Joined: 09 Jun 2010
Last visit: 28 Jun 2017
Posts: 522
Own Kudos:
561
Given Kudos: 916
Posts: 522
Kudos: 561
When a new restaurant, Martin's Cafe, opened in Riverville last year, 22 Nov 2011, 00:42
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
expert, pls, help.

Is paradox question based on an assumption?
User avatar
Chembeti
User avatar
Joined: 25 Nov 2011
Last visit: 26 Jun 2012
Posts: 123
Own Kudos:
1,019
Given Kudos: 20
Location: India
Concentration: Technology, General Management
GPA: 3.95
WE:Information Technology (Computer Software)
Posts: 123
Kudos: 1,019
When a new restaurant, Martin's Cafe, opened in Riverville last year, 16 Jan 2012, 10:55
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
thangvietnam
expert, pls, help.

Is paradox question based on an assumption?
Show more

Yes, we can say that. But in this case, we don;t have to think too much because except B, everything else is clearly out.

At first sight, C also seems to be a contender because of the higher profit margins. But we can quickly realize that higher profits # higher prices; so rule out C.
User avatar
emcheeks
User avatar
Joined: 28 Jun 2020
Last visit: 22 Dec 2024
Posts: 119
Own Kudos:
111
 [1]
Given Kudos: 78
Posts: 119
Kudos: 111
 [1]
When a new restaurant, Martin's Cafe, opened in Riverville last year, 22 Jul 2020, 17:36
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
When a new restaurant, Martin's Cafe, opened in Riverville last year, many people predicted that business at the Wildflower Inn, Riverville's only other restaurant, would suffer from the competition. Surprisingly, however, in the year since Martin's Cafe opened, the average number of meals per night served at the Wildflower Inn has increased significantly.

Which of the following, if true, most helps to explain the increase?


(A) Unlike the Wildflower Inn, Martin's Cafe serves considerably more meals on weekends than it does on weekdays.

I initially chose this one. However, this is why it's wrong: even if there are less days on weekends (2 days) than on weekdays (5 days), we don't know anything about how many meals are sold on weekends nor on weekdays. Therefore, we cannot link it with number of meals served. Wrong.

(B) Most of the customers of Martin's Cafe had never dined in Riverville before this restaurant opened, and on most days Martin's Cafe attracts more customers than it can seat.

Since people, say who live out of town and never dined in Riverville before, come to Martin's in Riverville. However, Martin's is so crowded that some people have no seats. Then they would have to go to Wildflower, the only other restaurant in Riverville for convenience. Therefore, more meals are sold at Wildflower than before.
User avatar
CrackverbalGMAT
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 03 Oct 2013
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 4,844
Own Kudos:
8,945
 [3]
Given Kudos: 225
Affiliations: CrackVerbal
Location: India
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 4,844
Kudos: 8,945
 [3]
When a new restaurant, Martin's Cafe, opened in Riverville last year, 02 Dec 2020, 03:15
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
mymba99
When a new restaurant, Martin's Cafe, opened in Riverville last year, many people predicted that business at the Wildflower Inn, Riverville's only other restaurant, would suffer from the competition. Surprisingly, however, in the year since Martin's Cafe opened, the average number of meals per night served at the Wildflower Inn has increased significantly.

Which of the following, if true, most helps to explain the increase?


(A) Unlike the Wildflower Inn, Martin's Cafe serves considerably more meals on weekends than it does on weekdays.

(B) Most of the customers of Martin's Cafe had never dined in Riverville before this restaurant opened, and on most days Martin's Cafe attracts more customers than it can seat.

(C) The profit per meal is higher, on average, for meals served at Martin's Cafe than for those served at the Wildflower Inn.

(D) The Wildflower Inn is not open on Sundays, and therefore Riverville residents who choose to dine out on that day must either eat at Martin's Cafe or go to neighboring towns to eat.

(E) A significant proportion of the staff at Martin's Cafe are people who formerly worked at the Wildflower Inn and were hired away by the owner of Martin's Cafe.
Show more

This is an Explain/Resolve the Paradox type of question.

The paradox here is that with the opening of the new restaurant, the business of the old one, Wildflower Inn was expected to go down, but the average number of meals per night served at the Wildflower Inn has actually increased significantly.

Option A does not explain why the average number of meals served per night at the Wildflower Inn has increased. Even if Martin’s café serves more meals on weekends, that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t serve at least a certain number on weekdays also. This is not information to explain why the average number of meals served at Wildflower Inn has increased. So, Option A can be eliminated.

The higher profit for Martin’s Café doesn’t explain why the average number of meals served at Wildflower Inn has increased significantly. So, Option C can be eliminated.

Option D provides a reason for the business at Wildflower Inn to decrease, not increase. So, Option D can be eliminated.

Option E mentions staff, which is irrelevant to the argument. So, Option E can be eliminated.

Option B provides information to show how the average number of meals served at Wildflower Inn has increased significantly. If most of the customers of
Martin’s café are new to Riverville, they may want to eat from there after having traveled there. And if Martin’s Café is not able to seat all the people who come there to eat, those people may look for another place to eat. So, the fresh set of customers at Riverville, who weren’t able to eat at Martin’s café, would serve to increase the number of meals served at the wildflower Inn. Therefore, B is the most appropriate option.

Jayanthi Kumar.
User avatar
sachi-in
User avatar
Joined: 12 Oct 2023
Last visit: 18 Oct 2025
Posts: 123
Own Kudos:
285
Given Kudos: 146
Posts: 123
Kudos: 285
When a new restaurant, Martin's Cafe, opened in Riverville last year, 22 Apr 2024, 05:33
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
(A) Unlike the Wildflower Inn, Martin's Cafe serves considerably more meals on weekends than it does on weekdays.

This would have been a nice option if only there had been something that hints people who were not served at Martin's cafe were served by Wildflower. But since that is not implied this is not the option we are looking for.

(B) Most of the customers of Martin's Cafe had never dined in Riverville before this restaurant opened, and on most days Martin's Cafe attracts more customers than it can seat.

This doesn't explicity say that people who can't be served by Martin's cafe are served by Wildflower, but it is implied that once Martin's cafe opened people started dining out and when they were not served they may have gone to Wildflower.
User avatar
VerbalBot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 01 Oct 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 18,831
Own Kudos:
986
Posts: 18,831
Kudos: 986
When a new restaurant, Martin's Cafe, opened in Riverville last year, 22 Jun 2025, 05:31
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hello from the GMAT Club VerbalBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.
Moderators:
GMATNinja
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
7443 posts
GMATNinjaTwo
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
231 posts
miag
189 posts