Which of the following best completes the passage? Other

ha..the question is from gmat club challenges.
btw I also picked E. however, OA is A.
OE: A flows parallel to the passage. The passage talks about "Customers enjoying food in the cafe" and "owners consolidating costs by purchasing large quantities of.."
Option A is talks about "Customers getting pleased" and "owners consolidating cost by purchasing materials in wholesale". Hence the ans.

What I want to understand is..is this a general strategy to attack "complete the passage" problems or this is just one of those rare ones?

Yes, picked A


E is redundant with the sentence "they can expect not only to please a wider variety of customers", where A states their second goal of consolidate the cost.

I don't agree with any answers. Though on exam will choose A

Reason : Question in my words. How the blend (cafe with specialty food) help. None explain this.

Was stuck between A and E..went for E but should have seen that its already stated that they please a wider variety now so cost savings should have been the other part.

I was also btwn A and E.

I chose A b/c, as someone else already stated, E is redundant.

they can expect not only to please a wider variety of customers ~ Gain more customers who are interested in dining as well as shopping

I was caught between A and E also but decided on A.

Felt that E was slightly redundant. But A also seems like a strech to be a GMAT answer..not sure though.

whats the OA?

Reopening the question for further discussion. Please provide your reasoning in the selection/rejection of an answer choice.

Which of the following best completes the passage?

Other supermarkets may contain delis or coffee bars, but the powerful blend of specialty food market with café that has made Duetto Market so popular sets the standard for what is sure to be a national trend.Customers dining in the café sample expensive specialty foods in expertly prepared entrees and appetizers before purchasing raw materials in the market. Owners consolidate costs by ordering larger quantities of spices, meat, produce, and cheeses, some of which are then used in preparing food for the café. As more café and supermarket owners follow this pattern of blended options, they can expect not only to please a wider variety of customers, but also to_______________

A Increase their profit margins by consolidating the costs of food products they order from wholesalers.
B See the value of their stocks rise as more investors participate in a fashionable marketing concept.
C Face the expense of renovating existing spaces to accommodate the combination of prepared and raw foods.
D Receive more attention from media who publish restaurant reviews.
E Gain more customers who are interested in dining as well as shopping.

The blank space should be filled in by an expected outcome that is caused because MORE café and supermarket owners follow this pattern of blended options. The part “they can expect to please a wider variety of customers” is such a possible outcome: as MORE café and supermarket owners follow this pattern, their reach will expand to a WIDER variety of customers. However the OA (option A) does not state such an outcome: the profits may rise but the rise is NOT caused by the fact that MORE café and supermarket owners follow this pattern.

Option E could be a possible answer, but it has a similar sense to what has already been stated in the passage as an outcome, i.e., “they can expect to please a wider variety of customers”. In the OE, Option E is eliminated because “this option does not fit the passage’s focus on both customer and owner benefits.” Option A, the OA, also does NOT focus on both customer and owner benefits.

Option D also is a feasible answer: as MORE café and supermarket owners follow this pattern, it is more likely that media will take more interest in such business. This option is eliminated stating out of scope, but if an event is a possible outcome that is caused because MORE café and supermarket owners follow this pattern, that option cannot be out of scope.

The question is under revision and will be shortly updated in the GMATclub tests area.