June 2007 PrepTest, Section 3, Question 22
By Brandon Beaver | Published October 29, 2024
Type: Must Be
Difficulty:
Explanations
It’s a Must Be question, so let’s consider what we know:
- 1.If coffee bean prices increase (let’s call this A), then the shop’s prices will increase (and this B)
- 2.If the shop’s prices increase (so if B), then either the shop will sell noncoffee products (let’s call this C), or its coffee sales will go down (and this D). In other words, if B happens, then either C or D will happen.
- 3.Selling noncoffee products (C) will decrease profitability (let’s call this E)
- 4.If the shop doesn’t decrease profitability (not E), then coffee sales did not go down (not D). So if not E then not D—which is the same thing as saying if D then E. In other words, if coffee sales go down, profitability will decrease.
That means, if coffee bean prices increase, it will set off a chain reaction inevitably resulting in lower profits: if A, then B; if B, then either C or D; if C, then E; if D, then E. This all equals if A, then E (and if B, then E, for that matter).
A
No, this confuses sufficient and necessary. It’s saying if E, then A. We need the opposite of this.
B
Wrong again, for essentially the same reason as A. This is saying if E, then either C or D. There are tons of ways the shop could lose profits—it doesn’t have to be one of these two ways.
C
Perfect. Just as predicted. This means if A, then E.
D
Rephrased, this means if bean prices decrease (not A), profitability will decrease (E). This would mean if not A, then E, which isn’t what we’re looking for.
E
We have no way of knowing if this is true based on the passage. Easy out.
Passage
If the price it pays for coffee beans continues to increase,
Question 22
Which one of the following statements follows logically from