Multiple choice

Directions: Read the passage/argument and answer the question that follows it. Consumers love to bargain. But retailers appreciate that they will sometimes frown at a slightly cheaper version of a more expensive item, even if the two are identical. It goes to suggest that something is at play in the consumer's mind beyond simple appreciation of the intrinsic qualities of a particular product.

The conclusion of the above passage is best supported by which of the following?

  1. Psychological researchers have discovered that most consumers, while making a particular purchase, mostly go by the stated benefits of the product.

  2. Mall owners report that many consumers pay great attention to the price of an item while purchasing it.

  3. A reliable, representative psychographic research on consumer behaviour shows that for most customers, the price label is a proxy for product quality.

  4. A nationwide survey among prospective consumers shows that they would love to purchase a home solely on the basis of how it is priced.

  5. Some consumers are attracted to the premium tag attached to a product in terms of its affordability and prefer to buy it only due to this factor.

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The conclusion, stated in the very last line, indicates that despite having the same benefits, the high-priced item attracts more consumer interest than the low-priced one. (1), therefore, is irrelevant as it talks of the benefits of a particular item, which is not the focus of the conclusion. Option (2), on the other hand looks very attractive but for mall owners and many, two words which greatly narrow down the scope of its applicability to a general consumer and retail population. Option (4) suffers from the same problem i.e. prospective home-owners. Out of options (3) and (5), the former is better as the latter is again qualifying the word consumers with some, making it logically unquantifiable.

 

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