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Expression of IdeasVery hardExplaining a paradoxical result

Expression of Ideas practice question

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes: - A supermarket lowered the price of its own-brand bread by 20 percent. - Sales of the own-brand bread rose by 5 percent. - Sales of the more expensive branded bread fell by 30 percent. - The supermarket's total bread revenue fell. The student wants to explain why total bread revenue fell even though sales of the cheaper bread rose.

Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

  1. A. The cheaper bread's 5 percent sales gain was far too small to make up for the 30 percent fall in sales of the more expensive branded bread, so total revenue fell.Correct
  2. B. The supermarket lowered the price of its own-brand bread by 20 percent.
  3. C. Sales of the own-brand bread rose by 5 percent.
  4. D. The supermarket's total bread revenue fell.

Answer: A. The cheaper bread's 5 percent sales gain was far too small to make up for the 30 percent fall in sales of the more expensive branded bread, so total revenue fell.

The gain and the loss, and why the loss dominates.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. The supermarket lowered the price of its own-brand bread by 20 percent.
The action, not the explanation.
C. Sales of the own-brand bread rose by 5 percent.
Half the picture.
D. The supermarket's total bread revenue fell.
The outcome, not the reason.

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