16Hit1600
Information and IdeasVery hardFinding weakening a website-design claim

Information and Ideas practice question

A company says that its new website design caused a 25 percent rise in online orders in the month after the design was launched.

Which finding, if true, would most directly weaken the company's claim?

  1. A. The launch month coincided with the company's annual sale, which had raised online orders by a similar amount in each of the previous three years.Correct
  2. B. Customers rated the new design highly in a survey.
  3. C. The new design was tested with users before it was launched.
  4. D. Orders rose on both the company's website and its phone app.

Answer: A. The launch month coincided with the company's annual sale, which had raised online orders by a similar amount in each of the previous three years.

If the sale alone produces a rise like this every year, the design isn't needed to explain it.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. Customers rated the new design highly in a survey.
High ratings support the design, if anything.
C. The new design was tested with users before it was launched.
Testing makes the design more likely to work; it doesn't undercut the claim.
D. Orders rose on both the company's website and its phone app.
A rise on the app too could point either way; it doesn't identify a rival cause.

More Information and Ideas questions

Not affiliated with the College Board. SAT is a trademark of the College Board.