Student: To Improve Business you Should put up a Sign Offering a Special Deal of 12 Croissants for Only $3

Question: Student: To improve business you should put up a sign offering a special deal of 12 croissants for only $3.
Baker: That would not help my business. I need to sell more of all of my products, not just more croissants.

Which of the following, if true, most weakens the Baker's objection?

(A) A special offer may cause a customer to think that the product being advertised is the only one supplied by the company.
(B) Bakeries can be affected greatly by changes in the price of flour.
(C) Some marketing experts believe that lowering the price of a product can create a negative image amongst consumers.
(D) Special offers attract customers who would not otherwise enter a store and who could potentially buy products not included in the offer.
(E) Running a successful bakery requires good culinary and business knowledge.

Answer: D
Explanation:

This is a Conclusion Weakening question of GMAT critical reasoning in the Dialog format. We need to choose the answer choice that weakens the baker's objection (or strengthens the student's suggestion):

(A)Incorrect.
Option A states the negative side of the discount offer. It does not weaken the baker’s objection but instead strengthens the hypothesis. According to the baker, an offer on croissants might cause the customer to feel that they only sell croissants. Hence the sale on bread, cookies and more products would be reduced.

(B)Incorrect.
Option B is neutral, neither it strengthens the argument nor weakens it. The statement implies that the cost of flour is important for a bakery but it has nothing to do with croissants special offers.

(C) Incorrect.
Option C refers to the negative side of the discount offer. This statement is incorrect as it weakens the students suggestion of providing a special offer on croissants.

(D) Correct.
Option D is correct as it weakens the baker's objection. The baker states that if he follows the special offer suggestion given by the student then he will only sell more croissants. This statement suggests that these kinds of offers increase the sales of all products in the bakery. Hence, option D directly undermines this claim.

(E)Incorrect.
Option E neither strengthens the argument nor weakens it.

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