A new polymer, recently developed as a material for minor car repairs, was imported to Country M after being sold successfully in Country B. Despite a high number of initial purchases following an effective marketing campaign, sales figures in Country M were unsatisfactory, and importation of the product was eventually discontinued. It can be deduced that consumers in Country M are more critical about car repair products than they are in Country B.
Which of the following would it be most useful to establish in order to evaluate the argument?
(A) Whether the use of polymers without professional safety equipment such as gas masks can be harmful to the health of the average consumer
(B) Whether consumers in Country M are prepared to perform repairs on their own cars instead of hiring paid professionals
(C) Whether consumers in Country M are open-minded as far as the introduction of new products to the market is concerned
(D) Whether the polymer's effectivity is influenced by climactic differences between regions
(E) Whether repairs done using the new polymer can be painted with regular car paint
Let’s look at the stimulus given-
A new polymer, recently developed as a material for minor car repairs, was imported to Country M after being sold successfully in Country B.
Despite a high number of initial purchases following an effective marketing campaign, sales figures in Country M were unsatisfactory, and importation of the product was eventually discontinued.
Conclusion- consumers in Country M are more critical about car repair products than they are in Country B.
We need to evaluate the argument that- consumers in Country M are more critical about car repair products than they are in Country B.
(A) Whether the use of polymers without professional safety equipment such as gas masks can be harmful to the health of the average consumer. Irrelevant. The answer to this doesn’t help us evaluate whether consumers in Country M are more critical about car repair products than they are in Country B.
(B) Whether consumers in Country M are prepared to perform repairs on their own cars instead of hiring paid professionals
The question is did consumers in country M not use the new polymer because they are more critical about car repair products than they are in Country B? Option B doesn’t help us evaluate the argument. Eliminate.
(C) Whether consumers in Country M are open-minded as far as the introduction of new products to the market is concerned
If the consumers in Country M were not open-minded as far as the introduction of new products to the market is concerned, they wouldn’t have tried the new product at all. But the premise tells us that the initial sales were high. Eliminate.
(D) Whether the polymer's effectivity is influenced by climactic differences between regions
This helps us evaluate the argument. The answer to this would explain if the sales of the new polymer in country M went down because people are more critical or because the effectivity of the polymer did not suit the country’s climate.
Correct.
(E) Whether repairs done using the new polymer can be painted with regular car paint
Irrelevent. Eliminate.