Travaillier Corporation has recently

Answer choices

1. A

   No Impact4% picked this

   In the past, Travaillier has found it very difficult to change its

   If anything, this would Strengthen something we already were told: the existing customers aren't likely to change their vacation preferences.

   4%
2. B

   Too Weak: several4% picked this

   Several travel companies other than Travaillier have recently tried and failed to expand into the

   This somewhat lowers the plausibility that Travaillier Corporation would risk trying to break into the bus tour industry, if several other companies have tried and failed. But several isn't an impressive quantity, so this answer has minimal impact.

   4%
3. C

   Too Weak: at least one11% picked this

   At least one of Travaillier's new employees not only has experience in the bus tour industry but has also

   This would almost sound like a different explanation for the new people being hired: "yes, they have tour bus experience, but they're really being hired for their air travel experience." However, at least one is such an unimpressive quantity that this answer has minimal impact.

   11%
4. D

   No Impact Too Weak: some5% picked this

   Some of Travaillier's competitors have increased profits by concentrating their attention on their customers who spend

   The fact that at least one competitor has focused on the highest-spenders doesn't tell us anything about air travel vs. bus travel, or enlarging customer base vs. not enlarging. And it's a weak quantity to begin with, so even if it had some impact, it would be tiny.

   5%
5. E

   Correct76% picked this

   The industry consultants employed by Travaillier typically recommend that companies expand by introducing their current customers to

   Why this is right

   This idea undermines the plausibility of the author's story. If Travaillier Corporation wants to expand, the consultants they hire are mostly telling them to focus on getting current customers into new products and services. If we assume that the consultants did in fact give their typical advice to Travaillier Corporation, and if we assume that Travaillier Corporation heeded that advice, then it's less likely that Travaillier Corporation is trying to expand by finding new customers. This answer is still pretty weak, because we have to add a couple assumptions (conservative ones, at least) in order to give it any relevance. But it's stronger than the available alternatives. This simultaneously suggests a different motive for Travaillier Corporation talking to all these tour bus people: they're not trying to get new bus customers; they're trying to introduce their current customers to new products and services ("if you like flying with us, consider taking a tour bus with us")

   Skill tested: Weaken · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.

   76%