There are about 75 brands

Answer choices

1. A

   Weaker Impact16% picked this

   More than 50 percent of popcorn purchasers buy conventional popcorn rather

   This mathematical fact is actually implied by the evidence (microwave popcorn costs five times as much but collectively accounts for just over 50% of total popcorn revenue). This has nothing to do with offering us an alternate storyline for why people who buy microwave popcorn do so, or with undermining the idea that MANY people are willing to pay a lot more for convenience. Given that most people don't seem to be buying microwave popcorn, it faintly hints at our latter goal, but with very little impact, since the conclusion is only saying "many people", not "most people".

   16%
2. B

   Correct71% picked this

   Most people who prefer microwave popcorn do so because it is less fattening than popcorn that is

   Why this is right

   Choice (B) undermines the conclusion by presenting an alternative reason for choosing microwave popcorn. If most people prefer it because it's less fattening than conventionally popped popcorn, the motivation for their purchase might not be related to convenience as suggested by the author, but rather a health-related preference.

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

   71%
3. C

   Opposite Impact (strengthens)4% picked this

   The price of microwave popcorn reflects its packaging more than it reflects the quality of the popcorn

   This rules out the idea that people who buy microwave popcorn do so because microwave popcorn is of a higher quality than conventional popcorn. Thus, it strengthens the argument.

   4%
4. D

   Opposite (if anything)2% picked this

   The ratio of unpopped kernels to popped kernels is generally the same whether popcorn is popped in a

   This rules out the idea that people who buy microwave popcorn do so because microwave popcorn is better at popping all the kernels than conventional popcorn is. Thus, if anything, it strengthens the argument.

   2%
5. E

   No Impact6% picked this

   Because microwave popcorn contains additives not contained in conventional popcorn, microwave popcorn weighs more than an equal

   We could try to pose this as an alternate explanation for why people often buy microwave popcorn, but it's a pretty weird storyline: They're willing to pay five times much, not because of its quicker popping time, but because they get more weight out of a given volume of popcorn? That story is even fishier given that the extra weight comes from (presumably unhealthy) additives.

   6%