Reading comprehension—best supported inference: Historically, consumers rarely ordered low-fat ice cream; today, greater health consciousness and a wider selection of tasty low-fat foods have made low-fat ice cream a very profitable item for shop owners. Which statement is best supported by this paragraph?
Logical Reasoning
Analyzing Arguments
Difficulty: Easy
Choose an option
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ALow-fat ice cream produces more revenue than other low-fat foods.
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BIce cream store owners would be better off carrying only low-fat ice cream.
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CIce cream store owners no longer think that low-fat ice cream is an unpopular item.
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DLow-fat ice cream is more popular than other kinds of ice cream.
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EConsumers are fickle and it is impossible to please them.
Answer
Correct Answer: Ice cream store owners no longer think that low-fat ice cream is an unpopular item.
Explanation
Given data
- Past: customers rarely ordered low-fat ice cream.
- Present: increased health consciousness + more tasty low-fat options ⇒ low-fat ice cream is very profitable for store owners.
Concept / ApproachLink the profit observation to the updated perception of item popularity by owners.
Step-by-step reasoningStep 1: If an item is "very profitable," owners will not consider it unpopular.Step 2: Option C restates that updated perception. Options A, B, D, E assert relative revenues, exclusivity, relative popularity, or consumer psychology that the passage does not claim.
Verification / Alternative viewProfitability is a strong indicator that demand has risen sufficiently to change owners' views.
Common pitfalls
- Inferring cross-category comparisons (e.g., low-fat vs. other foods) that are not supported.
Final AnswerIce cream store owners no longer think that low-fat ice cream is an unpopular item.