A supermarket chain experimented with product placement by moving fruits and vegetables from the back of the store to the front entrance. Sales of produce increased by 35% while overall spending per customer remained unchanged. The store previously placed candy and snacks near the entrance to encourage impulse purchases.
It can be inferred from the text that
customers prefer candy and snacks to fruits and vegetables
overall store revenue decreased after the change
the location of products in a store influences what customers purchase
all supermarkets should only sell produce
Correct Answer: C
Choice C is the best answer. Moving produce to the front increased its sales.
- Context clues: Same products, different location, 35% sales increase.
- Meaning: The change in placement caused the change in purchasing behavior.
- Verify: Previous candy placement was also strategic for "impulse purchases."
💡 Strategy: When a single variable changes and produces different outcomes, infer that variable's influence.
Choice A is incorrect because produce sales increased when given the prime location. Choice B is incorrect because overall spending "remained unchanged." Choice D is incorrect because this extreme conclusion isn't supported by the experiment.