This is a Must Be True question. Our correct answer will be 100% supported by the passage. Let's diagram.
"If retail stores experience a decrease in revenues during this holiday season, then either attitudes toward extravagant gift-giving have changed or prices have risen beyond the level most people can afford."
P1: DRHS ==> AEGC or PRBA not AEGC and not PRBA ==> not DRHS
"If attitudes have changed, then we all have something to celebrate this season."
P2: AEGC ==> SCS not SCS ==> not AEGC
"If prices have risen beyond the level most people can afford, then it must be that salaries have not kept pace with rising prices during the past year."
P3: PRBA ==> not SKP SKP ==> not PRBA
The question stem asks us which of the answer choice must be true if "salaries have kept pace with rising prices during the past year."
QS: SKP
Well, we know from the contrapositive of P3 that if salaries have kept pace with rising prices during the past year, that the prices have not risen beyond the level most people can afford (SKP ==> not PRBA).
Thus, answer choice (C), "Prices in retail stores have not risen beyond the level that most people can afford during this holiday season," is 100% supported by the stimulus.
Hope that was helpful! Please let us know if you have any other questions.
dtorresAugust 12, 2017
If not AEGC & not PRBA - >not DRHS can we also conclude not PRBA - -> not DRHS which would make B correct as well?
dtorresAugust 12, 2017
Or are retail sales not considered revenues?
MehranAugust 13, 2017
Retail sales are not synonymous with revenues. Hope this helps!
