Why is the e-commerce market share substantially lower in the music products industry? There are a few ready explanations. Pianos, by virtue of their size and weight, are still almost exclusively a brick-and-mortar product category. Retailers may promote and prospect online, but piano sales are still consummated at a local storefront. Similarly, entry-level school music instruments are primarily sold by local retailers who service music directors. Sales of pro audio gear, where any installation expertise is required, are also largely a brick-and-mortar affair. Exclude these categories, and the online market share of the remaining product groups is closer to that of the consumer electronics market. Convenience and the absence of sales tax are two of the reasons why online commerce has flourished. The industry's expanded product offering is another. As one online retailer put it, 'Customers can see everything that's available online, and when they decide they want a red guitar with specific pickup and hardware configuration, they won't settle for anything else. If they can't find it in a store, they'll go online for it. That’s what has driven our sales.'
It can most reasonably be inferred from the passage that the music products industry would have a higher share of the e-commerce market if:
- A. entry-level school music instruments were sold to schools' music directors rather than directly to students
- B. the consumer market were to place less value on convenience and variety and more on competitive pricing
- C. a few types of music products sold predominantly in brick-and-mortar stores were excluded from the calculation
- D. brick-and-mortar store managers improved customer service and provided better training for their installation experts
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C
The inference about the music products industry’s higher e-commerce market share hinges on the exclusion of certain products sold mainly in physical stores. If these items are not considered, the e-commerce segment could appear more dominant. Option A suggests a shift in sales strategy, but it doesn’t directly impact the overall market share dynamics. Option B misplaces the focus on consumer preferences, which does not inherently increase e-commerce share. Option D addresses customer service improvements in physical stores, which would not enhance online sales. Thus, excluding certain products from the calculation is the most logical inference for a higher e-commerce share.
The inference about the music products industry’s higher e-commerce market share hinges on the exclusion of certain products sold mainly in physical stores. If these items are not considered, the e-commerce segment could appear more dominant. Option A suggests a shift in sales strategy, but it doesn’t directly impact the overall market share dynamics. Option B misplaces the focus on consumer preferences, which does not inherently increase e-commerce share. Option D addresses customer service improvements in physical stores, which would not enhance online sales. Thus, excluding certain products from the calculation is the most logical inference for a higher e-commerce share.
Other Related Questions
Which choice best describes the overall structure of the passage?
- A. The passage examines the effect of decreased environmental awareness on some animals' predation risk and then describes the strategies those animals use to increase their environmental awareness while sleeping.
- B. The passage distinguishes between bihemispheric slow-wave sleep (BSWS) and unihemispheric slow-wave sleep (USWS) and then explains why USWS is less beneficial than BSWS for animals such as mallards and penguins.
- C. The passage discusses the advantages for some animals of sleeping at the center of a group and then questions whether those advantages extend to colonial birds.
- D. The passage provides an extended description of how mallards typically sleep and then compares sleeping behaviors in mallards to those in penguins.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C
Choice C accurately captures the passage's structure, which begins by exploring the benefits of group sleeping for certain animals and then raises a critical inquiry regarding the applicability of these benefits to colonial birds. This dual focus on advantages and questioning reflects a balanced examination of the topic. Option A misrepresents the content by suggesting a focus on predation risk and strategies for environmental awareness, which is not the main theme. Option B incorrectly centers on a comparison of sleep types, neglecting the broader discussion of group sleeping benefits. Option D inaccurately emphasizes a detailed comparison of mallards and penguins, rather than the initial exploration of group sleeping advantages.
Choice C accurately captures the passage's structure, which begins by exploring the benefits of group sleeping for certain animals and then raises a critical inquiry regarding the applicability of these benefits to colonial birds. This dual focus on advantages and questioning reflects a balanced examination of the topic. Option A misrepresents the content by suggesting a focus on predation risk and strategies for environmental awareness, which is not the main theme. Option B incorrectly centers on a comparison of sleep types, neglecting the broader discussion of group sleeping benefits. Option D inaccurately emphasizes a detailed comparison of mallards and penguins, rather than the initial exploration of group sleeping advantages.
The final paragraph suggests that seeing the woman has caused the narrator to:
- A. face the negative feelings she has about her new home
- B. realize that she misses her mother more than she admits
- C. think about her own feelings about her family and background
- D. remember the reason she moved away from her home country
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C
The final paragraph emphasizes the narrator's introspection triggered by seeing the woman, leading her to reflect on her own feelings about family and background. This deep connection to identity is central to her experience. Option A misinterprets the focus; while negative feelings may exist, the emphasis is on personal reflection rather than facing negativity. Option B suggests a specific emotion related to her mother, which is not explicitly indicated in the text. Option D implies a recollection of her reasons for moving, but the paragraph centers more on her current emotional state rather than past motivations.
The final paragraph emphasizes the narrator's introspection triggered by seeing the woman, leading her to reflect on her own feelings about family and background. This deep connection to identity is central to her experience. Option A misinterprets the focus; while negative feelings may exist, the emphasis is on personal reflection rather than facing negativity. Option B suggests a specific emotion related to her mother, which is not explicitly indicated in the text. Option D implies a recollection of her reasons for moving, but the paragraph centers more on her current emotional state rather than past motivations.
The author implies that the social sciences:
- A. are valued for their techniques
- B. can make no contribution to progress
- C. cannot deal with long-term issues
- D. may someday add to the world's knowledge
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D
The social sciences are portrayed as fields that hold potential for future contributions to global knowledge, indicating optimism about their evolving role. Option A suggests that their value lies solely in techniques, which limits their broader impact. Option B dismisses their potential entirely, contradicting the author's implication of future contributions. Option C incorrectly asserts that social sciences cannot address long-term issues, overlooking their capability to analyze historical trends and societal changes. Thus, the emphasis on future contributions aligns best with the text's implications.
The social sciences are portrayed as fields that hold potential for future contributions to global knowledge, indicating optimism about their evolving role. Option A suggests that their value lies solely in techniques, which limits their broader impact. Option B dismisses their potential entirely, contradicting the author's implication of future contributions. Option C incorrectly asserts that social sciences cannot address long-term issues, overlooking their capability to analyze historical trends and societal changes. Thus, the emphasis on future contributions aligns best with the text's implications.
Why does the author place quotation marks around the word 'patriotic' (sentence 2)?
- A. To attribute to postwar Americans the perception of Wrigley’s gum as patriotic
- B. To praise the patriotism the Wrigley Company demonstrated during wartime
- C. To show that American soldiers used the word 'patriotic' to describe Wrigley’s gum
- D. To reveal that the Wrigley Company changed the name of its gum to include the word 'patriotic'
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A
The use of quotation marks around 'patriotic' indicates that the term reflects the perception held by postwar Americans rather than the author's own endorsement. This suggests a distance from the term, highlighting it as a viewpoint rather than an absolute truth. Option B misinterprets the author's intent; the quotation marks do not imply praise for the Wrigley Company's actions. Option C inaccurately suggests that soldiers specifically coined the term in reference to the gum, which is not supported by the context. Option D incorrectly assumes that the company changed the product name, which is not indicated in the text.
The use of quotation marks around 'patriotic' indicates that the term reflects the perception held by postwar Americans rather than the author's own endorsement. This suggests a distance from the term, highlighting it as a viewpoint rather than an absolute truth. Option B misinterprets the author's intent; the quotation marks do not imply praise for the Wrigley Company's actions. Option C inaccurately suggests that soldiers specifically coined the term in reference to the gum, which is not supported by the context. Option D incorrectly assumes that the company changed the product name, which is not indicated in the text.