Question

This year the New Hampshire Division of Company X set a new record for annual sales by that division. This record is especially surprising since the New Hampshire Division has the smallest potential market and the lowest sales of any of Company X’s divisions.

Which of the following identifies a flaw in the logical coherence of the statement above?

• A. If overall sales for Company X were sharply reduced, the New Hampshire Division’s new sales record is irrelevant to the company’s prosperity.
• B. Since the division is competing against its own record, the comparison of its sales record with that of other divisions is irrelevant.
• C. If this is the first year that the New Hampshire Division has been last in sales among Company X’s divisions, the new record is not surprising at all.
• D. If overall sales for Company X were greater than usual, it is not surprising that the New Hampshire Division was last in sales.
• E. Since the New Hampshire Division has the smallest potential market, it is not surprising that it had the lowest sales.

Answer 1

The correct option is B

Since the division is competing against its own record, the comparison of its sales record with that of other divisions is irrelevant.

Option (b) is the correct answer. Check the video for the approach.