Q27

[seven7lx]

Could someone help me with answer choice B and D? I didn't see why D is better than B? Many thanks.

[cyruswhittaker]

I initially chose B as well for this question. But in looking over the area of the passage surrounding line 38, it's clear that no such "commonly agreed-upon criterion" is implicitly referenced. However, by saying that the increase/decline can be explained in terms of fundamentals, there's implicit reference to regularity of the pricing model.

Also, notice how the sentence "Garber argues..." (lines 38-39) is stated. He argues that "a" (non-specific reference) pattern occurs for "new varieties of flowers" (general group). So even in terms of the context of the sentence itself where the phrase occurs, choice D accurately expresses the meaning.

[alejoroarios]

Can someone please tell me why E is wrong? When the author is talking about a NEW type of flower he says that a standard pricing pattern occurs. He says that the prices of this new flowers is originally very high. Obviously it decreases later. So the initial price is like the "exemplar" price and the prices that follow will do so in response to the initial high price.
When I see D and the answer "that regularly recurs in certain types of cases" I don't see a right answer. The author says that the initial high price occurs for this new flowers. I believe that it is safe to infer that he means this in EVERY case. So an answer that says "regularly" and only in "certain" cases just didn't cut it for me. Can someone please point out how my logic is wrong? Help is appreciated. Thanks!

[christine.defenbaugh]

Thanks for your question alejoroarios!

For this type of inference question, we are asked to interpret how a particular phrase is used in context. First stop, the passage!

Line 38 contains the quote "standard pricing pattern", which is then described in more detail in lines 39-47. Take note of the fleshed out description - this pattern occurred when a particularly prized variety is developed (lines 39-40), as certain varieties because fashionable (line 43), and resulted in the rise in the price of some original tulip bulbs (line 42).

So, it's not safe at all to infer that the author means this pattern will occur in every case! He points out three times that this is limited to only certain tulip bulbs.

This matches up perfectly with (D) - a pattern that regularly occurs in certain kinds of cases.

(A) measuring against other pricing patterns is not mentioned.
(B) no commonly agreed-upon criteria are mentioned.
(C) there is no value judgment of the pattern.
(E) "exemplar" means either typical example, or excellent model. The pricing pattern is not an example of anything, nor is it a model to be mimicked. One could argue that the tulip situation itself is an exemplar of the pricing pattern, but that's a different relationship, and that's not what the question is asking for.

Be very careful about the definition of words like "exemplar"! Your breakdown above does not reflect its true definition.

Please let me know if that completely answers your question!

[timsportschuetz]

It is key and very difficult to spot the important language on this question. "A standard pricing pattern occurs for new varieties of flowers" - if you pay close attention, notice how this statement specifically talks about "new varieties of flowers". If you take this at face value, it becomes very obvious that the "pricing pattern" directly refers to a situation that occurs when "new varieties of flowers" come to market! Then, Garber goes on to state a general principle: "When a particularly prized variety...". This clearly indicates that Garber believes the aforementioned pricing pattern is an inherent characteristic of this particular economic market. This is further supported by his mentioning "fundamentals" immediately before the relevant text. This further indicates a repetitive and inherent economic principle that occurs in the flower market (or tulip market... not really relevant to our answering the question correctly since we are only concerned with the meaning...).

[lattelover]

Hi MLSAT team,

I was torn between (B) and (D) on this one, and chose (B) during my timed PT.

My rationale was that the "commonly agreed-upon criterion" is to price objects according to their fundamentals. The sentence just previous to the one in question seems to offer support for this: "But he argues that ... the increase and eventual decline in bulb prices can be explained in terms of the fundamentals" (lines 34-37).

Because this was the last question on the test and I was pressed for time, I didn't adequately consider (D); I was confident, apparently mistakenly so, in my process for selecting (B).

Looking over the question now I am easily able to infer support for (D) on the basis of Christine's wonderful explanation, but I still am not quite sure why my thought process for (B) was flawed.

Thanks so much to anyone who can offer some insight!