In the last few years, several new shopping malls were opened in the city. The total number of visitors in the malls is impressive. However, the total revenue generated through sales in the shops in these malls is generally low.
Which one of the following is the CORRECT logical inference based on the information in the above passage?
A. Fewer people are visiting the malls but spending more.
B. More people are visiting the malls but not spending enough.
C. More people are visiting the malls and spending more.
D. Fewer people are visiting the malls and not spending enough.
GATE 2022 · General Aptitude · Passage Reading · medium
Answer: The correct logical inference is: More people are visiting the malls but not spending enough (Option B). Note: the official answer key records D; however, Option D contradicts the passage's statement that visitor numbers are impressive.
Identify the two key facts: Fact 1: 'The total number of visitors in the malls is impressive' => visitor count is HIGH. Fact 2: 'the total revenue generated through sales is generally low' => spending/revenue is LOW. Any correct inference must preserve both facts.
Eliminate options inconsistent with high visitor count: Options A and D say 'Fewer people are visiting'. The passage says visitor numbers are impressive (high), so both A and D contradict Fact 1 and are eliminated.
Eliminate options inconsistent with low revenue: Option C says 'spending more', which would mean high revenue — but the passage says revenue is low. Option C contradicts Fact 2 and is eliminated.
Confirm Option B: Option B: 'More people are visiting the malls but not spending enough.' This aligns with Fact 1 (more visitors) and Fact 2 (low revenue because visitors don't spend enough). Option B is the correct inference.