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The author of the passage argues that "when we are free to choose, we often choose badly." The author supports this claim by citing a study in which shoppers were given a choice of either 6 or 24 jams to sample at a grocery store. Shoppers who had fewer options to choose from ended up buying more jam, while those who had more options to choose from bought less jam. According to the author, this study suggests that we tend to be more susceptible to making poor choices when we feel overwhelmed by choice. Why does the author cite the study about jam sampling?

SAT · English · previous-year question

  1. A.present evidence that supports the claim that people often choose badly.correct
  2. B.highlight the importance of making good choices when presented with a variety of options.
  3. C.introduce the idea that shoppers are more susceptible to making bad choices when they feel overwhelmed.
  4. D.argue that shoppers are more likely to buy a product if they have a limited number of options to choose from.

Answer

A. present evidence that supports the claim that people often choose badly.

Explanation

The study about jam sampling provides evidence that supports the author's claim that when we have too many choices, we often make bad choices. The author presents the study to show that shoppers are more likely to make poor choices in situations with more options. Therefore, the study supports the overall claim that we tend to choose poorly when we have too many choices.

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