A study observes a strong positive correlation between ice cream sales and shark attacks. Which of the following is the most likely explanation for this observation?

The correct answer to the question "A study observes a strong positive correlation between ice cream sales and shark attacks. Which of the following is the most likely explanation for this observation?" is Option C: Both are caused by a lurking variable, such as warm weather, increasing beach visits..

The other options — A) Eating ice cream makes people more vulnerable to shark attacks., B) Shark attacks increase people's desire to eat ice cream., D) The correlation is purely coincidental and has no underlying cause. — are incorrect for this GMAT Exam Prep question. As explained above: This is a classic example of a spurious correlation where a third, unobserved variable (warm weather) causes both observed variables to increase.