During the market testing stage of the new-product process, a product may be tested multiple times with consumers to get their reactions with test marketing, one type of which is known as

Simulated test markets.

Explanation:

During the market testing stage of the new-product process, a product may be tested multiple times with consumers to get their reactions with test marketing, one type of which is known as simulated test markets.

A simulated test market can be defined as a marketing research technique that involves the exposure of consumers to an unreal market in order to observe their reactions to a new product. It involves advertising in stages through a simulated market so as to determine a customer's purchase decision, forecast demand and market analysis for a new product.

Hence, a simulated test market is aimed at observing and analyzing potential customer's reaction to a new product before it's introduced to the market.

the assumption the narrator makes in this excerpt is that the messages he heards were going to hurt the narrator's mom; the narrator just springs in to action. the narrator doesn't specify in this excerpt why he believes that the messages present a problem that requires protection.