Difference between articles and merchandise

[Guest]

Test No. incompl/advan-16 "At the Shops", question 10

The extent of the ......... available in this one store is more than you can possibly imagine.

(a) merchandise
(b) objects
(c) produce
(d) articles

Test No. incompl/advan-16 "At the Shops", answer 10

The extent of the merchandise available in this one store is more than you can possibly imagine.

Correct answer: (a) merchandise

Your answer was: incorrect
The extent of the articles available in this one store is more than you can possibly imagine.
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I've thought "articles" would fulfil the same purpose.
Or when does one talk in general just about "article"?

[Alan]

Articles is far too precise here - you need a collective noun -merchandise.
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Colour Idioms