Critical Reasoning

Mayor: The city council has proposed additional funding for the town library. However, the library's own studies show that fewer than 10% of town residents use the library. The city council claims that the library is underutilized because the books, electronic media, and computer equipment are outdated, and that if these were updated, more residents would use the library. However, the last time the town allocated additional funding to the library, usage of the library did not increase. Therefore the town should not allocate additional funding for the library.

Which of the following most seriously weakens the mayor's argument?

A: Many of the patrons who do use the library are dissatisfied with the library's resources.
B: The last time the town allocated additional funding for the library, the funding was used to repair the crumbling staircase and ramp leading to the library entrance.
C: Many residents report that they would use the library if the parking lot were to be enlarged.
D: A large percentage of library users are children and teens, who do not vote or pay taxes.
E: Usage of the library did increase in 1994, when the town voted to allocate funds for an advertising campaign promoting reading.

E says the last time funding was provided there was an increase in library usage; wouldn't that hurt
the proposition that increasing funds will have no effect on library usage?

IMO B

the council thought that the funds the yprovided earlier were used to update the outdated ones in the library. But choice B says it was used to repair the staircase. hence IMO it weakens the argument.

user123321

IMO B
The argument against the mayor's is that "the books, electronic media, and computer equipment are outdated, and that if these were updated" more of the city's residents would visit the library.

The mayor then says that funds were allocated but there was no increase in usage of the library.

If B were true, it would attack the mayor's argument thus weakening it.

increase in fund for the purpose meant will likely increase usage because the last
disbursement for used for something else. So, agreed, B weakens the argument.