Critical Reasoning

A marketing expert, consulted by the management of a major fashion brand, suggested that the use of an internationally famous sports professional as a model in the clothing company's upcoming advertising campaign would spur public interest and, consequently, increase sales. A significant implication of such a decision would be the conscious or unconscious association of the sports professional's personality with the fashion brand, as seen by the consumers. The management of the fashion brand would be ill-advised to employ the sports professional, however, as a poll conducted amongst the region's top sports analysts reveals that the team for which the sports professional in question plays is not likely to have success in the upcoming season.

In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

A) The first is a proposed plan of action supported by the position defended in the argument; the second is an opinion that supports that position.

B) The first is a suggestion of a potential cause-and-effect relationship; the second is evidence that disproves the accuracy of that suggestion.

C) The first is a claim, the accuracy of which is criticized by the argument's position; the second is a judgment offered as support for that position.

D) The first identifies the primary logic that forms the basis of the argument's position; the second challenges that logic.

E) The first is a theory that forms the basis of a certain strategy; the second is an explanation for why that theory is correct.