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Sales of Cigarattes

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by nakul_anand » Fri Nov 27, 2009 7:19 pm
In the year following an eight cent increase in the federal tax on a pack of cigarretes, sales of cigarretes fell ten percent. In contrast, the year prior to the tax increase, sales had fallen one percent. The volume of cigarrete sales is therefore strongly related to the after tax price of a pack of cigarretes.

Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the argument above?

(A) During the second year after the tax increase, cigarrete sales increased by a significant amount.

(B) The information available to the consumers on the health risks of smoking remained laregely unchanged in the perios before and after the tax increase.

(C) Most consumers were unaware that the tax on cigarettes is going to increase.

(D) During the year following the cigarrete tax increase, many consumers had less income, in inflation-adjusted dollars, than they had in the previous year.

(E) During the year after the tax increase, there was a greater variety of cigarettes on the market than there had been during the previous year.

What's the answer?

Thanks in advance!
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Source: — Critical Reasoning |

by pandeyvineet24 » Fri Nov 27, 2009 7:31 pm
IMO B.
Stresses the fact that the increased price was the cause of reduced cigarrete consumption. Removal of the alternate cause.
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by nakul_anand » Sat Nov 28, 2009 4:49 am
Makes sense to me now. I was sure that other answer choices are wrong but couldn't think of how B would be the right answer.

Thanks!
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