Critical Reasoning

Pundit: Many people blame the construction of retail locations by major corporation for the decline in locally owned bookstores over the past ten years. Yet clearly, online sales of books have also played an important role in this decline. In the past ten years, sales by online retailers of books have risen sharply and surveys of consumer behavior have indicated that many purchasers of books online, if convenient online options had not been available to them, would otherwise have purchased books at a local bookstore.

In the pundit's argument, the portion in boldface plays which of the following roles?

a) It is the main conclusion of the argument.
b) It is a finding that the argument seeks to explain.
c) It is an explanation that the argument concludes is correct.
d) It provides evidence in support of the main conclusion of the argument.
e) It introduces a judgment that the argument opposes.

OA: E

Can some experts please explain the POE

NandishSS wrote:Pundit: Many people blame the construction of retail locations by major corporation for the decline in locally owned bookstores over the past ten years. Yet clearly, online sales of books have also played an important role in this decline. In the past ten years, sales by online retailers of books have risen sharply and surveys of consumer behavior have indicated that many purchasers of books online, if convenient online options had not been available to them, would otherwise have purchased books at a local bookstore.

In the pundit's argument, the portion in boldface plays which of the following roles?

a) It is the main conclusion of the argument.
b) It is a finding that the argument seeks to explain.
c) It is an explanation that the argument concludes is correct.
d) It provides evidence in support of the main conclusion of the argument.
e) It introduces a judgment that the argument opposes.

OA: E

Can some experts please explain the POE

BF = the conclusion of many people:
Many people blame the construction of retail locations by major corporation for the decline in locally owned bookstores over the past ten years.
Pundit's conclusion:
Online sales of books have also played an important role in this decline.
The pundit OPPOSES the BF portion (the conclusion of many people).

Only E correctly describes the purpose of the BF portion:
It introduces a judgment that the argument opposes.

The correct answer is E.