Critical Reasoning

In response to mounting pubic concern, an airplane manufacturer implemented a program
with the well-publicized goal of reducing by half the total yearly amount of hazardous
waste generated by its passenger-jet division. When the program began in 1994, the
division's hazardous waste output was 90 pounds per production worker; last year it was
40 pounds per production worker. Clearly, therefore, charges that the manufacturer's
program has not met its goal are false.
Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?
A. The amount of nonhazardous waste generated each year by the passenger-jet
division has not increased significantly since 1994.
B. At least as many passenger jets were produced by the division last year as had
been produced in 1994.
C. Since 1994, other divisions in the company have achieved reductions in hazardous
waste output that are at least equal to that achieved in the passenger-jet division.
D. The average number of weekly hours per production worker in the passenger-jet
division was not significantly greater last year than it was in 1994.
E. The number of production workers assigned to the passenger-jet division was not
significantly less in 1994 than it was last year.

hazardous waste output was 90 pounds per production worker; last year it was 40 pounds per production worke

it is B

OA B

@ srivas,
Could u explain how B wins over E? Because in stimulus they have told us emission " per production worker". In E it has told us that the no.of workers in company is same as in 1994 which could be true and supports the conclusion directly. If E is true then the argument makes more sense. Please correct me if am over looking something.

Its mentioned, X pounds per worker. So it doesn't depends upon the number of workers rather author is talking more about the production of aircrafts.

Are you sure aboutthe OA-b i doubt. It must be E

IMO B

Explanation:
B says :At least as many passenger jets were produced by the division last year as had
been produced in 1994

For example ,let's assume that 5 workers are required to produce a passenger jet.Let's again assume in 1994 ,20 passenger jets are produced.So it implies 20X5=100 production workers were involved in 1994 and liberated a waste of 90X100 units.

Now as per B ,if we try to negate that less passenger Jets are produced ,then the charges will become true.

So for the charges to become false ,we need to assume that number of passenger jets produced is same in 1994 & at present also.

Let's come to option E:The number of production workers assigned to the passenger-jet division was not
significantly less in 1994 than it was last year.

Please have a look at the trem " assigned".It not necessarily means that all the production workers have been utilised for the production.

Above all ,the number of production of passenger jets weighs more than that number of production workers assigned.

Please correct me if I am wrong in my explanation.

The official answer is B. But I don't understand why? Can anyone explain