Critical Reasoning

Jennifer: Video rental outlets in Centerville together handled 10,000 fewer video rentals in 1994 than in 1993. The decline in rentals was probably due almost entirely to the February 1994 opening of Videorama, the first and only video rental outlet in the area that, in addition to renting videos, also sold them cheaply.

Brad: There must be another explanation: as you yourself said, the decline was on the order of 10,000 rentals. Yet Videorama sold only 4,000 videos in 1994.

Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the force of the objection that Brad
presents to Jennifer's explanation?

A. In 1994 Videorama rented out more videos than it sold.
B. In 1994 two new outlets that rent but that do not sell videos opened in Centerville.
C. Most of the video rental outlets in Centerville rent videos at a discount on certain nights of the week.
D. People often buy videos of movies that they have previously seen in a theater.
E. People who own videos frequently loan them to their friends.

[spoiler]OA: will be posted later. Please discuss each answer choice in detail[/spoiler]

My answer E.

We are looking for an explanation why instead of a 4000 decrease we saw 10000 decrease. IF we are weakening BRad's objection, then Jennifer's point has to be strengthened. This means Videorama was responsible for the decline.

A prephased answer for this is that probably if Videorama dint exist, same movie could have been loaned multiple times. If those movies are sold and then loaned out to friends, that would explain the lack of movie rentals. THis is presented directly by choice E.

A. In 1994 Videorama rented out more videos than it sold. - We already know that the total reduced by 10000.
B. In 1994 two new outlets that rent but that do not sell videos opened in Centerville. - If more opened, yet rentals went down, it doesnt help us.
C. Most of the video rental outlets in Centerville rent videos at a discount on certain nights of the week. - The discount not relevant. We are lookin at the count. Also, a discount will increase, not decrease the rentals.
D. People often buy videos of movies that they have previously seen in a theater. - It weakens Jennifer's point, if anything. Chances are people wouldnt rent out movies they have seen anyway. Does not explain the reduction.

yup OA is E thanks a lot vineeshp