Critical Reasoning

In a certain state, over 80% of the land is comprised of farms, but historically, large farm machinery has not sold well in this state. The percentage of land devoted to farms is not expected to increase. In fact, the number of farms in the state has been slowly declining over the past decade. A new manufacturer of large farm equipment is building a factory in the middle of this state, and the manufacturer's plans for success depend on strong in-state sales of their product. Both the manufacturer and the industry analysts are expecting this manufacturer to be quite successful over the next few years.

Which of the following, if true, most helps to provide a justification for the manufacturer's and the industry analysts' optimistic expectations?
A. Land previously owned by small, independent farmers has been bought up and consolidated into large industrial farms, which have a much greater need of large farm equipment.
B. The manufacturer's new factory will be on or close to five different railroad lines, and is expected to have a beneficial impact on the struggling rail transport industry in the state.
C. The percentage of food imported into the state, from other states and from other countries, has increased significantly over the past 20 years.
D. The number of models of large farm machinery this manufacturer will offer is larger than the number of models offered by most other comparable manufacturers of large farm machinery.
E. Some crops grown in this state, like corn, enjoy substantial government subsidies and find a robust market in the food processing industries.

OA: A

richachampion wrote:In a certain state, over 80% of the land is comprised of farms, but historically, large farm machinery has not sold well in this state. The percentage of land devoted to farms is not expected to increase. In fact, the number of farms in the state has been slowly declining over the past decade. A new manufacturer of large farm equipment is building a factory in the middle of this state, and the manufacturer's plans for success depend on strong in-state sales of their product. Both the manufacturer and the industry analysts are expecting this manufacturer to be quite successful over the next few years.

Which of the following, if true, most helps to provide a justification for the manufacturer's and the industry analysts' optimistic expectations?
A. Land previously owned by small, independent farmers has been bought up and consolidated into large industrial farms, which have a much greater need of large farm equipment.
B. The manufacturer's new factory will be on or close to five different railroad lines, and is expected to have a beneficial impact on the struggling rail transport industry in the state.
C. The percentage of food imported into the state, from other states and from other countries, has increased significantly over the past 20 years.
D. The number of models of large farm machinery this manufacturer will offer is larger than the number of models offered by most other comparable manufacturers of large farm machinery.
E. Some crops grown in this state, like corn, enjoy substantial government subsidies and find a robust market in the food processing industries.

FACT 1: Large farm machinery has not sold well in this state, and the percentage of land devoted to farms is not expected to increase, given that the number of farms in the state has been slowly declining over the past decade.
FACT 2: A new manufacturer of large farm equipment is expected to be successful.

The correct answer choice must explain why the manufacturer is expected to be successful.
A: Land previously owned by small, independent farmers has been bought up and consolidated into large industrial farms, which have a much greater need of large farm equipment.
Here, large industrial farms have a much greater need of large farm equipment, explaining why the manufacturer is expected be successful, despite the obstacles described in Fact 1.

The correct answer is A.