Critical Reasoning

In January of last year the Moviemania chain of movie theaters started propping its popcorn in canola oil, instead of the less healthful coconut oil that it had been using until then. Now Moviemania is planning to switch back, saying that the change has hurt popcorn sales. That claim is false, however, since according to Moviemania’s own sales figures, Moviemania sold 5 percent more popcorn last year than in the previous year.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the argument against
Moviemania’s claim?
A. Total sales of all refreshments at Moviemania’s movie theaters increased by less than 5 percent last year.
B. Moviemania makes more money on food and beverages sold at its theaters than it does on sales of movie tickets.
C. Moviemania’s customers prefer the taste of popcorn popped in coconut oil to that of popcorn popped in canola oil.
D. Total attendance at Moviemania’s movie theaters was more than 20 percent higher last year than the year before.
E. The year before last, Moviemania experienced a 10 percent increase in popcorn sales over the previous year.

ranell wrote:In January of last year the Moviemania chain of movie theaters started propping its popcorn in canola oil, instead of the less healthful coconut oil that it had been using until then. Now Moviemania is planning to switch back, saying that the change has hurt popcorn sales. That claim is false, however, since according to Moviemania’s own sales figures, Moviemania sold 5 percent more popcorn last year than in the previous year.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the argument against
Moviemania’s claim?
A. Total sales of all refreshments at Moviemania’s movie theaters increased by less than 5 percent last year.
B. Moviemania makes more money on food and beverages sold at its theaters than it does on sales of movie tickets.
C. Moviemania’s customers prefer the taste of popcorn popped in coconut oil to that of popcorn popped in canola oil.
D. Total attendance at Moviemania’s movie theaters was more than 20 percent higher last year than the year before.
E. The year before last, Moviemania experienced a 10 percent increase in popcorn sales over the previous year.

I will go with A. A clearly establishes that sale of popcorn has been doing really well.

ranell wrote:In January of last year the Moviemania chain of movie theaters started propping its popcorn in canola oil, instead of the less healthful coconut oil that it had been using until then. Now Moviemania is planning to switch back, saying that the change has hurt popcorn sales. That claim is false, however, since according to Moviemania’s own sales figures, Moviemania sold 5 percent more popcorn last year than in the previous year.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the argument against
Moviemania’s claim?
A. Total sales of all refreshments at Moviemania’s movie theaters increased by less than 5 percent last year.
B. Moviemania makes more money on food and beverages sold at its theaters than it does on sales of movie tickets.
C. Moviemania’s customers prefer the taste of popcorn popped in coconut oil to that of popcorn popped in canola oil.
D. Total attendance at Moviemania’s movie theaters was more than 20 percent higher last year than the year before.
E. The year before last, Moviemania experienced a 10 percent increase in popcorn sales over the previous year.

IMO A. No other option supports the argument withing the context of the passage.

i think it is A coz it says that overall refreshment sales is increased by less than 5 % and the stimuli says that popcorn sales has increased by 5 %, so that means that other refreshments' sales was not as good as popcorn's, hence support argument against Moviemania’s claim.

IMO - A

Rest are either out of scope or strengthen the argument.

But Total Sales increase might mean sales of popcorn might remain constant or even decrease, since it refers to Total Sales of all refreshments increased by 5%, it can increase without any change to popcorn as well, so can we definitely prove that it is A? Please help explain. Thanks.

Total sales of all refreshments. all includes popcorn.

joymukhi wrote:But Total Sales increase might mean sales of popcorn might remain constant or even decrease, since it refers to Total Sales of all refreshments increased by 5%, it can increase without any change to popcorn as well, so can we definitely prove that it is A? Please help explain. Thanks.

Option A looks good than other answers.