Critical Reasoning

Homeowner: Recent drops in the value of our
homes are due to the
undesirability of living near the
recently opened 24-hour bus
depot.
Transportation official: The police, not the bus
depot, are at fault. Survey data
shows that most prospective
homeowners avoid the
community because of its high
crime rate.

Which of the following, if true, would be the most
effective rebuttal that the homeowner could
make to the argument put forward by the
transportation official?
(A) The community's crime rate has risen
nearly as quickly as the value of homes
has fallen, over the same period of time.
(B) Those homeowners whose homes are
situated in the immediate area of the bus
depot must endure constant noise.
(C) The constant activity and commerce
generated by the bus depot has made the
community a favored hangout for thieves
and other criminals.
(D) The community's police force has not
seen a pay raise or increase in manpower
for the last five years.
(E) The surveys of prospective homeowners
did not include questions concerning the
desirability of living in a community with a
24-hour bus depot.

Please explain the reasoning behind your answers.

OA: C

A) Instead of serving as a rebuttal, this option actually shows correlation between crime rate and drop in the value of homes.

B) This option is out of scope and doesn't rebut Transportation officers claim.

C) Correct option: This option uses Transportation officers explanation to support the claim made by the home owner. Perfect choice.

D) Out of scope.

E) This option is tempting but it's an incorrect choice. Even if the surveys of prospective homeowners did include questions concerning the desirability of living in a community with a 24-hour bus depot, there is no guarantee that prospective homeowners would have chosen a 24-hour bus depot as the reason not to live in that community. So this reason isn't a strong enough rebuttal to Transportation officer's claim.

Hope that helps..

The homeowner blames the bus depot for the fall in prices.
The transportation official puts the blame onto the police stating the increase in crime rate as a factor.

Option C : The homeowner blames the depot again for the increase in commerce and activity thus leading to a increase in crime.

Option E is close but it talks of "The surveys of prospective homeowners" where as the passage refers to a survey. hence this option becomes too specific in its statement.

Option A&B are clearly out.
Option D agrees with the transportation official reinstating the fact that police is at fault.

Hope it helps.