Critical Reasoning

richachampion wrote:I am highly confused in this question.

Part 1: Theatergoer: In January _______ sales.

Part 2: That claim is false, however, since ______ year.

Part 1: is about the theatergoer that means If we weaken what he is saying we can solve the question.
Part 2: is about what the author of this Critical reasoning question is saying.
Part 2 is actually opposing what the Theatergoer is saying so in a way it is weakening.

We can solve this question in two ways -
Either by weakening what theatergoer is saying or by strengthening what the author of this question says because the author is actually weakening what the theatergoer is saying.

Experts am I right?

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

Decoding the argument -

Fact/Background Information: Theatergoer: In January of last year, the Megaplex chain of movie theaters started popping its popcorn in canola oil, instead of the less healthful coconut oil that it had been using until then.

Fact/Background Information: Now Megaplex is planning to switch back, saying that the change has hurt popcorn sales.

Conclusion: That claim is false,
Reason for the Conclusion: however, since according to Megaplex's own sales figures, Megaplex sold five percent more popcorn last year than in the previous year.

Our Job : we have to weaken what theatergoer is saying or we have to strengthen the conclusion:
That claim is false,
In simple words we have to prove that sale has increased. Then how does E is proving this?

(E) Total attendance at Megaplex's movie theaters was more than 20 percent higher last year than the year before

Option E is dealing everything in %age that means total visitors increased by 20%, but sales of Popcorn only increased by 5%.(Megaplex sold five percent more popcorn last year than in the previous year. )
So ultimately this is reinforcing the theatergoer statement that sales have tripped down.

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

Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the theatergoer's argument?

(A) When it switched from using coconut oil to using canola coil, Megaplex made sure that the chain received a great deal of publicity stressing the health benefits of the change.

(B) Megaplex makes more money on food and beverages sold at its theaters than it does on sales of movie tickets.

(C) In a survey to determine public response to the change to canola oil, very few of Megaplex's customers said that the change had affected their popcorn-buying habits.

(D) Total sales of all food and beverage items at Megaplex's movie theaters increased by less than five percent last year.

(E) Total attendance at Megaplex's movie theaters was more than 20 percent higher last year than the year before.