Critical Reasoning

Social worker: Despite the existence of a public school system that does not demand fees of any kind, children drop out of school at an early age due to various difficulties at home.

School principal: Difficulties at home are not exactly the cause behind the children leaving school. The problem is that many parents simply allow their children to choose whether to go to school or stay home, and that in such cases children will obviously choose not to go to school.

Which of the following, if true, most weakens the principal's objection to the social worker's claim?

A) It has been noted that parents today are far less adamant about their children attending school with perfect regularity than parents were 50 years ago.

B) A public school system that does not require the payment of fees can only be maintained by the collection of relatively high income taxes.

C) A recent survey shows that 9 out of 10 children would avoid school attendance if given the opportunity to do so.

D) Research in the field of education and social structure shows that a large percentage of children from low-income families must spend 8 hours a day working or taking care of siblings

E) The premature departure of children from the schooling program affects the number of professional employees and, in turn, the economy.

OA D

Source: Economist Gmat