Critical Reasoning

As media exposure increased for the Jersey Shore in the last 5 years, the annual number of people visiting the shore increased each year. Over the same period, however, the number of people getting sun burns from suntanning decreased, even though there was no reduction in the number of people suntanning on the beach each day. Further, the number of sunny days and the UV (Ultraviolet) Index actually increased.

Which of the following, if true for the Jersey Shore over the last 5 years, most helps to explain the decrease?

(A)
Sunburns are most likely to happen when beach go-ers suntan for consecutive sunny days at the beach.

(B)
Sunburns severely damage at least several people's skin each year at the Jersey Shore (hyperpigmentation, discoloration and burned patches of skin)

(C)
People going to the Jersey Shore used suntan lotion with increasing levels of UV protection and monitored UV levels to help determine what times during the day were most suitable for being in the sun.

(D)
The average length of stay for people visiting the Jersey Shore increased slightly.

(E)
Construction of new shops, malls, and casinos by the Jersey shore helped attract visitors to go indoors rather than stay outdoors.

Source: https://bit.ly/2pgvHd3

This type of question, commonly known as a resolve, explain, or paradox question, asks us to reconcile a perplexing or contradictory situation.

Our first step is to determine the two contradictory premises.

In this case the argument states:

A: The number of people getting sun burns from suntanning decreased.
B: There was no reduction in the number of people suntanning on the beach each day.

Now we can analyze the choices.

Answer choice (A). There is no information in the argument to suggest that suntanners are or are not going to the beach for consecutive days. This inforamtion is out of scope.
Answer choice (B). This is extra information that doesn't address the conflict between the two statements.
Answer choice (C). This is the best answer. People can go to the beach while using better sun protection and get fewer sunburns.
Answer choice (D). This answer does not resolve the conflict. If anything, it makes it worse.
Answer choice (E). I can definitely see how someone might pick this option. People might reason that people are going to the beach but staying indoors. However, the contradictory premise (B) indicates that there was no reduction in the number of people suntanning on the beach each day. Accordingly, information about some people staying inside is irrelevant.