Critical Reasoning

Sales manager: Last year the total number of meals sold in our company restaurants was much higher than it was the year before. Obviously consumers find our meals desirable.
Accountant: If you look at individual restaurants, however, you find that the number of meals sold actually decreased substantially at every one of our restaurants that was in operation both last year and the year before. The desirability of our meals to consumers has clearly decreased, given that this group of restaurants---the only ones for which we have sales figures that permit a comparison between last year and the year before---demonstrates a trend toward fewer sales.

6. Which one of the following, if true, most seriously calls into question the accountant's argument?

A. The company's restaurants last year dropped from their menus most of the new dishes that had been introduced the year before.
B. Prior to last year there was an overall downward trend in the company's sales.
C. Those of the company's restaurants that did increase their sales last year did not offer large discounts on prices to attract customers.
D. Sales of the company's most expensive meal contributed little to the overall two-year sales increase.
E. Most of the company's restaurants that were in operation throughout both last year and the year before are located in areas where residents experienced a severe overall decline in income last year.

C - Desirability decreased (cause) --> decrease in sales (effect)

To weaken, bring in an alternative cause. IMO E fits by showing that it is decline in income (cause) that caused decrease in sales (effect)

OA pls.

IMO - E offers the strongest explanation that can be used to counter accountant's argument.

If the income of the residents declined then it can be stated that the desirability of the consumers did not decrease.

Agree that answer that is E.

yes it is E

O, If choice E is correct, that does not weaken the accountan't argument because the effect took place !!!! Why E ??

I choose B. OA Please.

E IMO too. OA plz

riteshbindal wrote:E IMO too. OA plz

How does E weaken his argument ? if restaurant were located in low income areas, so his argument is valed that sales were low ?

heshamelaziry wrote:

riteshbindal wrote:E IMO too. OA plz

How does E weaken his argument ? if restaurant were located in low income areas, so his argument is valed that sales were low ?

Accountants conclusion - Desirability decreased (cause) --> decrease in sales (effect)

To weaken, bring in an alternative cause. E fits by showing that it is the decline in income (cause) that caused decrease in sales (effect)

Even I chose E but The OA I have is A and there is no OE
Any comment on A

Where did you get this question from ? If there is no Official explanation for why A is the correct answer, choose E as it is perfect.

I have never seen such a weird answer before !!!!!!!!!

heshamelaziry wrote:Where did you get this question from ? If there is no Official explanation for why A is the correct answer, choose E as it is perfect.

I have never seen such a weird answer before !!!!!!!!!

I am sorry for not having OA.
I found this set of question from another GMAT forum.
But my no means I found this question weird.
Answer to your other question that you have asked---Yes I am registered to forum for almost 2 years but able start my preparation in Aug of this yr only.
I hope answers all you question!!!

IMO A strengthens accountants argument.

arorag wrote:

heshamelaziry wrote:Where did you get this question from ? If there is no Official explanation for why A is the correct answer, choose E as it is perfect.

I have never seen such a weird answer before !!!!!!!!!

I am sorry for not having OA.
I found this set of question from another GMAT forum.
But my no means I found this question weird.
Answer to your other question that you have asked---Yes I am registered to forum for almost 2 years but able start my preparation in Aug of this yr only.
I hope answers all you question!!!

I said the answer is weired not the question. I think that if there is not OA with the question, no one learns anything. Especially with tough quetsions like this one.

I would go with option A as the correct option