If I get this right, I think its a super question!! I have been thinking for more than 10 mins i guess.

So, here's the deal.

The argument essentially says that a home developed should buy a water front plot and sell to make a large profit because people are willing to to buy houses on the water front.

Let us go by the options now:

Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the claim made about urban waterfront properties?

A)People today have more money, relatively speaking, to spend on real estate than they did in previous centuries. -- Not relevant to the argument.
B)Homeowners will be willing to spend large sums on residential properties in traditionally industrial or commercial districts. --- Correct. It is said in the argument that traditionally the waterfronts were industrial hubs. And we know that now people are willing to buy houses there. So, if we know that people are nw willing to spend large sums on traditional industrial districts meaning waterfront, then this choice strengthens the argument.
C)Many urban waterfront lots are available for purchase.--- Irrelevant.
D)Many coastal American cities are encouraging developers to rehabilitate the waterfront through tax incentives. --- This option talks about coastal cities, we want to know about waterfronts in a city.
E)Properties in interior residential districts in coastal American cities are significantly more expensive than those along the waterfront.--- This is entirely against the passage.

you answered correctly and the explanation was better than that of book..but traditional industrial districts were developed in coastal american cities , then why option D is not possible??..by the way thank you very much...& what is Super Question?

vishal_mahajan wrote:you answered correctly and the explanation was better than that of book..but traditional industrial districts were developed in coastal american cities , then why option D is not possible??..by the way thank you very much...& what is Super Question?

In the 18th and 19th centuries, it was believed in many coastal American cities that the waterfront was an undesirable location for residential buildings. As a result, much of the waterfront in these cities was never developed aesthetically and instead was left to industry and commerce. Today, however, waterfront properties are generally seen as prestigious, as evidenced by the large sums paid for homes along the beach front. A developer who wishes to make a large profit would be wise to buy urban waterfront lots and erect residential buildings on them.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the claim made about urban waterfront properties?

A)People today have more money, relatively speaking, to spend on real estate than they did in previous centuries. I see two problems in this option:
(a) people have more money today, does NOT MEAN they are willing to SPEND on residential (may be they will hold money in bank and buy only when price drops)
(b) argument asks developers to build houses (a FUTURE activity), but this choice says BUYERS HAVE more money NOW (present). The time frames are different

D)Many coastal American cities are encouraging developers to rehabilitate the waterfront through tax incentivesThis option talks about WATERFRONT, so its indeed relevant, but this choice does not support the claim that BUILDERS WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE HIGHER PROFITS. Government is encouraging them to build in WATERFRONT areas DOES NOT mean BUYERS ARE READY TO PAY SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER MONEY for URBAN WATERFRONT. It may also be possible that government is encouraging builders because NOT MANY BUILDERS ARE ready to spend money in waterfront areas as buyers are not interested in such areas (note, argument talks about buyers interest in waterfront properties in general - this does not mean that buyers would be interested in URBAN WATERFRONTS as well)

vishal_mahajan wrote:you answered correctly and the explanation was better than that of book..but traditional industrial districts were developed in coastal american cities , then why option D is not possible??..by the way thank you very much...& what is Super Question?

If vishal_mahajan, or any of you have any doubts regarding the CR, we had quite a lively discussion on this one about a month ago.

You can check it out at:
https://www.beatthegmat.com/cr-doubt-t113311.html

Cheers!