Critical Reasoning

[BTGmoderatorRO]

General Autos sold a record number of automobiles last year. Will General Autos bring in another record this year? Well, an automobile is sold either within the United States or sold overseas in international markets. Abroad, automobiles have been sold this year at well below last year's record pace. At the same time, there is considerable evidence that the number of overseas offices opened will be no higher this year than it was last year, and surely the new overseas offices opened this year will sell no more automobiles per office location than did last year's overseas offices. Clearly, it can be concluded that the incremental number of automobiles sold this year will fall short of last year's record.

In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

(A) The first is a prediction that, if accurate, would provide support for the main conclusion of the argument; the second is that main conclusion.

(B) The first is a prediction that, if accurate, would provide support for the main conclusion of the argument; the second is a conclusion drawn in order to support that main conclusion.

(C) The first is an objection that the argument rejects; the second is the main conclusion of the argument.

(D) The first is an objection that the argument rejects; the second presents a conclusion that could be drawn if that objection were allowed to stand.

(E) The first is a claim that has been advanced in support of a position that the argument opposes; the second is a claim advanced in support of the main conclusion of the argument.

OA is A
what could have made option A better than option C. I need a clear analysis of this from an Expert.

[DavidG@VeritasPrep]

General Autos sold a record number of automobiles last year. Will General Autos bring in another record this year? Well, an automobile is sold either within the United States or sold overseas in international markets. Abroad, automobiles have been sold this year at well below last year's record pace. At the same time, there is considerable evidence that the number of overseas offices opened will be no higher this year than it was last year, and surely the new overseas offices opened this year will sell no more automobiles per office location than did last year's overseas offices. Clearly, it can be concluded that the incremental number of automobiles sold this year will fall short of last year's record.

In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

(A) The first is a prediction that, if accurate, would provide support for the main conclusion of the argument; the second is that main conclusion.

(B) The first is a prediction that, if accurate, would provide support for the main conclusion of the argument; the second is a conclusion drawn in order to support that main conclusion.

(C) The first is an objection that the argument rejects; the second is the main conclusion of the argument.

(D) The first is an objection that the argument rejects; the second presents a conclusion that could be drawn if that objection were allowed to stand.

(E) The first is a claim that has been advanced in support of a position that the argument opposes; the second is a claim advanced in support of the main conclusion of the argument.

OA is A
what could have made option A better than option C. I need a clear analysis of this from an Expert.

Clearly, the second bold is the main conclusion of the argument. The sentence begins with, "it can be concluded." So that leaves only A and C as options. (You could maybe hold on to D to be safe.)

So let's look at the first bold. the new overseas offices opened this year will sell no more automobiles per office. This is a prediction consistent with the conclusion - if the offices don't increase their sales, they won't be able to compensate for their slow start, meaning sales overall will be down. It's certainly not an objection. That leaves us with A.