nikhil.jones.s wrote:
The cost of transatlantic airfare has nearly doubled over the past five years, yet airlines are doing a booming business. Clearly, people today have more money to spend on vacations than they did five years ago.
All of the following, if true, would weaken the argument above EXCEPT:
(A) Most people buying transatlantic tickets today use them for business trips, so airfare is refunded by their companies.
(B) There are fewer airlines in existence today than five years ago.
(C) People are taking shorter vacations and staying in cheaper hotels than they used to.
(D) Crossing the Atlantic by ship requires more time than most people can afford.
(E) Domestic airline flights have seen a steady increase in passengers.
IMO E
CONCLUSION: people today have more money to spend on vacations than they did five years ago.
FOUR ANSWER CHOICES WILL WEAKEN THIS CONCLUSION===>4 OPTIONS WILL PROVIDE SOMETHING TO BELIEVE THAT people are spending not because they have more money
TO SPEND ON VACATIONS...but because of some other reasons.
(A)
Most people buying transatlantic tickets today use them for business trips, so airfare is refunded by their companies.
if all there money is getting refunded==>this means they are not investing from their pocket==>so we cant say that people have more money to spend.hence weakens==>incorrect
(B) There are fewer airlines in existence today than five years ago.==>fewer airlines are there===>supply is less ...demand is more===>it means because people dont have other options thats why they are spending more====>weakens===>incorrect
(C) People are taking shorter vacations and staying in cheaper hotels than they used to.===>clearly if people are taking shorter vacations..and living in cheaper hotels===>they dont have more money tto spend on vacations====>clearly weakens===>incorrect
(D) Crossing the Atlantic by ship requires more time than most people can afford.===>there is only 2 way to crossing atlantic===>either by ship or by plane===>by ship it is taking so much time that people cant afford to spend===>clearly they have only one option by air...so thats why they are paying more because of their need.==>weakens==incorrect
(E) Domestic airline flights have seen a steady increase in passengers.===>we are not worried about DOMESTIC AIRLINES==WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT TRANSATLANTIC flights===>this one misses the point===>hence CORRECT.
hope it helps