Hadrienlbb wrote:
A recent decline in sales at GEOCOM, a company that services mining equipment, was attributed to the failure of its new sales manager to implement an effective marketing strategy. However, the current economic recession has also contributed significantly to this decline. Over the last two years, 15 percent of all mining companies have drastically decreased their operations because of lower demand for their products.
In the argument above, the boldface portion plays which of the following roles?
A) It is the main conclusion of the argument.
B) It is a statement opposed by the argument.
C) It provides support to the main conclusion of the argument.
D) It is a premise that explains why the new sales manager failed.
E) It is a sub-conclusion that serves as evidence in support of the main conclusion.
The argument:
Context - The company services mining equipment. Reduction is sales was attributed to the new sales manager's failure.
Premise - Over the last 2 years, 15% of mining companies have drastically reduced their operations (the clients of the company are not doing well)
Conclusion - the current economic recession has also contributed significantly to this decline
The bold portion is the main conclusion of the argument. It is the reason the author wrote the argument. She says that the decline was attributed to the manager, BUT the recession has contributed significantly too and then she goes on to provide evidence (that 15% of mining companies have reduced their operations).
Hence, answer is (A)