Although tales of wonder and the fantastic are integral to all world l

premises:
1. sales of fantasy-fiction books written for adults increased
2. # of favorable reviews of fantasy books increased
conclusion:
increased favorable attention given to the genre by book reviewers caused the increased sales of fantasy books written for adults

(A) Many experts report that on average the reading level of book buyers has declined over the past 20 years. - declined reading level of book buyers cannot explain why increase in reviews cause increase in sales of the book

(B) Because life during the past 20 years has become complex and difficult, many readers have come to prefer the happy endings that fantasy fiction often provides. - people may prefer happy endings, but that does not mean the increased reviews affected increase in sales of the book

(C) Some fantasy publishers take advantage of the popularity of certain books by commissioning similar books. - irrelevant

(D) Because few readers of mystery novels were buying fantasy fiction, 10 years ago the major publishers of fantasy fiction created an advertising campaign directed specifically at those readers. - weakens the argument. it says that increase in sales of the book is actually because of the ad campaign.

(E) After fantasy fiction began to be favorably reviewed by respected critics 20 years ago, book buyers began to regard fantasy books as suitable reading for adults.

Although tales of wonder and the fantastic are integral to all world literatures, only recently has the fantasy genre had a commercial resurgence in North America. During the last 20 years, sales of fantasy-fiction books written for adults have gone from 1 to 10 percent of total adult-fiction sales. At the same time, the number of favorable reviews of fantasy books has increased markedly. Some booksellers say that the increased sales of fantasy books written for adults can be traced to the increased favorable attention given to the genre by book reviewers.

Which one of the following, if true, most strongly supports the booksellers’ explanation of the growth in sales of fantasy-fiction books for adults?

Stimulus: stimulus states that the adult fiction fantasy book demand has increased and they attribute this increase to the increased favorable attention given to the genre by book reviewers.

(A) Many experts report that on average the reading level of book buyers has declined over the past 20 years.

(B) Because life during the past 20 years has become complex and difficult, many readers have come to prefer the happy endings that fantasy fiction often provides.

(C) Some fantasy publishers take advantage of the popularity of certain books by commissioning similar books.

(D) Because few readers of mystery novels were buying fantasy fiction, 10 years ago the major publishers of fantasy fiction created an advertising campaign directed specifically at those readers.

(E) After fantasy fiction began to be favorably reviewed by respected critics 20 years ago, book buyers began to regard fantasy books as suitable reading for adults.

IMO E: we need to support the argument by confirming that the increase in sales for fiction books was due to attention given by reviewers. as per the option E it clearly states that as the fantasy fiction began favorably reviewed by respected critics 20 years ago, book buyers began regarding it suitable and so the sales rose

Ans: E

After fantasy fiction began to be favorably reviewed by respected critics 20 years ago, book buyers began to regard fantasy books as suitable reading for adults.

This strengthens! This says that after the reviews started to come out, book buyers began to take these books more seriously.