In modern “brushless” car washes, cloth strips called mitters have

In modern “brushless” car washes, cloth strips called mitters have replaced brushes. Mitters are easier on most cars’ finishes than brushes are. This is especially important with the new clear-coat finishes found on many cars today, which are more easily scratched than older finishes are.

Which one of the following is most strongly supported by the statements above, if those statements are true?

In this Inference Question, the argument introduces two types of washes, brush & mitters,and two type of finishes, new clear-coat & older finishes. Also, given is that mitters is better on most car finishes, especially the more susceptible to scratches new-coat one.

Now, with that information let's go over the answer choices.

(A) When car washes all used brushes rather than mitters, there were more cars on the road with scratched finishes than there are today.

We don't know when the mitters were brought in vis a vis brushes by the modern car washes and there is no way to ascertain whether the same was concurrent with the introduction of new-coat surfaces on cars. It could be that brushes were still in vogue when cars began to have the new-coat surfaces,in which case it is possible that there were more cars on the road with scratched finishes than there are today. However, if it was the other way round, then the opposite would be true since the mitters are easier on new-coat finishes and by extension on the old car finishes that are supposedly more ruggedised compared to the new ones.
Not our answer.

(B) Modern “brushless” car washes were introduced as a direct response to the use of clear-coat finishes on cars.

Nowhere mentioned that mitters were introduced as a response to new finishes. Infact, there is no way to ascertain what came first or whether the two were concurrent.
Let's move to the next choice.

(C) Modern “brushless” car washes usually do not produce visible scratches on cars with older finishes.

This is quite possible that the mitters that are easier on the more susceptible new-coat finishes don't usually produce visible scratches on cars with older finishes,the more ruggedised variant as compared.
Let's keep it.

(D) Brushes are more effective than mitters and are preferred for cleaning cars with older finishes.

Whether the mitters are more effective than brushes is not mentioned. Just that they produce less scratches.
Ignore.


(E) More cars in use today have clear-coat finishes rather than older finishes.

No way to know what car finishes are more prevalent. Just two finishes and two washes given in the premises.
Not our answer.

C it is.

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