AsadAbu wrote:
Since City X passed a regulation requiring fast food restaurants to post the caloric content of their food in prominent places, total revenue at the city’s fast food restaurants has decreased 10 percent. Clearly, City X’s regulation has encouraged people to eat healthier food.
Which of the following, if true, casts the most doubt on the conclusion drawn above?
A. The average price of meal at a fast food restaurant in City X has decreased by 5 percent.
B. City X passed the regulation in response to a nation wide obesity epidemic.
C. After the regulations were passed, a number of City X’s fast food restaurants closed down and moved their operations to locations outside the city.
D. The population of City X has remained unchanged since the passing of the regulation.
E. Surveys show that many citizens of City X do not approve of the new regulations.
Source: McGraw-Hill's GMAT
Premise : Since City X passed a regulation requiring fast food restaurants to post the caloric content of their food in prominent places, total revenue at the city’s fast food restaurants has decreased 10 percent.
Conclusion : Clearly, City X’s regulation has encouraged people to eat healthier food.
A. The average price of meal at a fast food restaurant in City X has decreased by 5 percent.Average price decrease of 5% at a single fast food restaurant can't make a decrease of 10% revenue of total revenue of all fast food restaurant at city. (it is possible only if sale is very high for this particular restaurant.) Also decrease in price might attract more customers which may result in increase in revenue.
Let's keep it, it may weaken the statement.
B. City X passed the regulation in response to a nation wide obesity epidemic.This is a cause of passing regulation but it doesn't weaken the statement.
C. After the regulations were passed, a number of City X’s fast food restaurants closed down and moved their operations to locations outside the city.
CorrectA number of City X's fast food restaurants closed down and moved outside the city. So, this caused the decrease in revenue overall directly. And hence this weaken the conclusion that the regulation has encouraged people to eat healthier food.
D. The population of City X has remained unchanged since the passing of the regulation.Doesn't signify anything. Doesn't weaken the conclusion in any way
E. Surveys show that many citizens of City X do not approve of the new regulations.Out of scope. This might have led to no decrease in revenue.