After an earthquake several years ago in the country of Altrus - the first in over a century - many communication cables in the country were damaged. After another, more recent earthquake, very few communication cables were damaged.
Which of the following, if true, most helps to explain why communication cables were damaged in the first earthquake but few were damaged in the second earthquake?
(A) In between the two earthquakes, the government of Altrus initiated a program emphasizing the use of cellular phones that do not rely on the use of communication cables. - the sue of cellular phones does not affect the argument; communication cables that may not be used in cellular phones but may be in other systems.
(B) The magnitude of the first earthquake was roughly the same as the magnitude of the second earthquake. - this does not explain why very few communication cables were damaged in the 2nd one, is against the conclusion.
(C) Many of the communication cables damaged in the first earthquake were in poor condition already, and they were subsequently replaced by newer, stronger cables. - Yes this explains why in the 2nd EQ the damage was less i.e if newer & stronger cables are more resistant in EQ.
(D) Most of the cables damaged by the first earthquake were at least one foot in circumference. - out of scope
(E) The first earthquake was several magnitudes weaker than the second earthquake. - magnitude is out of scope