Abhishek009
IMHO (E)!!
The lower average price per pound of vegetables in City Y has got nothing to do with better nutritional habits of people in City X than those in City Y...
Hi there!
For me is E and I explain myself.
In this case the question is asking you to select the option that does not weaken the conclusion which is that people in City X have better nutritional habits than those in City Y (conclusion of the argument) given that "a greater number of fresh vegetables are sold in City X that in City Y" so let´s review the answer choices but let´s pre-think, what if the average prices of vegetables in city X are higher than in city Y. If that was the case, then that could strengthen the argument or at least not weaken it.
a)City X has more people living in it than City Y. >>> INCORRECT: This weakens the argument since the cause of a greater number of vegetables sold divided by the number of people (per capital vegetable consumption) could still be less in City X than City Y.
b)Most of the people in city Y work in city X and buy their vegetables there. >>> INCORRECT: It reveals a flaw the argument. Maybe the cause of more consumption of vegetables in City X is because of consumption from people living in City Y and not living in City X. So this also weakens the argument.
c)the people in city city X buy many of their vegetables as decorations, not to eat. >>> INCORRECT: Weakens as it clearly distinguish buying with consumption >>>
d)the per capita consumption of junk food in city X is three times that in city Y >>> INCORRECT: Weakens the conclusion, the "better nutritional habits" part is under attack by the fact that people in City X consume more junk food that people in City Y.
e)The average price per pound of vegetables in city Y is lower than the average price per pound of vegetables in city X.>>> CORRECT: This does not weaken the conclusion. In fact, given the initial statement (premise + conclusion) and adding the information in this answer choice "E", it can be said that people in City X buy more vegetables than people in City Y despite the fact that they are more expensive in City X than in City Y.
Hope this helps!
PS: I do not have the OA though.