Answer:
A) The article quotes experts and statistics to support the claim is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
Since Preston is writing an essay, there are many things to consider. One of the most important ones is the tone, so irony and humor might not be the best for this type of writing or for his goal (consumerism.) Even though it could be helpful to give an example, if the essay told the story of one family, this could be understood as one particular case and not the general situation, meaning it would not be enough to prove Preston's point. A question and answer format would not be the most proper for the essay, since it could limit Preston's ideas to what is asked in the question. A is correct because the writer wants to show a specific point and experts quotes and statistics are usually more specialized than the other options, or they are based on other previous studies and not on particular situations, helping Preston to give a more general idea of consumerism and its effects.