Question

TheaterGoer: In January of last year the Megaplex chain of movie theaters started popping its popcorn in canola oil, instead of the less healthful coconut oil that it had been using until then. Now Megaplex is planning to switch back, saying that the change has hurt popcorn sales. That claim is false, however, since according to Megaplex’s own sales figures, Megaplex sold 5% more popcorn last year than in the previous year.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the theatergoer's argument ?
A. Total sales of all refreshments at Megaplex’s movie theaters increased by less than 5 percent last year.
B. Megaplex makes more money on food and beverages sold at its theaters than it does on sales of movie tickets.
C. Megaplex customers prefer the taste of popcorn popped in coconut oil to that of popcorn popped in canola oil
D. Total attendance at Megaplex’s movie theaters was more than 20 percent higher last year than the year before.
E. The year before last, Megaplex experienced a 10 percent increase in popcorn sales over the previous year.

Answer 1

The subject of this question is Critical Thinking. The correct answer is option A, as it weakens the argument by suggesting that other factors may have contributed to the increase in popcorn sales.

Step-by-step explanation:

The subject of this question is Critical Thinking since it requires analyzing the argument presented and identifying the statement that weakens it.

The claim made by the TheaterGoer is that the switch from canola oil to coconut oil has hurt popcorn sales. This claim is challenged by the fact that Megaplex sold 5% more popcorn last year than in the previous year, according to their own sales figures. To weaken the argument, we need to find a statement that contradicts or undermines this claim.

The correct answer is option A. If it is true that the total sales of all refreshments at Megaplex's movie theaters increased by less than 5 percent last year, then it suggests that the increase in popcorn sales may not be solely attributed to the switch in oil. Other factors could be contributing to the overall increase in sales.