Let's break down the stimulus. We have an argument concluding "no more than one-quarter of [films released in country Z in 1992] were based on books published in country Z in 1991."
How do we know this? Well, first we are told that 5,000 of the 50,000 books published in country Z in 1991 were novels and that exactly 25 of the films released in country Z in 1992 were based on those novels. The last premise is that 100 films were released in country Z in 1992.
If 25 films were based on these novels and 100 total films were released in country Z in 1992, we can properly conclude that no more than one-quarter of the films released in country Z in 1992 were based on NOVELS published in country Z in 1991.
However, this argument is concluding that no more than one-quarter were based on BOOKS published in country Z in 1991.
This is clearly flawed but we have been asked to find the premise that would 100% guarantee the conclusion of this argument. To guarantee this conclusion, we would need to know that none of the films released in country Z in 1992 were based on books other than novels. If these 25 films were the only films released in country Z in 1992 that were based on books written in country Z in 1991, the conclusion would follow logically.
Let's take a look at the answer choices:
(A) Completely irrelevant. We do not care who wrote the scripts used in the films.
(B) Bingo! If none of the films released in country Z in 1992 were based on books other than novels, then these 25 films were the only films released based on books published in country Z in 1991. As such, (B) would be the correct answer. It 100% guarantees the conclusion of the argument.
(C) Irrelevant. The jump here is from NOVELS to BOOKS.
(D) Irrelevant. Who cares if one film released in country Z in 1992 was based on older films that had been released for the first time many years earlier? This has absolutely no bearing on this argument.
(E) Irrelevant. This argument is about films released in country Z in 1992. We do not care about films released in country Z in 1991.
Hope this helps! Please let us know if you have any other questions.
ShirnelMay 26, 2020
I totally get why (B) is correct but can you further expand so I am certain I am getting the logic correct. Thank you.
