Although the discount stores in Goreville central shopping district are expected to close within five years as a result of competition from a SpendLess discount department store that just opened, those locations will not stay vacant for long. In the five years since the opening of Colson's, a nondiscount department store, a new store has opened at the location of every store in the shopping district that closed because it could not compete with Colson's.


Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?



(A) Many customers of Colson's are expected to do less shopping there than they did before the SpendLess store opened.


(B) Increasingly, the stores that have opened in the central shopping district since Colson's opened have been discount stores.


(C) At present, the central shopping district has as many stores operating in it as it ever had.


(D) Over the course of the next five years, it is expected that Goreville's population will grow at a faster rate than it has for the past several decades.


(E) Many stores in the central shopping district sell types of merchandise that are not available at either SpendLess or Colson’s.


Quite a tricky one. Nevertheless, let’s try to understand the stimulus


the discount stores in Goreville central shopping district are expected to close within five years as a result of competition from a SpendLess discount department store that just opened


Opinion/ Conclusion- 


But, 

those locations will not stay vacant for long.



Because (Reasoning)-


After the opening of Colson’s, a nondiscount store, several other stores closed because it could not compete with Colson’s. (Colson’s competitors- also nondiscount stores)

But in the five years since the opening of Colson’s, a new store has opened at the location of every store in the shopping district that closed


Question- weaken the argument


We need to find an option that weakens the conclusion that Goreville central shopping district won’t stay vacant for long. 


Or that it will be occupied. 


(A) Many customers of Colson's are expected to do less shopping there than they did before the SpendLess store opened.


This does not impact the conclusion. Eliminate


(B) Increasingly, the stores that have opened in the central shopping district since Colson's opened have been discount stores.


Colson’s- non discount store

The ones that closed- non discount store

New stores- discount store


SpendLess, that just opened - discount store

The stores that are expected to close- discount stores


Option B reduces the probability of those locations (Goreville central shopping district) getting occupied by new stores. 


How?


When Colson’s opened, it hit the stores that it was in competition with. (nondiscount stores)


SpendLess is a discount store- it will hit the stores that it is in competition with (discount stores)


If the new stores that replaced nondiscount stores are discount stores, how will it compete with SpendLess, which is already a discount store? Moreover, the premise says that the discount stores in Goreville central shopping district are expected to close within five years as a result of competition from SpendLess discount department store. This weakens the possibility of Goreville central shopping district getting occupied by new stores. Correct.


(C) At present, the central shopping district has as many stores operating in it as it ever had.


The conclusion is that Goreville central shopping district won’t stay vacant for long even if other stores close within the next five years. Option C simply states that at present, the central shopping district has as many stores operating in it as it ever had.

This does not impact our conclusion on whether Goreville central shopping district will stay vacant for long if other stores close within the next five years. Eliminate


(D) Over the course of the next five years, it is expected that Goreville's population will grow at a faster rate than it has for the past several decades.


The rise in population cannot be equated with new stores replacing the closed ones/Goreville central shopping district getting occupied by new stores

Eliminate


(E) Many stores in the central shopping district sell types of merchandise that are not available at either SpendLess or Colson’s.


What type of merchandise they sell is beyond the scope of the argument. The argument sticks to stores opening and closing because of competition. Eliminate.