Why (D) is right: showing the plan can backfire
A Weaken explanation from our free library. The question below is original, written for this page. Then the full breakdown: why the right answer is right, and why each wrong answer is wrong.
The question
To reduce crowding, the museum will raise ticket prices. Higher prices will mean fewer visitors, and fewer visitors will mean less crowding.
Which one of the following, if true, most weakens the reasoning behind the museum's plan?
- The museum's ticket prices are already among the highest in the city.
- Fewer visitors would also mean less ticket revenue for the museum.
- Other museums have eased crowding by extending their hours instead.
- The last time this museum raised prices, protests filled the building with crowds for weeks. Correct
- Crowding at the museum is worst on weekends.
Why (D) is correct
The plan assumes the chain holds: higher prices, fewer visitors, less crowding. Choice (D) breaks the chain with the museum's own history. A past price hike did not thin the crowds. It packed the building with protesters.
If raising prices can increase crowding, the plan's core assumption collapses. On plan questions, the strongest weakener usually shows the plan backfiring or the assumed mechanism failing.
Why the wrong answers are wrong
(A) True but irrelevant
The plan only needs higher prices to reduce attendance. How high they already are does not show the next increase will fail.
(B) True but irrelevant
The goal is less crowding, not more revenue. A side effect on revenue does not show the plan will miss its stated goal.
(C) Out of scope
That another plan works says nothing about whether this plan works. Two plans can both succeed.
(E) True but irrelevant
When crowding peaks does not affect whether higher prices will thin it out. The mechanism the plan relies on is untouched.
Last updated October 12, 2026