The percentage of family income spent on entertainment has remained nearly constant over the last twenty years—around twelve percent. When new entertainment forms gain popularity, they do not increase this percentage; rather, they divert consumer spending from other entertainment types. Consequently, film producers have viewed the video boom with apprehension, as every dollar spent on video rentals implies one less dollar spent on movie theatre tickets.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly weakens the argument presented in the passage?

Question

The percentage of family income spent on entertainment has remained nearly constant over the last twenty years—around twelve percent. When new entertainment forms gain popularity, they do not increase this percentage; rather, they divert consumer spending from other entertainment types. Consequently, film producers have viewed the video boom with apprehension, as every dollar spent on video rentals implies one less dollar spent on movie theatre tickets.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly weakens the argument presented in the passage?

Accepted Answer

**Solution:**

1. The passage argues that the total percentage of family income spent on entertainment remains constant at about 12%, and new entertainment forms like video rentals only shift spending from movie theatres rather than increasing overall spending.

2. The argument assumes that spending on videos comes entirely at the expense of movie theatre admissions, implying no net increase in entertainment expenditure.

3. Option (d) states that since the video boom began, spending on other entertainment forms (excluding videos and movies) has declined. This suggests that video rentals may have attracted additional spending that was previously allocated to other entertainment categories, not just movies.

4. This undermines the argument by showing that the video boom could have increased total entertainment spending or at least shifted spending from other entertainment types, not just from movie theatres.

5. Other options either support the argument or do not directly challenge the core assumption that video rentals only cannibalize movie theatre revenue.

**Answer:** Since the start of the video boom, money spent on forms of entertainment other than videos and movies has decreased.

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