18. Critics of sales seminars run by outside consultants point out that since 1987, revenues of vacuum cleaner companies whose employees attended consultant-led seminars were lower than revenues of vacuum cleaner companies whose employees did not attend such seminars. The critics charge that for vacuum cleaner companies, the sales seminars are ill conceived and a waste of money.

Which of the following, if true, is the most effective challenge to the critics of sales seminars?

(A) Those vacuum cleaner companies whose sales were highest prior to 1987 are the only companies that did not send employees to the seminars.

(B) Vacuum cleaner companies that have sent employees to sales seminars since 1987 experienced a greater drop in sales than they had prior to 1987.

(C) The cost of vacuum cleaner sales seminars run by outside consultants has risen dramatically since 1987.

(D) The poor design of vacuum cleaner sales seminars is not the only reason for their ineffectiveness.（A）

(E) Since 1987, sales of vacuum cleaners have risen twenty percent.

please help me ? why is A?

A的意思是说没有参加的公司只是1987年之前营收就是最高的。所以原文1987年之后参加的营收低不能说明销售研讨会是浪费钱。也就是这个营收比较（批评者的前提）对结论是没有意义的。

答案比较绕。可以用排除法，B,C,D,E很容易排除。

谢谢