What assumption does the author make to reach the conclusion?

Directions: Answer the question based on the following passage.

Tastes of people for travel destinations have changed manifold over the last few years. A recent survey revealed that sixty percent of people preferred going to mountains for vacations which is more than twice the preference in last year’s survey. Happy Home group of hotels has decided to shut down the operation of three of its resorts in coastal part of the country. Other hotels, operational in tourist spots in adjacent areas, will also suffer in the coming years.

(1) Incorrect. (1) is not inherent, because even if the level stabilizes, the conclusion will still be true. (2) Incorrect. (2) is rendered incorrect by a particular season only (peak season). Even if mountains pull away tourists from other areas in peak season, other areas might remain busy in other parts of the year. (3) Correct. If we withdraw the assumption at (3), the conclusion is automatically negated. Only if travelers forsake other areas for mountains will the hotels in other vacation spots lose clients. (4) Incorrect. If people choose going to these vacation spots during vacations (during other times tourist traffic is still there, though less than 'sufficient'), the hotels might not be forced to close. (5) Incorrect. This assumption, not its withdrawal, will negate the conclusion. If the surveys covered same/ similar populace, the group might not be representative of entire population and the conclusion will not hold.