Tricky CR

[ssgomz]

IMO E

summary - Oil prices are not affected hence cost of natural gas is not affected in mild winter.

implies in adverse weather impact on natural gas prices results from a higher impact on oil prices.

[arindambanerji]

IMO A

Conclusion –
Unless severe winter, oil $ remain low

Premise –
Now – winter, but oil $ low

Assumptions –
If the temperature or the environment conditions remains the same then the oil prices won’t increase.
There won’t be any scarcity of oil available
There wont be any fierce competition which may raise the oil prices

Any statement which support any of the assumptions made above will help strengthen the conclusion. The environment conditions remaining the same will ensure that the cost doesn’t increase.

What is OA?

[Apex231]

Should be A. OA please?

[kkjl]

B is ok
trying to explain:
it is said in the passage that despite the weather, oil price remains low and the term "therefore" is used, showing a process of cause-effect. In other words the low price of oil leads to a low price of gas in the same weather condition.
So if something should suppot the conclusion it should give a logical link to the price of these products(oil and gas). as B explains that they could be substituated: if the oil price is low, that of gas will be low too (because if the gas price is up the customers will switch to oil, thus to avoid this, the price of the gas should be low )
NB note a native speaker so please forgive bad uses.

[antonydavis]

I think its A, for the same reason as arindambanerji