The CFO attributes our increased sales last year to the new markets in Eastern Europe. Nevertheless, a careful study of our revenue reveals a boom of sales in Southeast Asia, while the markets in Eastern Europe, after an early surge, settled at levels much lower than expected. After all, in Eastern Europe, our firm has fierce competition from both German and Russian exports, some of which offer exceptionally high quality at low cost. By contrast, no producers in this sector operate to the East of Turkey, and our firm is the only one in our sector with significant inroads into India, Thailand, Vietnam, and Taiwan. Current plans call for expansion into Eastern Europe, but the Southeast Asian markets hold much more promise.

In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

A:The first provides evidence to support the conclusion; the second is that conclusion.

B:The first is evidence that has been used to support a conclusion the argument challenges; the second is a competing conclusion that the argument favors.

C:The first is an objection against a conclusion defended by the argument; the second is that conclusion.

D:The first is evidence that has been used to support an alternate conclusion that the author challenges; the second is this alternate conclusion

E:The first is a claim, the accuracy of which is at issue in the argument; the second is a conclusion drawn on the basis of that claim.