题目选项分析

Real Estate Agent: Next year, the occupancy rate for residential rental properties in Riverton will increase despite projections of decreasing population in the city. Generally, when a city's population decreases, so does the occupancy rate for residential rental properties. However, in the continuing climate of increasing interest rates on home mortgages, an unusually large number of Riverton residents who would typically buy homes will opt to rent instead.

The boldfaced statements in the argument above play which of the following roles?

【选项】The first is a consideration that weighs against the agent's prediction; the second is that prediction.