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For the first time in history, more televisions than people

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For the first time in history, more televisions than people [#permalink] New post 12 May 2012, 00:20
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For the first time in history, more televisions than people can be found in American households. According to recent research, the average household has 2.55 residents and contains 2.73 televisions. However, by employing such costly manufacturing processes as plasma technology and flat screens, televisions are becoming too expensive for the typical consumer. As a result, the average number of residents per household will again surpass the number of televisions.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the argument above?

A. House parties at which numerous individuals gather to view popular television shows on one television set have increased three hundred percent during the past year.

B. More than one million legal immigrants enter the United States each year.

C. New devices such as video-enabled personal digital assistants and music players are increasingly purchased for use as a primary source of information and entertainment.

D. As new technologies become more commonplace, manufacturing and retail costs normally decline.

E. As a result of technological advances, new televisions are increasingly enabled with some features, such as Internet browsing, traditionally associated with other household devices.
[Reveal] Spoiler: OA

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Re: For the first time in history, more televisions [#permalink] New post 17 May 2012, 22:23
How can the average number of residents per household surpass the average number of televisions per household? If the average number of residents per household go up, or if the average number of televisions per household go down.

A is irrelevant. D and E actually oppose the argument, so they are out.

Between B and C, C wins because it clearly establishes how the average number of televisions per household can go down (people are buying other electronic devices instead). It also ties in neatly with the point that televisions are becoming too expensive (so people will look for other options).

Although B establishes how the average number of people per household may increases, it is very vague.

C it is.
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Re: For the first time in history, more televisions [#permalink] New post 18 May 2012, 08:35
New devices such as video-enabled personal digital assistants and music players are increasingly purchased for use as a primary source of information and entertainment.

C is best since people would use these devices instead of TV.
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Re: For the first time in history, more televisions [#permalink] New post 22 May 2012, 07:18
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I too choose C. Below is my reasoning:

A. House parties at which numerous individuals gather to view popular television shows on one television set have increased three hundred percent during the past year. - At first, I considered it a contender. If people start watching programs together, it will lead to reduction of purchase of new TV sets. However, it suffers from the following:
1. There is significant rise in such households, but the base figure is not given. It may be that only 10 in million households were doing such parties and now the number rises by 300% to 40. Still the number is insignificant to make any dent to the conclusion.
2. People may watch only favorite programs together but still own TV in their homes for private shows or less popular shows.


B. More than one million legal immigrants enter the United States each year.
@Gyan - Can you tell me how did you take it as contender? Does it mean that a family of 4 enters the country and buys a single TV set. Such new combination will change the ratio in favor of avg. number of people in households. Is that the reasoning employed by you?

C. New devices such as video-enabled personal digital assistants and music players are increasingly purchased for use as a primary source of information and entertainment.
@Gyan - You mentioned that the new devices are cheaper. Nowhere does the choice mention such price difference.

D. As new technologies become more commonplace, manufacturing and retail costs normally decline. - It actually weakens the argument. Declining prices will push the ratio in the favor of TV sets

E. As a result of technological advances, new televisions are increasingly enabled with some features, such as Internet browsing, traditionally associated with other household devices. - As for D
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Re: For the first time in history, more televisions [#permalink] New post 22 May 2012, 07:33
holidevil wrote:
B. More than one million legal immigrants enter the United States each year.
@Gyan - Can you tell me how did you take it as contender? Does it mean that a family of 4 enters the country and buys a single TV set. Such new combination will change the ratio in favor of avg. number of people in households. Is that the reasoning employed by you?


It is a stretch but he is saying that if the total population increases (+1 million people) but we assume that the number of TV sets stay static...the number of TVs per household will decrease while the number of people per household will increase. We have to make several assumptions here which makes it the wrong answer.
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Re: For the first time in history, more televisions than people [#permalink] New post 27 Feb 2013, 20:47
(C).New devices such as video-enabled personal digital assistants and music players are increasingly purchased for use as a primary source of information and entertainment.

No where it is mentioned that Televisions were primary source of entertainment.Moreover,as television are getting expensive this choice doesn't mention that these devices are cheaper than TV's.

Plz Advice !!!

Poor question IMHO

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Re: For the first time in history, more televisions than people   [#permalink] 27 Feb 2013, 20:47
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