spiridon wrote:
A recent survey found that more computers than copies of computer programs were purchased by Germans last year. The best interpretation of this finding is that the practice of illegally duplicating commercial computer programs is widespread among Germans.
Each of the following, if true, would counter some reasonable objection to the interpretation advanced above EXCEPT:
(A) Few German computer users write their own computer programs.
(B) There are few free noncommercial computer programs available in Germany.
(C) Some Germans purchase computers outside of Germany for use in Germany, and such purchases were counted in the survey.
(D) The typical German computer user has several commercially written computer programs on his or her computer.
(E) Many Germans legally make duplicates of commercial computer programs, but such duplicates were counted as purchased copies in the survey.
Alright, guess I'm up.
So, basically the argument in the passage is that since people are buying computers more than they're buying computer programs, they must be obtaining many of their computer programs illegally. Meaning, if Dell reported revenues of $1 billion last year, but Microsoft only reported revenues of $1 thousand...you would assume something is up, right?
Our job is to find counters to reasonable objections to the passage's conclusion. Meaning, they're going to give you answer choices that SHOULD strengthen the argument put forth in the passage. Also, all of the answer choices should be linked to a reasonable objection to the passage's conclusion. Steps for solving the problem:
(1) Examine an answer choice
(2) Determine what argument the answer choice counters.
(3) Determine whether that argument is a reasonable objection.
(4) Rinse & repeat for all answer choices given.
So, I'm going to take it answer choice by answer choice and go through the above steps...
(A) "Few German computer users write their own computer programs."
This must counter the argument: "But what if everybody in Germany writes their own computer programs? If that were the case, then of course there would be relatively few purchases of computer programs."
This seems like a reasonable objection. If computer programming were widespread in Germany then it would make fewer people than normal would be out buying programs. In order to come to the same conclusion as the author of the passage, it would help to address this issue.
(B) "There are few free noncommercial computer programs available in Germany."
This must counter the argument: "But what if most of the programs available in Germany are free? If that were the case, people aren't illegally downloading...they're just downloading free programs legally."
This seems like a reasonable objection. If most of the programs in Germany were free, then you'd expect software sales to be low because people could get their programs for free instead of paying. In order to conclude the same thing as the author, it would help to address this issue.
(C) "Some Germans purchase computers outside of Germany for use in Germany, and such purchases were counted in the survey."
This must counter the argument: "But what if most people are buying their computers outside of Germany and then bringing them in?"
This is not a reasonable objection. If most people were buying their computers outside Germany, and computer sales were STILL higher than software sales...it would just strengthen the author's point. Even the pitiful amount of computers that actually were bought in Germany is more than the amount of software sold in Germany! So this really does nothing.
(D) "The typical German computer user has several commercially written computer programs on his or her computer."
This must counter the argument: "But what if nobody even uses computer programs in Germany? Maybe they're just buying computers so they can sell them, or use the parts, or whatever..."
This is a reasonable objection. If nobody even used computer programs, then of course sales of computer programs would be low. Clarifying this issue would help strengthen the author's conclusion.
(E) " Many Germans legally make duplicates of commercial computer programs, but such duplicates were counted as purchased copies in the survey."
This must counter the argument: "But what if people are giving each other legal copies of programs? They aren't buying new programs because they can just get a legal copy from their friends."
This is a reasonable objection. If everyone could get all the programs they needed legally, then it would be unreasonable to conclude that there is a lot of illegal downloading in Germany. Countering this objection would strengthen the author's conclusion.
Hope that helps. Good luck!
Cliff Notes:
I chose answer choice
C