Economic modeling programs used to predict the future trends of financ

Correct Answer: (B)
The question stem identifies this as a Weaken question. The correct answer will give a fact that makes the prediction in the argument less likely to come true.
The prediction is that computer economic models can never be accurate enough to reliably predict the behavior of markets. The reason given is that even a supercomputer cannot be made fast enough to process all of the data necessary to make the modeling programs accurate.
The author’s prediction is based on the limitations of current computer technology. Whenever the argument makes a prediction of what can or cannot happen, look for a weakener that point out a current or future possibility the author has overlooked. In this case, the correct answer choice is likely to point out some technology that will make it possible to perform all of the necessary computations that a supercomputer could not.

Choice (B) points out the possibility of using multiple interconnected computers to process the large numbers of computations that a single computer cannot. This provides a possible means of making the models more accurate. Although it does not disprove the prediction, this fact is sufficient to call the prediction into question. This is the correct answer.

Choice (A) presents a fact about past increases in computer-processing capacity. This is not sufficient to suggest that the trend will continue or that computers will become fast enough to handle the modeling programs.

Choice (C) is outside the scope of the conclusion. The argument is about predicting financial markets, not tracking them.

Choice (D) has no effect on the conclusion. The “most accurate models to date” aren’t necessarily accurate enough to be reliable predictors of market behavior.

Choice (E) has no effect on the conclusion. The fact that central banks use models in formulating monetary policy says nothing about how the models are used or about the accuracy or reliability of the models used.