My answers (These are not necessarily correct, I just use this comment section as a type of exercise. Feel free to correct me anytime!) 1 EA. small companies will continue to take business away from their larger competitors (--> Not true! According to the author, they might have problems in the future)
B. large computer manufacturers and small ones are seeking ways to cooperate in order to broaden consumer demand for personal computers
(--> Large companies cooperate with other manufacturers so they can copy their products, but nothing is said about cooperation with other small companies)
C. small computer manufacturers are beginning to seek ways to make their products available to non-specialists ("which converted computers from specialists’ tools into devices nearly as easy to use as toasters" Yes, they try to make their products easy-to-use; however, are they "beginning" with it? The original text says they "converted" it seems as though their innovation of making it available to non-specialist was already made.)
D. large computer manufacturers are relying on software developers for most of their new products (--> No. Quote: "lag far behind
both IBM and those software developers")
E. small computer manufacturers are now adopting the innovations of the larger manufacturers ("Only recently have these smaller companies begun to license their hardware designs and operating systems, paving the way for clones of their own" You could argue, that they have copied the "innovation" of larger companies to give other manufaturers the opportunity to copy their products)
--> I think this was the most difficult question of all. I go with E.
2 B "an industry then dominated by those giants able to afford incredibly specialized knowledge and to produce equally expensive products"--> C and E can be crossed out immediately
--> D: the text does not mention that the computers are of high quality
--> A: They were able to produce expensive products, but I don´t think it´s the focus
--> I tend to
B, because it says that they were able to "afford incredibly specialized knowledge" (=resource) and to produce "equally expensive" products (the focus lies on "afford", not on the production of expensive products; the production of equally expensive products is a consequence from being able to afford specialized knowledge)
3 AII. The creation of low-quality, low-cost home computers (--> No. Low-cost is true, but there is no mentioning of low-quality.)
III. The introduction of specialization into the computer industry (--> No. It is merely said that smaller companies "converted computers from specialists’ tools into devices nearly as easy to use as toasters", meaning that they are keen to make computers easier to use; there is no specialization mentioned.)
The only correct choice left is:
I. The failure of younger, smaller computer manufacturers to realize their full potential
4 D--> A, C and E can be easily crossed out
--> B: IBM permitted cloning; but not with the intention of having competitive products, but rather low-cost products to ensure a mass-market appeal
--> D is the best choice
5 B6 C7 EC. outline the role of small manufacturers in the computer industry (--> Too unspecific, it is here about personal computers, not the computer industry in general)
D. analyze the failures of the personal computer industry (--> No, because this would imply that the whole pesonal computer industry has failed, which it has not.)
E. discuss the history of the personal computer market (--> Most fitting answer)
________________________________________________________________
Edit: They are all correct
_________________
Remember: Failure is the key to success. Each mistake teaches us something. So keep going! :)