patto wrote:
Computer manufacturers have sought to make computer
chips ever smaller, since decreasing the size of a
computer's central processing unit (CPU) chip-without
making that CPU chip any less sophisticated-will
proportionally increase the speed of the CPU chip and
the computer containing it. But since CPU chips cannot
be made significantly smaller without decreasing their
sophistication, computers cannot currently be made
significantly faster.
Which one of the following is an assumption on which
the argument depends?
(A) Computers cannot currently be made faster
unless their CPU chips are made smaller.
(B) Even if CPU chips are made slightly less
sophisticated, they cannot currently be made
much smaller.
(C) If both the size and the sophistication of a
CPU chip are decreased, the speed of that
chip will decrease.
(D) Few, if any, computer manufacturers believe that
computers can be made significantly faster.
(E) Increasing the sophistication of a CPU chip
without increasing its size will proportionally
increase its speed.
From the stimulus we know:
1) Decreasing the size of CPU without making it any less sophisticated-will proportionally increase the speed of the computer
2) But since making smaller is directly proportional to decreasing sophistication --> computers cannot be made faster.
Let's look at the answer choices:
(A) Computers cannot currently be made faster unless their CPU chips are made smaller.
This seems to be correct as the argument focusses only on making chips smaller to increase speed. All other possibilities are ignored.
(B) Even if CPU chips are made slightly less sophisticated, they cannot currently be made much smaller.
This is contrary to the argument. The argument states that we can make the chips smaller at the expense of sophistication. Hence incorrect.
(C) If both the size and the sophistication of a CPU chip are decreased, the speed of that chip will decrease.
I took some time to eliminate this answer. But in the end, decided against it as this is not an assumption but is actually stated in the passage. The last line.
(D) Few, if any, computer manufacturers believe that computers can be made significantly faster.
Irrelevant
(E) Increasing the sophistication of a CPU chip without increasing its size will proportionally increase its speed.
Can be concluded from the passage. Not an assumption.
Hence A is the correct answer.