bagdbmba wrote:
fluke wrote:
In comparison to the standard typewriter keyboard, the EFCO keyboard, which places the most-used keys nearest the typist’s strongest fingers, allows faster typing and results in less fatigue. Therefore, replacement of standard keyboards with the EFCO keyboard will result in an immediate reduction of typing costs.
Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the conclusion drawn above?
(A) People who use both standard and EFCO keyboards report greater difficulty in the transition from the EFCO keyboard to the standard keyboard than in the transition from the standard keyboard to the EFCO keyboard.
(B) EFCO keyboards are no more expensive to manufacture than are standard keyboards and require less frequent repair than do standard keyboards.
(C) The number of businesses and government agencies that use EFCO keyboards is increasing each year.
(D) The more training and experience an employee has had with the standard keyboard, the more costly it is to train that employee to use the EFCO keyboard.
(E) Novice typists can learn to use the EFCO keyboard in about the same amount of time it takes them to learn to use the standard keyboard.
Hi Verbal Experts,
Can you please let me know what's wrong with option B?
B clearly says that EFCO is either as expensive as standard keyboards or less expensive than standard keyboards...hence, it follows that there will be NO immediate reduction of typing costs. Either typing cost will remain same or will go up.So, why B is discarded?
Whereas, option D clearly says that immediate typing cost will go up. So, do we really required any evidence that must say that cost should go up.
I think, even when cost remains the same the argument is weakened.
Please clarify.
Hi bagdmba,
Thank you for your query. Please find below my comments on your analysis that:
B clearly says that EFCO is either as expensive as standard keyboards or less expensive than standard keyboards...hence, it follows that there will be NO immediate reduction of typing costs. Either typing cost will remain same or will go up. So, why B is discarded?My comments: First of all, choice B, if anything, is in the opposite line of thought than our job in this question. The question stem asks us to WEAKEN the conclusion that the replacement of standard keyboards with EFCO keyboards will result in immediate cost reduction. However, choice B states that EFCO keyboards require less frequent repair than do standard keyboards. This suggests that there is going to be a reduction in the operating costs of keyboards if we follow the author’s suggestion. Moving on, choice B only talks about the manufacturing costs of the two types of keyboards. We can’t conclude much about the price of a product from its manufacturing cost. At best, this information could only vaguely indicate that there is not going to be much difference between the one-time acquisition cost of an EFCO keyboard and that of a standard key-board. This understanding, combined with the lower operating costs of EFCO keyboards, goes on to show the merits of the author’s suggestion. Clearly, option B does not weaken the author’s logic in any way.
Choice D on the other hand, addresses the immediate cost reduction bit in the conclusion. It states that there are additional costs involved in going through with the replacement and these costs will have to be incurred rather immediately. Hence, it is the correct weakening choice.
Hope the above analysis helps
.
Neeti.
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10 Sep 2011, 01:47
94%
(01:23)
correct 
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