aurobindomahanty wrote:
Many television viewers own videocassette recorders (VCR’s). Companies that advertise on television complain that VCR ownership hurts their business, since a VCR makes it possible to view television programs without watching the commercials. Indeed, two-thirds of those who tape programs on a VCR edit out the commercials when viewing the programs.
Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the companies’ complaint that VCR ownership is currently hurting their business?
(A) The methods for determining audience size, which in turn determines charges for advertising time, count households that are merely recording a program as households that are watching it.
(B) VCR manufacturers who advertise on television would themselves suffer the damage, if any, to advertisers’ interests that is caused by VCR’s.
(C) There are VCR’s that are in the early stages of development that will automatically edit out commercials during the recording process.
(D) Those who tape programs on VCR’s, but who do not edit out commercials when viewing the programs, tape more often than those who do edit out the commercials.
(E) Some television commercials are as entertaining or informative as the programs they interrupt.
Many TV viewers own VCRs.
two-thirds of those who tape programs on a VCR edit out the commercials when viewing the programs.
Advertisers are complaining that VCRs hurt their business.
What will strengthen this?
(A) The methods for determining audience size, which in turn determines charges for advertising time, count households that are merely recording a program as households that are watching it.
Correct. They pay advertising charges for all - those viewing the programs and those recording but out of those recording, only 1/3rd are actually viewing the ads. Rest are skipping the ads though advertisers are paying charges for them too. Hence, it does hurt the advertisers business. Their cost is higher than the exposure they are getting in return.
(B) VCR manufacturers who advertise on television would themselves suffer the damage, if any, to advertisers’ interests that is caused by VCR’s.
Irrelevant. We are talking about all advertisers.
(C) There are VCR’s that are in the early stages of development that will automatically edit out commercials during the recording process.
Irrelevant. We are talking about "currently hurting their business". Future is irrelevant.
(D) Those who tape programs on VCR’s, but who do not edit out commercials when viewing the programs, tape more often than those who do edit out the commercials.
This, if anything, weakens the claim a tiny bit. This says that those who tape but still watch the ads tape more often. So these people are viewing the ads. Those who edit out the ads, tape fewer times (so they may be viewing directly more often). Hence the damage to advertisers is less.
(E) Some television commercials are as entertaining or informative as the programs they interrupt.
Irrelevant
Answer (A)