Argument Analysis
Premise 1: Advancement in technology occurs primarily in areas where customers have expressed an interest.
Premise 2: Only certain businesses are currently demanding advancements in telecommunications technology.
Conclusion: Future advances in telecommunications technology will yield products useful almost exclusively to those certain businesses.
Identifying the Assumption
An assumption is an unstated premise that must be true for the argument to hold. Here, the conclusion depends on the premise that the advancements will be useful almost exclusively to those certain businesses.
Analyzing Each Option
(A) The demand for standard telecommunications technology is affected by increased demand for advancements in such technology.
This option discusses the relationship between standard and advanced telecommunications technology. However, the argument does not address the impact of demand for standard technology on advancements.
(B) Advancements in technology are mainly brought about by desire from a particular group of customers.
This option restates part of the first premise but does not directly connect to the exclusivity of the usefulness of future advancements.
(C) Improved telecommunications technology will not be generally applicable to the needs of all customers.
This option directly supports the conclusion. If improved telecommunications technology is not generally applicable to all customers, it will be useful primarily to those specific businesses demanding it. This is the assumption that must be true for the conclusion to hold.(D) The number of advancements made in telecommunications technology increases when different kinds of businesses demand it.
This option talks about the quantity of advancements relative to the variety of businesses demanding them. It does not address the exclusivity of usefulness to the certain businesses mentioned.
(E) Most customers do not keep up with new developments in telecommunications technology.
This option comments on customers' awareness or engagement with new developments but does not directly affect the argument's conclusion about exclusivity of usefulness.
ConclusionThe correct
answer is (C): Improved telecommunications technology will not be generally applicable to the needs of all customers. This is the assumption that bridges the gap between the premises and the conclusion, ensuring that the future advancements in telecommunications technology will be useful almost exclusively to the certain businesses demanding them.