This year was horrible for many technology firms, but the last one was

Question

This year was horrible for many technology firms, but the last one was particularly dismal for Microsoft, the world’s largest software company. In April, Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson ruled that the firm had used “anti-competitive means” to preserve its monopoly in PC operating-system software, and in June, he ordered it to be split in two. Microsoft appealed against this ruling—the case goes back to court next month—but its share price plummeted.

The firm’s woes are not confined to the courtroom. Adoption of Microsoft’s Windows 2000 operating system has been slower than expected, as has take-up of its Office 2000 applications suite—particularly bad news, as applications account for half of Microsoft’s revenues. In addition, a slowdown in the PC industry, combined with the shift from PC-based to Internet-based computing, has further dented the firm’s prospects, prompting it to issue its first profit warning in over a decade. To cap it all, Microsoft was this week hit with one of the biggest race-discrimination lawsuits in American history—to be heard, ironically, before Judge Jackson.

Microsoft faces three main challenges: the rise of the Internet, slowing applications revenues, and break-up threat. But it has a plan in the form of a new blueprint for the future of software. This plan, called .NET and unveiled last summer, is nebulous in some parts and non-existent in others, but it should come into focus over the next year. And it might just be able to solve all three of Microsoft’s problems simultaneously.    1 
 1. According to the passage, which of the following cannot be inferred about Microsoft?

A. Microsoft is the world’s largest software company
B. According to the court ruling, Microsoft has used some unfair means to hold its monopoly in the PC industry
C. The share price of Microsoft has fallen in the aftermath of the court ruling.
D. This year must not be as terrible as the last one for Microsoft.
E. A few technology firms other than Microsoft also faced a decline this year.

2 
 2. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

A. Although this year was unfavorable for many technology firms, a few ones have enjoyed full profits.
B. Usually when a firm use anti-competitive means it faces a verdict of being split into two.
C. The primary concern for Microsoft is the case being heard under the court of Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson.
D. The sale of Microsoft’s Windows 2000 is not up to the mark.
E. Half of the revenues of Microsoft comes from the sale of Windows 2000 and Office 2000

3 
 3. Which of the following are the problems for Microsoft

I. The case in the courtroom
II. The company’s below-par performing products
III. The decline in the industry

A. I only
B. II only
C. I and III only
D. I and II only
E. I, II, and III

4 
 4. According to the passage which of the following is correct?

A. The popularity of Internet-based computing has declined in recent years.
B. Microsoft has never faced profit issues ever.
C. .NET product of Microsoft might solve all of the company's problems
D. The rise of internet-based computing is not a bigger problem than low-performing products for Microsoft.
E. The profit of Microsoft declined because of its splitting into two companies.

5 
 5. The primary purpose of the author to write this passage is:

A. to introduce a problem and discuss it in detail
B. to list down the problems of a firm and its possible solution
C. to show a decline in an industry by an example
D. to introduce a legal problem of a firm and detail its solution
E. to show how a firm can overcome its problems

Archit3110 · Answer

1. According to the passage, which of the following is not correct about Microsoft?

A. Microsoft is the world’s largest software company 
B. Microsoft has used some unfair means to hold its monopoly in the PC industry
C. The share price of Microsoft has fallen as it has proved that the company has used anti-competitive means.
D. This year is not as terrible as the last one for Microsoft.
E. A few technology firms other than Microsoft also faced a decline this year.

2. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

A. Although this year was unfavorable for many technology firms, a few ones have enjoyed full profits.
B. Usually when a firm use anti-competitive means it faces a verdict of being split into two.
C. The primary concern for Microsoft is the case being heard under the court of Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson.
 D. The sale of Microsoft’s Windows 2000 is not up to the mark. 
E. Half of the revenues of Microsoft comes from the sale of Windows 2000 and Office 2000

3. Which of the following are the problems for Microsoft

I. The case in the courtroom
II. The company’s below-par performing products
III. The decline in the industry

A. I only
B. II only
C. I and III only
 D. I and II only 
E. I, II, and III

4. According to the passage which of the following is correct?

A. The popularity of Internet-based computing has declined in recent years.
B. Microsoft has never faced profit issues ever.
 C. .NET product of Microsoft can solve all of the company's problems 
D. The rise of internet-based computing is not a bigger problem than low-performing products for Microsoft.
E. The profit of Microsoft declined because of its splitting into two companies.

5. The primary purpose of the author to write this passage is:

A. to introduce a problem and discuss it in detail
 B. to list down the problems of a firm and its possible solution 
C. to show a decline in an industry by an example
D. to introduce a legal problem of a firm and detail its solution
E. to show how a firm can overcome its problems

Ritax · Answer

Main idea : This passage mainly talks about Microsoft's situation. The company faced 3 problems, the changing from PC-based to internet-based, slowing applications revenues and break-up threat. In the conclusion part, microsoft tried to come up the a plan called .NET, however, this plan might be able to solve all 3 problems.

Deleted Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 as incorrect answer Q5 The primary purpose of the author to write this passage is A. to introduce a problem and discuss it in detail X not only 1 problem B. to list down the problems of a firm and its possible solution ✓ Yes match with the main point, the author started with addressing Microsoft's issue and present the plan .NET as a possible solution C. to show a decline in an industry by an example X decline in industry is only one aspect of the issue D. to introduce a legal problem of a firm and detail its solution X not only a legal problem E. to show how a firm can overcome its problems X no result of the plan .NET yet

Elite097 · Answer

I have mentioned solution to question 1 in the next post.

2. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

A. Although this year was unfavorable for many technology firms, a few ones have enjoyed full profits.--- we do not know this
B. Usually when a firm use anti-competitive means it faces a verdict of being split into two.--- we do not general practice
C. The primary concern for Microsoft is the case being heard under the court of Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson.-- not sure if it is primary or not
D. The sale of Microsoft’s Windows 2000 is not up to the mark.-- yes
E. Half of the revenues of Microsoft comes from the sale of Windows 2000 and Office 2000--- no half only comes from applications
Ans D

3. Which of the following are the problems for Microsoft

I. The case in the courtroom--- yes
II. The company’s below-par performing products---yes
III. The decline in the industry-- no we only know about microsoft's problems and we cannot infer even with the first line that the industry as a whole has declined

A. I only
B. II only
C. I and III only
D. I and II only
E. I, II, and III
Ans D

4. According to the passage which of the following is correct?

A. The popularity of Internet-based computing has declined in recent years.-- opposite is true
B. Microsoft has never faced profit issues ever.-- never is too extreme
C. .NET product of Microsoft can solve all of the company's problems--- yes
D. The rise of internet-based computing is not a bigger problem than low-performing products for Microsoft.-- we cannot infer this
E. The profit of Microsoft declined because of its splitting into two companies.-- there are other reasons, this is not stated
Ans C

5. The primary purpose of the author to write this passage is:

A. to introduce a problem and discuss it in detail---not discussed in detail but we also have a possible solution. B is more thorough
B. to list down the problems of a firm and its possible solution-- yes
C. to show a decline in an industry by an example--- not true
D. to introduce a legal problem of a firm and detail its solution--- solution is not detailed, legal problem is a small aspect
E. to show how a firm can overcome its problems--- not at all stated anywhere
Ans B

zyt · Answer

para 1: first issue of Microsoft
para 2: other issues
para 3 : summarized problems and a possible solution

1. According to the passage, which of the following is not correct about Microsoft?

A, B, C and E can easily inferred.
A is mentioned in first paragraph
B is also in first paragraph
C also in first para
E this is in first line

D is CORRECT option as this year can be as terrible or worse as the troubles of Microsoft are only increasing according to the passage.

2. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

A. Although this year was unfavorable for many technology firms, a few ones have enjoyed full profits.
incorrect, not mentioned

B. Usually when a firm use anti-competitive means it faces a verdict of being split into two.
incorrect, the usual course of action not mentioned, specific action on Microsoft is mentioned

C. The primary concern for Microsoft is the case being heard under the court of Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson.
incorrect, this not the main concern

D. The sale of Microsoft’s Windows 2000 is not up to the mark.
CORRECT, this is clearly stated in para 2

E. Half of the revenues of Microsoft comes from the sale of Windows 2000 and Office 2000
incorrect, half comes from applications such as Office 2000

3. Which of the following are the problems for Microsoft

I. The case in the courtroom- yes its stated in the passage 
II. The company’s below-par performing products- yes its stated in the passage 
III. The decline in the industry- this is also stated

A. I only
B. II only
C. I and III only
D. I and II only 
E.  I, II, and III-CORRECT

4. According to the passage which of the following is correct?

A. The popularity of Internet-based computing has declined in recent years.
Incorrect, Internet-based computing has increased in recent years
 
 B. Microsoft has never faced profit issues ever.
Incorrect, it may have faced profit issues prior to a decade
 
 C. .NET product of Microsoft can solve all of the company's problems
CORRECT, this is suggested in the last paragraph
 
 D. The rise of internet-based computing is not a bigger problem than low-performing products for Microsoft.
Incorrect, both are equally important problems along with break up threat

E. The profit of Microsoft declined because of its splitting into two companies.
Incorrect, Microsoft is not yet split, its contesting it in court

5. The primary purpose of the author to write this passage is:

A. to introduce a problem and discuss it in detail
Not one but many problems of Microsoft are discussed

B. to list down the problems of a firm and its possible solution
CORRECT, many problems of Microsoft are listed and.NET as its solution is suggested

C. to show a decline in an industry by an example
Incorrect , it is only one aspect of the passage

D. to introduce a legal problem of a firm and detail its solution
Incorrect, this is also only one aspect of the passage

E. to show how a firm can overcome its problems
Incorrect, this is only the purpose of the final para graph

happypuppy · Answer

1. D
2. D
3. D
4. D
5. B

1. According to the passage, which of the following cannot be inferred about Microsoft?

A. Microsoft is the world’s largest software company
- Wrong - Given - "Microsoft, the world’s largest software company."
B. According to the court ruling, Microsoft has used some unfair means to hold its monopoly in the PC industry
- Wrong - Given - "ackson ruled that the firm had used “anti-competitive means” to preserve its monopoly in PC operating-system software"
C. The share price of Microsoft has fallen in the aftermath of the court ruling.
- Wrong - Given - "—but its share price plummeted."
 D. This year must not be as terrible as the last one for Microsoft.
- Correct - Can't infer if this year is not as terrible as last. Also see 'must' - we don't know. 
E. A few technology firms other than Microsoft also faced a decline this year.
- Wrong - Given by "many technology firms" - "This year was horrible for many technology firms, but the last one was particularly dismal for Microsoft, the world’s largest software company."

Question 2
2. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

A. Although this year was unfavorable for many technology firms, a few ones have enjoyed full profits.
- Wrong - " a few ones have enjoyed full profits." is not mentioned.
B. Usually when a firm use anti-competitive means it faces a verdict of being split into two.
- Wrong - Can't generalize, not given.
C. The primary concern for Microsoft is the case being heard under the court of Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson.
- Wrong - Primary is a tag not given to any problem. Also "the court of Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson" makes little sense.
 D. The sale of Microsoft’s Windows 2000 is not up to the mark.
- Correct - Adoption of Microsoft’s Windows 2000 operating system has been slower than expected 
E. Half of the revenues of Microsoft comes from the sale of Windows 2000 and Office 2000
- Wrong - From "as applications account for half of Microsoft’s revenues." we can't say it is just Office 2000 applications. 'applications' can mean a all applications from Microsoft.

Question 3
3. Which of the following are the problems for Microsoft

I. The case in the courtroom
- Correct - Given 
II. The company’s below-par performing products
- Correct - Given 
III. The decline in the industry
- Wrong - Can't infer if that is a big problem for Microsoft. In details also, author doesn't mentions it seperately.

A. I only
- Wrong - As per above. 
B. II only
- Wrong - As per above. 
C. I and III only
- Wrong - As per above. 
 D. I and II only
- Correct - As per above. 
E. I, II, and III
- Wrong - As per above.

Question 4
4. According to the passage which of the following is correct?

A. The popularity of Internet-based computing has declined in recent years.
- Wrong - Opposite of what is given.
B. Microsoft has never faced profit issues ever.
- Wrong - Extreme Answer "has never", wrong.
C. .NET product of Microsoft can solve all of the company's problems
- Wrong - Extreme Answer "can solve all", wrong.
 D. The rise of internet-based computing is not a bigger problem than low-performing products for Microsoft.
- Correct - Best choice. POE. Can be inferred by "In addition, a slowdown in the PC industry, combined with the shift from PC-based to Internet-based computing, has further dented the firm’s prospects, prompting it to issue its first profit warning in over a decade. " 
E. The profit of Microsoft declined because of its splitting into two companies.
- Wrong - Microsoft is not splitting, it is just in courts according to passage.

Question 5
5. The primary purpose of the author to write this passage is:

A. to introduce a problem and discuss it in detail
- Wrong - 'a problem' is not clear, is it slowdown or Microsoft's one.
 B. to list down the problems of a firm and its possible solution
- Correct - True. 3 problems, one solution.  
C. to show a decline in an industry by an example
- Wrong - Microsoft's problems are not directly related to industry, hence over generalized. 
D. to introduce a legal problem of a firm and detail its solution
- Wrong - Legal problem is limited in scope. Just one of the problems. 
E. to show how a firm can overcome its problems
- Wrong - Limited in scope. Not the general purpose.

av1901 · Answer

1. According to the passage, which of the following cannot be inferred about Microsoft?

A. Microsoft is the world’s largest software company

Passage excerpt ('last one was particularly dismal for Microsoft, the world’s largest software company') clearly states that Microsoft is the world's largest software company

B. According to the court ruling, Microsoft has used some unfair means to hold its monopoly in the PC industry

Yes, Judge Jackson ruled that the firm had used anti-competitive means to preserve its monopoly, thus indicating the unfair means

C. The share price of Microsoft has fallen in the aftermath of the court ruling.

The end of the first paragraph (excerpt: 'but its share price plummeted') clearly mentions the share price of Microsoft falling

D. This year must not be as terrible as the last one for Microsoft.

CORRECT. The passage mentions that last year was terrible for Microsoft and this year was terrible for many other technological firms but nowhere has it been mentioned and neither can it be implied from the passage that this year must not be terrible as the last one for Microsoft

E. A few technology firms other than Microsoft also faced a decline this year.

Yes, passage mentions in the beginning that this year was horrible for many technological firms so it can be implied that a few firms other than Microsoft also faced a decline this year

==========================================================================

2. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

A. Although this year was unfavorable for many technology firms, a few ones have enjoyed full profits.

Passage mentions that this year was horrible for many firms but for the ones it was not, we cannot infer from anything mentioned in the passage that it was a very good one filled with full profits

B. Usually when a firm use anti-competitive means it faces a verdict of being split into two.

Although in this case the Judge gave a verdict of the company to be split in two, its not mentioned or implied in the passage to infer that this is a routine punishment for any firm using anti-competitive means

C. The primary concern for Microsoft is the case being heard under the court of Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson.

Microsoft has many concerns detailed throughout the passage (from the court case to the rise of Internet to lack of sales of Office suite applications) and the passage does not mention or imply any order of concern for Microsoft regarding its problems

D. The sale of Microsoft’s Windows 2000 is not up to the mark.

CORRECT. The passage states that the adoption of Windows 2000 operating system has been slower than expected thus implying that the sale is not up to the mark

E. Half of the revenues of Microsoft comes from the sale of Windows 2000 and Office 2000

No, passage states that half of the revenue of Microsoft comes from its Office Suite applications, not from Office Suite and Windows 2000

==========================================================================

3. Which of the following are the problems for Microsoft?

I. The case in the courtroom

Yes, the case in the courtroom is one of the first problems mentioned in the passage

II. The company’s below-par performing products

Yes, the lack of sales of Windows 2000 and the Office 2000 Suite has been a concern for Microsoft

III. The decline in the industry

Yes, as mentioned in the second paragraph, the declining industry coupled with the rise in the internet based computing is a major cause for concern for Microsoft

A. I only
B. II only
C. I and III only
D. I and II only
 E. I, II, and III (CORRECT)

==========================================================================

4. According to the passage which of the following is correct?

A. The popularity of Internet-based computing has declined in recent years.

No, the passage clearly states that there has been a shift from PC based towards Internet based implying that the popularity of Internet based computing is actually increasing

B. Microsoft has never faced profit issues ever.

No, the passage states that Microsoft issued its first profit warning in over a decade implying that there have been profit issues before, just not for the past 10 years or a similar timeline

C. .NET product of Microsoft can solve all of the company's problems

CORRECT. The passage in its third paragraph states that although it has all these challenges, but it has a plan in the form of a new blueprint called .NET which will help the firm

D. The rise of internet-based computing is not a bigger problem than low-performing products for Microsoft.

No, both are problems and the passage does not give any order of preference as to which is a bigger or smaller problem for the firm

E. The profit of Microsoft declined because of its splitting into two companies.

No, the profit of Microsoft declined due to its underperforming Windows 2000 and Office 2000 Suite applications, not because of its splitting into two companies

==========================================================================

5. The primary purpose of the author to write this passage is:

A. to introduce a problem and discuss it in detail

Although the passage does introduce a problem, but it introduces multiple problems and discusses all of them throughout the passage

B. to list down the problems of a firm and its possible solution

CORRECT. The passage starts with one problem and then discusses multiple other problems in the second paragraph before offering the possible solution in the final paragraph

C. to show a decline in an industry by an example

Although the passage does mention the decline, but only as part of a sentence and it is clearly not the main point of the passage

D. to introduce a legal problem of a firm and detail its solution

Again, similar to C, a problem listed in the passage but far from being the main purpose of the passage

E. to show how a firm can overcome its problems

The passage offers one possible solution but spends the first two paragraphs listing and discussing the problems that the company was facing

Snehaaaaa · Answer

Question 1
1. According to the passage, which of the following cannot be inferred about Microsoft?
A. Microsoft is the world’s largest software company- This is mentioned in the 2nd line of the passage
B. According to the court ruling, Microsoft has used some unfair means to hold its monopoly in the PC industry- This is stated in the passage
C. The share price of Microsoft has fallen in the aftermath of the court ruling.- This can be inferred from the line- but its share price plummeted.
 D. This year must not be as terrible as the last one for Microsoft.- No comparison between this year and previous year is stated in the passage. The passage simply present the problems encountered by Microsoft in last year. So this statement cannot be inferred. This is the correct answer. 
E. A few technology firms other than Microsoft also faced a decline this year.- This can be inferred from the 1st line of the passage

Question 2
2. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?
A. Although this year was unfavorable for many technology firms, a few ones have enjoyed full profits.- Nothing as such is mentioned in the passage
B. Usually when a firm use anti-competitive means it faces a verdict of being split into two.- We cannot infer that the verdict that the Microsoft face is a usual thing. 
C. The primary concern for Microsoft is the case being heard under the court of Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson.- Out of scope
 D. The sale of Microsoft’s Windows 2000 is not up to the mark.- This can be inferred from the statement- Adoption of Microsoft’s Windows 2000 operating system has been slower than expected. This is the correct answer 
E. Half of the revenues of Microsoft comes from the sale of Windows 2000 and Office 2000- The passage states that half of the company's revenues comes from applications, but it does not states that Windows 2000 and Office 2000 are the only applications

Question 3
3. Which of the following are the problems for Microsoft
I. The case in the courtroom- This is a problem for Microsoft
II. The company’s below-par performing products- Low performing products is a problem for the company
III. The decline in the industry- This is a problem for Microsoft
A. I only
B. II only
C. I and III only
D. I and II only
 E. I, II, and III- This is the correct answer

Question 4
4. According to the passage which of the following is correct?
A. The popularity of Internet-based computing has declined in recent years.- This is not stated in the passage
B. Microsoft has never faced profit issues ever.- As per the lines in passage- 'it to issue its first profit warning in over a decade'. We cannot infer that Microsoft never faced profit issues ever as the passage talks only about a decade
C. .NET product of Microsoft can solve all of the company's problems- The passage states that .net product can solve 3 problems and not all the problems of the company. There could be some other problems too.
 D. The rise of internet-based computing is not a bigger problem than low-performing products for Microsoft.- Since Microsoft's applications account for 50% of revenues. Therefore we can infer that low-performing products is a bigger problem for the company. This is the correct answer 
E. The profit of Microsoft declined because of its splitting into two companies.- This is not mentioned in the passage

Question 5
5. The primary purpose of the author to write this passage is:
A. to introduce a problem and discuss it in detail- Distorted
 B. to list down the problems of a firm and its possible solution- This covers the entire gist of the passage. This is the correct answer 
C. to show a decline in an industry by an example- This is not the primary purpose of the passage
D. to introduce a legal problem of a firm and detail its solution- Distorted
E. to show how a firm can overcome its problems- Limited in scope

vrsthe1 · Answer

Some of my answers and explanations are wrong.. I'll be updating them soon, once I revise and assimilate the errors.. 
Be advised to look for those who gave better explanation for those questions.

P1  --> this year very bad for tech companies. But last year, very very bad for MS (world's largest Software company).
why - 1. april - JTPJ ruled MS used anti-competitive methods.
2 - june - ordered to split into 2 companies. MS appealed against this and will be heard next month.. ( so not yet splitting.)
because of these 2 reasons -- share price fell.

P2  --> Not only courtroom problems.
In addition -- 1. MS apps are not selling - gives 50% of revenue.
 2. PC industry slowdown + internet-based computing.
hence issued a profit warning in over a decade (might have issued before that too..)
add to this race-descrimination lawsuits..

P3  --> so essentially 3 challenges 
1. rise of internet-based computing.
2. slowing of apps revenue.
3. potential of split-up (threat).
But all could be resolved with some paln for future of software from MS. not existent everywhere but will come into focus next year.. 
so.. by next all problems of MS will be solved at once.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Main Point  --> intro to problems of a company. --> another 2 issues faced by it --> final list of 3 main issues and a plan to solve them all in one sweep, next year.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Q
1. According to the passage, which of the following cannot be inferred about Microsoft?

A. Microsoft is the world’s largest software company 
 Not Correct  --> yes, as mentioned in 1st paragraph.

B. According to the court ruling, Microsoft has used some unfair means to hold its monopoly in the PC industry 
 Not Correct  --> yes, as mentioned in 1st paragraph.

C. The share price of Microsoft has fallen in the aftermath of the court ruling. 
 Correct  --> not the aftermath as MS has appealed against and the case will be going back to court. share price has fallen despite of the appeal.

D. This year must not be as terrible as the last one for Microsoft. 
 Not Correct  --> yes, last year was particularly dismal for MS. from 1st statement of 1st paragraph.

E. A few technology firms other than Microsoft also faced a decline this year. 
 Not Correct  --> yes, from 1st line of 1st paragraph.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Q2. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

A. Although this year was unfavorable for many technology firms, a few ones have enjoyed full profits. 
 Not Correct  --> what happened to other firms or they have full profits cannot be inferred as the passage deals with only one firm's issues. and many firms are in horrible situation.

B. Usually when a firm use anti-competitive means it faces a verdict of being split into two. 
 Not Correct  --> we don't know what is the case usually. only MS is mentioned in passage.

C. The primary concern for Microsoft is the case being heard under the court of Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson. 
 Not Correct  --> as per the last paragraph, JTPJ was not listed among the 3 main challenges.

D. The sale of Microsoft’s Windows 2000 is not up to the mark. 
 Correct  --> 2nd statement of 2nd paragraph states the adoption has been slower than expected.

E. Half of the revenues of Microsoft comes from the sale of Windows 2000 and Office 2000 
 Not Correct  --> 50% revenue comes from applications, of which office is part of not windows 2000.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Q3. Which of the following are the problems for Microsoft

I. The case in the courtroom
II. The company’s below-par performing products
III. The decline in the industry 
 
I. The case in the courtroom poses the break-up threat (against which MS appealed, but not yet resolved.)
II. yes both windows 2000 & Office 2000 takeup has been slower than expected.
III. NO, because not decline in industry alone but the additoinal shift to internet-based computing is more of a problem.

A. I only 
 Not Correct

B. II only 
 Not Correct

C. I and III only 
 Not Correct

D. I and II only 
 Correct  --> as discussed above (highlighted in blue).

E. I, II, and III 
 Not Correct  
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Q4. According to the passage which of the following is correct?

A. The popularity of Internet-based computing has declined in recent years. 
 Not Correct  --> This is opposite of what is mentioned in passage. 2nd paragraph.

B. Microsoft has never faced profit issues ever. 
 Not Correct  --> the profit warning was in over a decade.. ms might have warned before a decade, we don't have enough info.

C. .NET product of Microsoft can solve all of the company's problems 
 Correct  --> yes, as per the last sentence of the passage. 3rd paragraph.

D. The rise of internet-based computing is not a bigger problem than low-performing products for Microsoft. 
 Not Correct  --> opposite of passage. Rise of internet-based computing is one of the 3 main challenges of MS.

E. The profit of Microsoft declined because of its splitting into two companies. 
 Not Correct  --> the split did not happen yet and we don't know if it may happen or not.
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Q5. The primary purpose of the author to write this passage is:

A. to introduce a problem and discuss it in detail 
 Not Correct  --> summarizes only Paragraphs 1 & 2.

B. to list down the problems of a firm and its possible solution 
 Correct  --> yes this is the gist.

C. to show a decline in an industry by an example 
 Not Correct  --> summarizes only Paragraph 1.

D. to introduce a legal problem of a firm and detail its solution 
 Not Correct  --> did not detail any solution to the legal problem. also legal problem is only 1 of 3.

E. to show how a firm can overcome its problems 
 Not Correct  --> only mention of a plan but now how.

pintukr · Answer

1. According to the passage, which of the following cannot be inferred about Microsoft?

A. Microsoft is the world’s largest software company
 Written in 1st line itself

B. According to the court ruling, Microsoft has used some unfair means to hold its monopoly in the PC industry
 Hinted in the 1st para

C. The share price of Microsoft has fallen in the aftermath of the court ruling.
 Hinted in the 1st para

D. This year must not be as terrible as the last one for Microsoft.
 Cannot be ascertained..existing trends may get reversed owing to .NET framework

E. A few technology firms other than Microsoft also faced a decline this year.
 Hinted in 1st para

2. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

A. Although this year was unfavorable for many technology firms, a few ones have enjoyed full profits.
 Nowhere is it mentioned that a few technology firms have enjoyed full profits

B. Usually when a firm uses anti-competitive means it faces a verdict of being split into two.
 Cannot be ascertained for all such cases

C. The primary concern for Microsoft is the case being heard under the court of Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson.
 Nowhere in the passage that this is the primary concern

D. The sale of Microsoft’s Windows 2000 is not up to the mark.
 Data about sales clearly hint at this..CORRECT answer

E. Half of the revenues of Microsoft comes from the sale of Windows 2000 and Office 2000
 It's the Office Applications, not the Windows 2000 operating system

3. Which of the following are the problems for Microsoft

I. The case in the courtroom
II. The company’s below-par performing products
III. The decline in the industry

All three factors have been mentioned as the problems for Microsoft

A. I only 
 B. II only 
 C. I and III only 
 D. I and II only 
 E. I, II, and III

4. According to the passage which of the following is correct?

A. The popularity of Internet-based computing has declined in recent years.
 Not hinted at; in fact the popularity has increased

B. Microsoft has never faced profit issues ever.
 It's only true for duration of past decade only

C. .NET product of Microsoft can solve all of the company's problems
 Only three main challenges will be solved, can't be ascertained for other problems

D. The rise of internet-based computing is not a bigger problem than low-performing products for Microsoft.
 Sales of products is the bigger problem..therefore CORRECT answer

E. The profit of Microsoft declined because of its splitting into two companies.
 The split has not yet happened, the passage has cited only court ruling in this regard

5. The primary purpose of the author to write this passage is:

A. to introduce a problem and discuss it in detail
 Solution to the problem is also the purpose

B. to list down the problems of a firm and its possible solution
 Both the problems as well as the solution--> primary purpose of the Passage..CORRECT answer

C. to show a decline in an industry by an example
 Examples just used to highlight the overall trend..Microsoft's woes is the focus

D. to introduce a legal problem of a firm and detail its solution
 legal problem is just one amongst many woes of Microsoft

E. to show how a firm can overcome its problems
 Only a part of the purpose..Both the problems and the solution is the primary purpose

lm97 · Answer

4. According to the passage which of the following is correct?

A. The popularity of Internet-based computing has declined in recent years.
B. Microsoft has never faced profit issues ever.
C. .NET product of Microsoft can solve all of the company's problems
D. The rise of internet-based computing is not a bigger problem than low-performing products for Microsoft.
E. The profit of Microsoft declined because of its splitting into two companies.

Can someone please help me understand why C is the correct answer here?
Is it not extreme to say that .NET will definitely help Microsoft when, it is stated as a possibility in the passage.

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Yes, it will be extreme to say that .NET will definitely help Microsoft but look at answer option C. It says .NET product of Microsoft   can solve   all of the company's problems. Hence can solve = a possibility. If the answer choice had used  Must solve  then it would become an extreme scenario.

av1901 · Answer

Also that no other option adds up either. 
A. Opposite to what has been mentioned in the passage
B. Passage says profit issues for the first time in a decade implying that it has happened before, not just very recently
D. No mention or implication of any problem being bigger or smaller than the other
E. Passage clearly mentions that profit declined because of low performance of MS Windows 2000 and MS Applications Suite 2000

So, even by the process of elimination, we get C, which is mentioned as a solution to Microsoft's problems in the last paragraph

RonTargetTestPrep · Answer

You are correct here. The source is doing this wrong.

Choice C says "CAN solve". 
 Can  is   NOT   a statement of probability or uncertainty. "Can solve..." means " is definitely capable  of solving ..."

This is a much stronger statement than the one that ends the passage, which only says "{just)   might   solve..." 
THIS statement DOES express uncertainty.

kakuli · Answer

Sajjad1994  please explain why the answer to question number 3 is not D, the third statement mentions the decline in industry but in the passage the shift in industry is mentioned! please elaborate

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Read these lines from the second paragraph:

"In addition, a slowdown in the PC industry,"

Statement III can be inferred.

Answer: E

This year was horrible for many technology firms, but the last one was

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