On average, American consumers buy a new computer every four years eve

Question

On average, American consumers buy a new computer every four years even though older computers are still perfectly capable of basic operations such as word processing and surfing the Internet. This is the case despite the fact that most computers are designed to work for approximately ten years.

The statements above, if true, best support which of the following as a conclusion?

A. Computers ought to be designed to break down more quickly than is presently the case.

B. Computers utilizing the latest technology represent substantial functional upgrades from earlier computers.

C. A significant market exists for computer that are no longer used by their original owners.

D. Improved manufacturing techniques have led to computers lasting longer than was possible in the past.

E. American consumers are motivated to purchase new computers by some combination of factors other than their current computer's ability to perform basic functions.

Helium · Answer

On average, American consumers buy a new computer every four years even though older computers are still perfectly capable of basic operations such as word processing and surfing the Internet. This is the case despite the fact that most computers are designed to work for approximately ten years.

So there must be some other reason why American consumers buy new computer every 4 years even though existing computer can do required basic function and has life of 10 years.

E) matches our prethinking

IMO E)

Posted from my mobile device

Skywalker18 · Answer

On average, American consumers buy a new computer every four years even though older computers are still perfectly capable of basic operations such as word processing and surfing the Internet. This is the case despite the fact that most computers are designed to work for approximately ten years.

Type- Inference

A. Computers ought to be designed to break down more quickly than is presently the case.- Incorrect

B. Computers utilizing the latest technology represent substantial functional upgrades from earlier computers. - Incorrect - this may be true but Need not be true - the upgrades might be minimal

C. A significant market exists for computer that are no longer used by their original owners. - Incorrect - this may be true or the older computers are discarded as junk

D. Improved manufacturing techniques have led to computers lasting longer than was possible in the past. - Incorrect - this maybe true or maybe because of improved design etc

E. American consumers are motivated to purchase new computers by some combination of factors other than their current computer's ability to perform basic functions.- Correct

Answer E

SonalSinha803 · Answer

A. Computers ought to be designed to break down more quickly than is presently the case. - incorrect.

B. Computers utilizing the latest technology represent substantial functional upgrades from earlier computers. - looks like a valid contender. But, is OOS because it talks about computers representing latest technology....we are not told anything about the fact that new computers are coming up with any new technology have functional upgrades.

C. A significant market exists for computer that are no longer used by their original owners. - OOS.

D. Improved manufacturing techniques have led to computers lasting longer than was possible in the past. - OOS.

E. American consumers are motivated to purchase new computers by some combination of factors other than their current computer's ability to perform basic functions - for sure. Correct.

Thus, E is best.

Sent from my Lenovo K53a48 using  GMAT Club Forum mobile app

shahsuhailp · Answer

The correct answer choice should support the idea that there are factors other than ability of a computer to last for ten years and its ability to perform basic functions which influence the trend mentioned in the passage.

Answer: E

Answer: E

TargetMBA007 · Answer

The 2 premises tell us that people buy new computers after 4 years despite 2 things: 
1. The fact that they can still perform "BASIC" functions with the old computer and 
2. They are designed to last up to 10 years.

What do these 2 facts tell us?

A. This is an Opinion/Suggestion. It does not sum up the two facts above. Out of scope.
B. It gives us an exact reason "substantial functional upgrades" but there is nothing in the passage to support this. Maybe they do it, because of design upgrades as opposed to functional upgrades - OUT.
C. NEW INFO - Nothing in the passage to suggest this. For all we know people "dump their computers" after 4 years. Remember, we should not use real-world info when answering CR questions - OUT.
D. NEW INFO - Irrelevant - We are looking for something to sum-up the 2 facts above, this is taking us in a whole new direction - OUT.
E. Correct. Uses mild language, says there must be other factors, but isn't overly specific on what those factors as, as there isn't enough info in the premise to arrive at such a specific conclusion.

VerbalBot · Answer

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On average, American consumers buy a new computer every four years eve

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On average, American consumers buy a new computer every four years eve

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