seems to be tough for me, wonna check it

Question

************************************************ 1 A product’s design can be more valuable than the product itself. With the advent of the personal computer in the 1970s, the computer-manufacturing 5 sector, an industry then dominated by those giants able to afford incredibly specialized knowledge and to produce equally expensive products, suddenly found its brightest lights shining in the 10 garages of clever engineers. Large manufacturers responded slowly but eventually arrived at a lucrative solution: IBM developed its own personal computer and permitted other 15 manufacturers to copy its design in exchange for royalties. This move brought the computer giant’s greatest strength to bear—an enormous reserve of engineering brainpower—and 20 ensured its continued control over a broad stretch of the personal computer market. At the same time, the broad selection of IBM “clones” available brought prices down and ensured the 25 product’s mass-market appeal. The upstart companies that gave older manufacturers so much trouble to begin with soon found themselves in a difficult situation. Despite their innovative 30 operating systems, which converted computers from specialists’ tools into devices nearly as easy to use as toasters, these companies may not have reaped their full reward, as they have 35 jealously held onto exclusive rights to manufacture the machines that run the new systems. Only recently have these smaller companies begun to license their hardware designs and operating 40 systems, paving the way for clones of their own. Yet the young companies lag far behind both IBM and those software developers who have reaped huge rewards from the personal computer 45 bonanza, leading many analysts to wonder if the smaller companies’ machines will remain the expensive luxuries that they have become in the home-computing market. 1. When discussing recent developments in the computer industry, the author of the passage indicates that A. small companies will continue to take business away from their larger competitors B. large computer manufacturers and small ones are seeking ways to cooperate in order to broaden consumer demand for personal computers C. small computer manufacturers are beginning to seek ways to make their products available to non-specialists D. large computer manufacturers are relying on software developers for most of their new products E. small computer manufacturers are now adopting the innovations of the larger manufacturers 2.According to the passage, which of the following was an advantage possessed by large computer manufacturers prior to the emergence of small computer-makers? A. Their ability to produce expensive products B. The substantial resources at their disposal C. Their ability to adapt quickly to changes in the computer industry D. The high quality computers they were able to produce E. Their development of the earliest personal computer prototypes 3. According to the passage, which of the following resulted from “cloning” in the computer industry? I. The failure of younger, smaller computer manufacturers to realize their full potential II. The creation of low-quality, low-cost home computers III. The introduction of specialization into the computer industry I only II only I and II only I and III only II and III only

dips · Answer

1 C

Despite their innovative 
operating systems, which converted 
computers from specialists’ tools into 
devices nearly as easy to use as 
toasters....


Only recently have these 
smaller companies begun to license 
their hardware designs and operating 
systems ...



2 B
 ... the computer-manufacturing 
sector, an industry then dominated by 
those giants able to afford incredibly 
specialized knowledge and to produce 
equally expensive products, suddenly 
found its brightest lights shining in the 
garages of clever engineers.


3 a
only I

... these companies may not have 
reaped their full reward, ...

nick_sun · Answer

Thank you dips! Everything is correct but for the first one. The OA for the 1-st is E. For me the logic of the answer to the 2-nd question is still not clear

plaguerabbit · Answer

Why wouldnt the answer to #2 be A?

It says it right there in the passage...

" an industry then dominated by
those giants able to afford incredibly
specialized knowledge and to produce
equally expensive products"

...huh? i guess B does make sense, but A makes even more sense. A is directly stated in the passage, whereas with B you must make a little bit of an inference.

can someone explain this...

misterJJ2u · Answer

My choices (before seeing the answers):
1) E
2) A
3) A

Can someone please explain why #2 is B and not A?

dips · Answer

The first question's answer should be E.
Just don't know why I selected C. On second reading E is making sense.

The second question asks for  an advantage  possessed by large computer manufacturers prior to the emergence of small computer-makers? 

A. Their ability to produce expensive products 
Somehow I don't feel producing expensive products is an advantage. There is more support for B.

B. The substantial resources at their disposal 

the computer-manufacturing sector, an industry then dominated by those giants able to afford incredibly specialized knowledge and to produce equally expensive products,  suddenly found its brightest lights shining in the garages of clever engineers. 
If you see this sentence more emphasis is given to the bold part. 
The following has also been mentioned.

This move brought the computer giant’s greatest strength to bear—an enormous reserve of engineering brainpower....


C. Their ability to adapt quickly to changes in the computer industry 
Large manufacturers responded slowly.
So not C.

D. The high quality computers they were able to produce 
nothing has been mentioned about this.

E. Their development of the earliest personal computer prototypes 
nothing has been mentioned about this.out of scope.

seems to be tough for me, wonna check it

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