In North America, of the people who buy cell phones, the percentage of people who bought phones from local manufacturers has decreased by five percent in the past one year. Since many local phone manufacturers in North America depend heavily on the local population for their customer base, this reduction is likely to have caused a noticeable negative economic effect on these manufacturers.Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?a)In the past year, the total number of people buying new cell phones has increased considerably in North America.b)Some people from Asia also buy cell phones from manufacturers in North America.c)The cost price of cell phones has increased considerably, and so the selling price has also increased correspondingly.d)Many new cell phone manufacturers have entered the market in North America.e)Those who do not purchase from local manufacturers do not pay a high price for phones.Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

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Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?

a)
In the past year, the total number of people buying new cell phones has increased considerably in North America.
b)
Some people from Asia also buy cell phones from manufacturers in North America.
c)
The cost price of cell phones has increased considerably, and so the selling price has also increased correspondingly.
d)
Many new cell phone manufacturers have entered the market in North America.
e)
Those who do not purchase from local manufacturers do not pay a high price for phones.

Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

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In North America, of the people who buy cell phones, the percentage of...

Pre-Thinking

Conclusion Clarification

N/A

Pre-Thinking Approach

Let’s see how we can make the conclusion less believable. To do so, we will look at the logical structure, focusing on linkage 1 and the conclusion. We see, that the author has drawn a conclusion on the basis of some statistics. Thus, the way to weaken the conclusion will be to show that a statistical problem exists with the interpretation of the data used to draw the conclusion.

Linkage#1

Weakener – Show that author’s interpretation of the data (proportion ? = absolute number ?) is not warranted. In what scenario can the proportion of the people decline but the absolute number remain constant or increase?

It’s possible if the overall population of people buying cellphones in North America has increased significantly.

- Instance: For example, if the population increased from 10,000 to 20,000 and the PPLM declined from 15 to 10% (decline of 5%). The number of people buying phones from local manufacturers has actually increased from 1500 to 2000.

With this understanding in mind, let’s take a look at the option statements.

Answer Choices

In the past year, the total number of people buying new cell phones has increased considerably in North America.

Correct

This option is written along the lines of pre-thinking.

Some people from Asia also buy cell phones from manufacturers in North America.

Incorrect - Irrelevant

The argument focuses only on the phone manufacturers that depend heavily on the local population for their customer base.

The cost price of cell phones has increased considerably, and so the selling price has also increased correspondingly.

Incorrect - Irrelevant

The argument focuses on the impact of decline in PPLM on the economic condition of these manufacturers.

Many new cell phone manufacturers have entered the market in North America.

Incorrect - Irrelevant

The author’s conclusion is based on an interpretation of the drop in the proportion of people buying phones from local manufacturers. Now why, the drop has taken place, for e.g. due to increased competition from the new cell phone manufacturers (we are not told that they are local), is not important.

Those who do not purchase from local manufacturers do not pay a high price for phones.

Incorrect - Irrelevant

Again, like choice D, a possible reason behind the drop is not important.

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In North America, of the people who buy cell phones, the percentage of people who bought phones from local manufacturers has decreased by five percent in the past one year. Since many local phone manufacturers in North America depend heavily on the local population for their customer base, this reduction is likely to have caused a noticeable negative economic effect on these manufacturers.Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?a)In the past year, the total number of people buying new cell phones has increased considerably in North America.b)Some people from Asia also buy cell phones from manufacturers in North America.c)The cost price of cell phones has increased considerably, and so the selling price has also increased correspondingly.d)Many new cell phone manufacturers have entered the market in North America.e)Those who do not purchase from local manufacturers do not pay a high price for phones.Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

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In North America, of the people who buy cell phones, the percentage of people who bought phones from local manufacturers has decreased by five percent in the past one year. Since many local phone manufacturers in North America depend heavily on the local population for their customer base, this reduction is likely to have caused a noticeable negative economic effect on these manufacturers.Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?a)In the past year, the total number of people buying new cell phones has increased considerably in North America.b)Some people from Asia also buy cell phones from manufacturers in North America.c)The cost price of cell phones has increased considerably, and so the selling price has also increased correspondingly.d)Many new cell phone manufacturers have entered the market in North America.e)Those who do not purchase from local manufacturers do not pay a high price for phones.Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? for GMAT 2024 is part of GMAT preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the GMAT exam syllabus. Information about In North America, of the people who buy cell phones, the percentage of people who bought phones from local manufacturers has decreased by five percent in the past one year. Since many local phone manufacturers in North America depend heavily on the local population for their customer base, this reduction is likely to have caused a noticeable negative economic effect on these manufacturers.Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?a)In the past year, the total number of people buying new cell phones has increased considerably in North America.b)Some people from Asia also buy cell phones from manufacturers in North America.c)The cost price of cell phones has increased considerably, and so the selling price has also increased correspondingly.d)Many new cell phone manufacturers have entered the market in North America.e)Those who do not purchase from local manufacturers do not pay a high price for phones.Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for GMAT 2024 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for In North America, of the people who buy cell phones, the percentage of people who bought phones from local manufacturers has decreased by five percent in the past one year. Since many local phone manufacturers in North America depend heavily on the local population for their customer base, this reduction is likely to have caused a noticeable negative economic effect on these manufacturers.Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?a)In the past year, the total number of people buying new cell phones has increased considerably in North America.b)Some people from Asia also buy cell phones from manufacturers in North America.c)The cost price of cell phones has increased considerably, and so the selling price has also increased correspondingly.d)Many new cell phone manufacturers have entered the market in North America.e)Those who do not purchase from local manufacturers do not pay a high price for phones.Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?.

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