Customers are aware that most of the faults that arise in their mobile...
Argument Analysis
Pre-Thinking
Let’s look at the relationship between the two boldface portions w.r.t. the conclusion of the trade analysts.
Conclusion: The author concludes that the phone will be very expensive and as such not be able to find enough customers.
Let’s take a look at BF1 below:
BF1: Customers are aware that most of the faults that arise in their mobile phones are due to the excessive exposure of these phones to moisture or water.
BF1 states a fact. The author presents the fact in statement 2 as a consequence of BF1. Statement 2:
Accordingly, engineers at Talkit Inc. have developed a water-resistant phone that can stay underwater for at least 30 minutes without any resultant damage to either its hardware or software.
BF2: the phone will be very expensive and as such not be able to find enough customers.
BF2 presents the conclusion of the author. The author draws the above conclusion on the basis of the fact stated in the first half of the sentence, which is:
However, since the manufacturing cost of the phone is anywhere between 25-30% more than that of an ordinary phone,
In the light of statement 2 and the support for BF2, we can see that BF1 does not support the conclusion of the argument, BF2.
With this understanding in mind, let’s take a look at the option statements.
Answer Choices
A
The first is a reason provided to support a conclusion that the argument as a whole disputes; the second is an explanation that counters that conclusion.
Incorrect – Both parts wrong
BF1 doesn’t state a reason to support any conclusion. It states an observation. In the second half of this statement, “that” refers to the conclusion mentioned in the first half. As BF1 doesn’t support any conclusion, BF2 cannot be an explanation that counters that conclusion. In fact, BF2 itself is a conclusion drawn by the author.
B
The first is an observation that the argument disfavors; the second is the position that the argument seeks to establish.
Incorrect – 1st part wrong
BF1 is a fact and can be considered an observation, but the argument doesn’t disfavor it. BF2 is indeed the position that the argument seeks to establish- in other words the main conclusion of the argument.
C
The first is an observation that is not disputed by the argument; the second is a conclusion that is not supported by the first.
Correct
Both BF portions have been identified along the lines of our pre-thinking. BF1 can be described as an observation; this observation has not been challenged by the argument. BF2 is the conclusion of the argument, which is not supported by BF1 but by the fact that “the manufacturing cost of the phone is anywhere between 25-30% more than that of an ordinary phone.”
D
The first is an observation that is not disputed by the argument; the second is an explanation that the argument favors.
Incorrect – 2nd part wrong
As observed in option C, BF1 has been identified correctly. However, BF2 is not an explanation; it’s an opinion by the author.
E
The first is a reason provided to support a conclusion which the argument as a whole disputes; the second is that conclusion.
Incorrect – Both parts wrong
BF1 doesn’t state a reason to support any conclusion. In the second half of this statement, “that” refers to the conclusion mentioned in the first half. As BF1 doesn’t support any conclusion, BF2 cannot be that conclusion. BF2 is the conclusion drawn by the author.