Critical Reasoning

It has been suggested that with the continued advance of technology, robots will be able to replace skilled craftsmen who currently assemble and test sophisticated manufactured goods, such as musical instruments. This suggestion is based on the belief that the assembly and testing of musical instruments consists of learning a series of techniques and processes, which can be programmed automatically without any understanding of how the various parts are supposed to work together to produce a high quality musical instrument. If this were the case, then robots could be programmed to follow the techniques and processes, and craftsmen would not be needed to assemble and test the instruments. But to do their jobs, skilled craftsmen must also understand the principles of sound production, together with the nuances of tone quality and the other criteria of a high quality musical instrument. Therefore, the idea that robots will replace people in the production of musical instruments is seriously flawed.

Which one of the following selections, if true, would most seriously weaken the author's conclusion that robots will not replace skilled craftsmen in the production of musical instruments?

(A) Not as many musical instruments are being produced today, so the industry cannot afford to pay skilled craftsmen.
(B) Musical instruments are not produced individually any more, but are mass produced in factories.
(C) Robots can be programmed to understand the principles of sound production, the nuances of tone quality and the other criteria of a high quality musical instrument.
(D) Robots can accomplish mundane assembly tasks much more cost-effectively than skilled craftsmen can.
(E) Skilled craftsmen are responsible for ensuring that musical instruments meet high quality standards.