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by GmatKiss » Tue May 15, 2012 7:36 am
Many television viewers own videocassette recorders (VCR's). Companies that advertise on television complain that VCR ownership hurts their business, since a VCR makes it possible to view television programs without watching the commercials. Indeed, two-thirds of those who tape programs on a VCR edit out the commercials when viewing the programs.
Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the companies' complaint that VCR ownership is currently hurting their business?

(A) The methods for determining audience size, which in turn determines charges for advertising time, count households that are merely recording a program as households that are watching it.
(B) VCR manufacturers who advertise on television would themselves suffer the damage, if any, to advertisers' interests that is caused by VCR's.
(C) There are VCR's that are in the early stages of development that will automatically edit out commercials during the recording process.
(D) Those who tape programs on VCR's, but who do not edit out commercials when viewing the programs, tape more often than those who do edit out the commercials.
(E) Some television commercials are as entertaining or informative as the programs they interrupt.
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Source: — Critical Reasoning |

by ice_rush » Tue May 15, 2012 8:38 am
I'd go with (A) on this one.

Some strangely worded answer choices...What's the source and OA?
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by karthikgmat » Tue May 15, 2012 9:00 am
C is strengthening that VCR's are hurting advertisers, as VCRS are editing out ADs while recording.

A doesn't seem to hurt at all.

Rest all seems to weaken.
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by sudhanshumalani » Thu Jun 07, 2012 11:34 pm
OA??
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by GMATGuruNY » Fri Jun 08, 2012 3:32 am
GmatKiss wrote:Many television viewers own videocassette recorders (VCR's). Companies that advertise on television complain that VCR ownership hurts their business, since a VCR makes it possible to view television programs without watching the commercials. Indeed, two-thirds of those who tape programs on a VCR edit out the commercials when viewing the programs.
Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the companies' complaint that VCR ownership is currently hurting their business?

(A) The methods for determining audience size, which in turn determines charges for advertising time, count households that are merely recording a program as households that are watching it.
(B) VCR manufacturers who advertise on television would themselves suffer the damage, if any, to advertisers' interests that is caused by VCR's.
(C) There are VCR's that are in the early stages of development that will automatically edit out commercials during the recording process.
(D) Those who tape programs on VCR's, but who do not edit out commercials when viewing the programs, tape more often than those who do edit out the commercials.
(E) Some television commercials are as entertaining or informative as the programs they interrupt.
Premise: Two-thirds of those who tape programs on a VCR edit out the commercials.
Conclusion: VCR ownership is hurting the businesses of companies that advertise on television.

The correct answer must support the contention that VCR OWNERSHIP is HURTING THE BUSINESSES of companies that advertise on TV.

Answer choice A: The methods for determining audience size, which in turn determines charges for advertising time, count households that are merely recording a program as households that are watching it.
The implication is that advertisers are charged for households that never see any commercials -- since 2/3 of those those who tape shows edit out the commercials -- supporting the conclusion that VCR ownership is hurting the advertisers' businesses.

The correct answer is A.

Reasons to eliminate:

B: The passage is not about VCR manufacturers.

C: VCRs that are IN DEVELOPMENT do not affect the conclusion that VCR ownership CURRENTLY is hurting businesses.

D: It is given as a fact that 2/3 of those who tape shows edit out the commercials; what the rest do is irrelevant.

E: Who cares?
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by Gaurav 2013-fall » Mon Jun 11, 2012 2:56 am
IMO A

good question. Thanks for posting!
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