video game sales

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PGMAT: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 73; Joined: Fri Jul 23, 2010 1:30 pm

by PGMAT » Sat Jan 29, 2011 8:32 am

Although video game sales have increased steadily over the past 3 years, we can expect a reversal of this trend in the very near future. Historically, over three quarters of video games sold have been purchased by people from 13 to 16 years of age, and the number of people in this age group is expected to decline steadily over the next 10 years.

Which one of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the argument?

(A) Most people 17 years old or older have never purchased a video game.
(B) Video game rentals have declined over the past 3 years.
(C) New technology will undoubtedly make entirely new entertainment options available over the next 10 years.
(D) The number of different types of video games available is unlikely to decrease in the near future.
(E) Most of the people who have purchased video games over the past 3 years are over the age of 16.

Source: Beat The GMAT — Critical Reasoning | Sat Jan 29, 2011 8:32 am

rohu27: Legendary Member; Posts: 586; Joined: Tue Jan 19, 2010 4:38 amFollowed by: 5 members; Thanked: 31 times; GMAT Score:730

by rohu27 » Sat Jan 29, 2011 9:47 am

Conclusion: Author feels as historically video games have been purchased by people in age grp 13-16 the same trend continues. If we can prove this to be wrong, the conclusion falls apart.

Option E does this. OA plz.

PGMAT wrote:Although video game sales have increased steadily over the past 3 years, we can expect a reversal of this trend in the very near future. Historically, over three quarters of video games sold have been purchased by people from 13 to 16 years of age, and the number of people in this age group is expected to decline steadily over the next 10 years.

Which one of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the argument?

(A) Most people 17 years old or older have never purchased a video game.
(B) Video game rentals have declined over the past 3 years.
(C) New technology will undoubtedly make entirely new entertainment options available over the next 10 years.
(D) The number of different types of video games available is unlikely to decrease in the near future.
(E) Most of the people who have purchased video games over the past 3 years are over the age of 16.

prachich1987: Legendary Member; Posts: 752; Joined: Sun Sep 12, 2010 2:47 amFollowed by: 10 members; Thanked: 20 times; GMAT Score:700

by prachich1987 » Sat Jan 29, 2011 10:00 am

Premise :
1) Historically, over three quarters of video games sold have been purchased by people from 13 to 16 years of age, and the number of people in this age group is expected to decline steadily over the next 10 years.
2) video game sales have increased steadily over the past 3 years

Conclusion :
we can expect a reversal of this trend in the very near future

(A) Most people 17 years old or older have never purchased a video game.
If anything this statement strengthens the argument by supporting the fact that people 16 year old or younger purchase the video games.
Hence if the no of people in the age group13-16 is going to decline ,the sale of video games will automatically decline.

(B) Video game rentals have declined over the past 3 years.
This offers one of the reason why the sales have increased over past three years.But it doesn't affects the claim that the decline in the people of age group 13-16 will lead to the decline in the sale of video games.

(C) New technology will undoubtedly make entirely new entertainment options available over the next 10 years.
It gives a hope that the new technology will make new entertainment options available but doesn't relate the sales with the buying habits of particular age group

(D) The number of different types of video games available is unlikely to decrease in the near future.
It doesn't relate the sales with the buying habits of particular age group

(E) Most of the people who have purchased video games over the past 3 years are over the age of 16.
Correct.
It states that though historically over three quarters of video games sold have been purchased by people from 13 to 16 years of age, this trend is changing now.
Most of the people who have purchased video games over the past 3 years are over the age of 16
So even if the people in the age group 13-16 are expected to decline,it won't have any effect on the no. of video games sold as the people over 16 are the one purchasing video games

Please post OA along with the source.

PGMAT: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 73; Joined: Fri Jul 23, 2010 1:30 pm

by PGMAT » Sat Jan 29, 2011 10:03 am

OA is E. LSAT question

Thanks for excellent explanation.

prachich1987: Legendary Member; Posts: 752; Joined: Sun Sep 12, 2010 2:47 amFollowed by: 10 members; Thanked: 20 times; GMAT Score:700

by prachich1987 » Sat Jan 29, 2011 10:06 am

PGMAT wrote:OA is E.
But why not C? New technology will make new entertainment options and this will increase sales. We are weakening the conclusion here by saying sales will increase.

New technology and new entertainment will be available------It is not sufficient to prove that it will lead to increase in sales.
we can't make this assumption.

cyrwr1: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 218; Joined: Sat Jul 24, 2010 2:43 pm; Thanked: 5 times

by cyrwr1 » Sat Jan 29, 2011 10:49 am

I'm going with E.

Tani: Legendary Member; Posts: 1255; Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2008 2:08 pmFollowed by: 90 members; Location: St. Louis; Thanked: 312 times

by Tani » Sat Jan 29, 2011 2:36 pm

New technology does not necessarily mean new video games - it could mean a different area entirely, which would hurt, rather than help video games. The sales to be increased by new technology are not necessarily video game sales.

Tani Wolff

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