Question

While tablet computer sales have increased steadily over the last 2 years, we can expect a reversal of this trend in the near future. Since they became popular in the marketplace 5 years ago, 60 percent of tablet computers sold have been purchased by people from 18 to 25 years of age, and the number of people in this age group is expected to decline steadily over the next 15 years.

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

Possible Answers:

A. New technology will make new computing options available over the next 15 years.
B. Most people under the age of 18 have never purchased a tablet computer.
C. Sales of tablet computers to small businesses have declined over the past 2 years.
D. The number of different types of tablet computers available is likely to increase in the near future.
E. Most purchasers of tablet computers over the past 2 years have been over the age of 25.

Answer 1

The argument suggests that the trend of increasing tablet computer sales will reverse, but this can be weakened if other factors affecting tablet sales are identified.

Step-by-step explanation:

The argument suggests that the trend of increasing tablet computer sales will reverse in the near future because the number of people in the age group of 18 to 25 is expected to decline steadily over the next 15 years. To weaken this argument, we need to provide evidence that tablet computer sales are not solely dependent on the 18 to 25 age group. Option C, which states that sales of tablet computers to small businesses have declined over the past 2 years, is the most relevant because it suggests that there are other factors affecting tablet computer sales besides the age group of 18 to 25. This weakens the argument that the decline in the 18 to 25 age group will lead to a reversal in tablet computer sales.