Question: According to an independent computer-industry analyst, the new Regent microcomputer is of high quality, is fast, and costs less than any currently existing competing model. It is reasonable to conclude, therefore, as the manufacturer’s prospectus does, that the Regent will quickly establish itself as a fast-selling, low-priced alternative to currently available microcomputers.

Which of the following, if true, would LEAST weaken the argument above?

(A) Many retailers already carry one or more low-priced microcomputer models and are disinclined to carry another.
(B) Several faster and lower-priced models of microcomputers will soon be introduced by other computer manufacturers.
(C) The Regent Corporation’s microcomputer can be used in conjunction with higher-priced microcomputers manufactured by other companies.
(D) Most of those individuals and companies that could be expected to make up the potential market for the Regent microcomputer have already filled their microcomputer needs.
(E) The independent computer-industry analyst whose assessment was incorporated in the prospectus has used measures of quality that are not universally accepted by the computer-buying public.

“According to an independent computer-industry analyst, the new Regent microcomputer” – is a GMAT Critical question. To answer the question, a candidate can by either finding a piece of evidence that would weaken the argument or logical flaws in the argument. GMAT critical reasoning tests the logical and analytical skills of the candidates. This topic requires candidates to find the argument's strengths and weaknesses or the logical flaw in the argument. The GMAT CR section contains 10 -13 GMAT critical reasoning questions out of 36 GMAT verbal questions.

Answer: C
Explanation: GMAT critical reasoning is a section whose primarily motive is to test the reasoning skills of the candidate along with the logical and analytical thinking abilities. The candidate has to find the correct option by finding the logically appropriate answer.

Let us view the option one by one to find out the correct choice.

1. The conclusion will be weakened as a result of the retailers' unwillingness, which will have an impact on sales. If the retailers are not interested to carry another low-priced computer then it clearly says that the sales of the new, faster microcomputer will go down.
2. If this claim is accurate, they would take the place of the recently launched new model. The conclusion is thereby undermined. So if other manufacturers can develop more cheap and faster computers, then this microcomputer will be no different than the other models. Hence the establishment of this product can be decreased.
3. This is a pointless argument. The paragraph makes no mention of it. The author has only talked about the less price of the regent microcomputers and not about the manufacturers who are developing high-priced microcomputers.
4. Because there is no market for the newly introduced market, the conclusion is weak. The author is only concerned about the cheap price of the microcomputer and not the status of the market. The author is only trying to state that the features which are present in the Regent microcomputer at such a less price point, will not take much time to take over the market. Also if the market needs are fulfilled then why would a manufacturer will develop a more efficient computer at a cheap price?
5. The criteria used to evaluate old computers are different from those used to evaluate new computers due to differences in quality measurement parameters. This makes the suggested conclusion less strong.

Hence it is clearly visible that Only option C is not weakening the conclusion. Hence it is the correct answer.

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