Question: Record companies defend their substitution of laser-read compact discs (CD’s) for the much less expensive traditional long-playing vinyl records in their catalogs by claiming that the audio market is ruled by consumer demand for ever-improved sound reproduction rather than by record manufacturers’ profit-motivated marketing decisions. But this claim cannot be true, because if it were true, then digital audiotape, which produces even better sound than CD’s, would be commercially available from these same record companies, but it is not.

Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the argument against the record companies’ claim?

(A) When CD’s were first introduced in the audio-reproduction market, prices were high and selection was poor.
(B) Record companies are reluctant to attempt commercial production of digital audiotape until profits from the sales of CD’s have enabled them to recover their investments in compact-disc manufacturing technology.
(C) Some CD’s have been so much in demand that consumers have experienced long delays in obtaining copies.
(D) Because CD’s work according to principles very different from those that govern conventional recordings, commercial production of CD’s requires new kinds of manufacturing technology.
(E) Any valid comparison of CD audio reproductions to digital audiotape reproductions must be based on identical performances played back on the highest quality disc or tape player.

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Choice B is the correct answer option. Contrary to customer desire for higher quality audio, for-profit record companies are not interested in producing improved digital audiotapes. As if the primary goal of record labels is to recover their financial losses through CD sales. The notion that customer desire for ever better sound reproduction controls the audio business is incorrect. Instead, commercial manufacture of digital autotapes began more than by the profit-driven marketing choices made by record makers. As CD sales are the main source of revenue. Let's examine the other options.

Option A
When CD’s were first introduced in the audio-reproduction market, prices were high and selection was poor.- Incorrect. Given that we are not concerned with variety and pricing quality

Option C
Some CD’s have been so much in demand that consumers have experienced long delays in obtaining copies.- Incorrect. Because customer delays are not what we are looking for.

Option D
Because CD’s work according to principles very different from those that govern conventional recordings, commercial production of CD’s requires new kinds of manufacturing technology.- Incorrect. It is not relevant. It is outside the scope of the passage. Since the technology required for CD creation and the operating technique are irrelevant.

Option E
Any valid comparison of CD audio reproductions to digital audiotape reproductions must be based on identical performances played back on the highest quality disc or tape player.- Incorrect. Since comparing CD audio to other digital audiotapes is not the focus of the passage. Out of scope.

“Record companies defend their substitution of laser-read compact discs”- is a GMAT critical reasoning topic. This GMAT critical comes with five options and candidates need to choose the one which is correct. GMAT critical reasoning tests the logical and analytical skills of the candidates.

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