PrepTest 118

Incorrect. The difficulty raised by the argument is in setting the jumpers and switches to meet "mysterious specifications"—knowing the purpose of them won't help with meeting those specs, so this answer is out of scope.

Incorrect. The cost of the software is unrelated to the complexity of getting it installed without knocking out other accessories.

Incorrect. The argument is about what is currently true ("this is wrong"), not what will be true, so this answer is out of scope.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Weaken

Stimulus Summary:
Installing accessories into PCs requires setting jumpers and switches, and installing software can disable other accessories, so building a PC is an obstacle to their use.

Answer Anticipation:
First, be sure to rephrase the conclusion to reflect its meaning—here, in stating that those who claim something isn't a widespread obstacle to use are wrong, the author is committing to believing that there is a widespread obstacle to use.

With that in mind, we can analyze the logic of the argument. The author relies on the difficulty of setting jumpers and switches and installing software that can sometimes conflict with other accessories to conclude that this complexity is an obstacle to people using them. Any answer that suggests this complexity might not be an impediment to adoption—for instance, some way that this complexity is mitigated—would weaken the argument.

Answer Explanation:
If the users won't need to do any of the installation or configuration, then all of that setup can't serve as an impediment to their adoption. If people don't have to deal with the complexity, then it can't scare them away. (Similarly, not knowing how to build your microwave didn't stop you from buying one!)

Key Takeaway:
The difficulty in many Weaken questions comes more from eliminating trap answers based on subtle term shifts than on understanding the argument itself.

Incorrect. The argument has already established that these programs/accessories can be difficult to install, so establishing that they weren't designed to be easy to install doesn't add anything to this argument.