PrepTest 146

Incorrect. If anything, owning and controlling the technology would allow for it to be monetized, thus aligning with the argument.

Incorrect. This answer suggests that the new technology will drive box office receipts, thus suggesting that the film itself will make money. While the premise of the argument is about recuperating costs through using the technology in future films, the conclusion is just about recovering production costs, so pointing out that the film could be popular and thus make money serves only to help the argument.

Incorrect. The Director's argument is that even if the film's ticket sales don't offset the costs, the new technology's use in future films will, so this answer aligns with her argument.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Weaken

Stimulus Summary:
FD: The production costs of my film, in part, are developing innovative tech that can be used in future films, so the film will almost certainly at least break even, even if it's unpopular.

Answer Anticipation:
The Director here believes that her film isn't as risky as it might appear based on the high production costs. Why? Well, because if the film is good and makes money, all is well (an implicit assumption of the argument). But even if it's bad and doesn't make money, her film is spending money on special-effects technology that can be used in other films—and thus the money spent on it wouldn't be wasted and in fact would help other films make money.

In short, the Director believes that her film will recover its costs even if it doesn't break even at the box office because she's creating useful technology that's worth the investment.

What could weaken this? Anything that suggests the special-effects technology won't end up being worth the investment. Maybe this type of technology develops so rapidly that anything developed this year is already outdated next year. Maybe the technology is so specifically tailored to her film that it can't be used for other films. Whatever the case, any answer suggesting that this technology isn't going to make back the money in the case of a box office failure will weaken her argument.

Answer Explanation:
This answer suggests that, should her film be unpopular, the technologies she's developing won't be used—and thus won't save or make the studio money. If that's the case, then her film's costs might not be recovered "even if the film is unpopular," and her argument is weakened.

Key Takeaway:
Weaken (and Strengthen) questions frequently leave a wide variety of potential answer choices open. Sometimes, your anticipation is going to be a general statement of what the correct answer will do—what it will weaken, and how—rather than on the specific content of it. That's fine! Having a general idea will allow you to find answers that come at your anticipation from a different angle than you might have thought.

Incorrect. This answer explains how the technology could recuperate the costs invested into it, thus strengthening the argument.