In Comparison to The Standard Typewriter Keyboard

Question: In comparison to the standard typewriter keyboard, the EFCO keyboard, which places the most-used keys nearest the typist’s strongest fingers, allows faster typing and results in less fatigue. Therefore, the replacement of standard keyboards with the EFCO keyboard will result in an immediate reduction in typing costs.

Which one of the following, if true, would most weaken the conclusion drawn above?

1. People who use both standard and EFCO keyboards report greater difficulty in the transition from the EFCO keyboard to the standard keyboard than in the transition from the standard keyboard to the EFCO keyboard.
2. EFCO keyboards are no more expensive to manufacture than standard keyboards and require less frequent repair than standard keyboards.
3. The number of businesses and government agencies that use EFCO keyboards is increasing each year.
4. The more training and experience an employee has had with the standard keyboard, the more costly it is to train that employee to use the EFCO keyboard.
5. Novice typists can learn to use the EFCO keyboard in about the same amount of time it takes them to learn to use the standard keyboard.

Answer: D

Explanation: This is a GMAT Critical reasoning question. We have to find the option that most weakens the conclusion drawn in the passage.

Let’s go through each of the available options and choose the one that fits the best.

Option A: People who use both standard and EFCO keyboards report greater difficulty in the transition from the EFCO keyboard to the standard keyboard than in the transition from the standard keyboard to the EFCO keyboard.
Option A states that those people who use both types of keyboards claim that there is more difficulty in transitioning from an EFCO keyboard to a standard keyboard than in transitioning from a standard to an EFCO keyboard. The argument in the passage does not talk about transitioning of keyboards but about fatigue or less fatigue in typing. So, this statement is of no use to us. Option A is incorrect.

Option B: EFCO keyboards are no more expensive to manufacture than standard keyboards and require less frequent repair than standard keyboards.
According to Option B, the EFCO keyboards are no longer as expensive to make as the standard ones and also they require less frequent repair than the standard keyboards. This statement is supporting the conclusion, instead of weakening it. The conclusion says that the replacement of standard keyboards with EFCO keyboards will reduce typing costs. So, Option B is incorrect.

Option C: The number of businesses and government agencies that use EFCO keyboards is increasing each year.
Option C states that the number of businesses and government offices that use EFCO keyboards is continuously increasing each year. This statement is totally irrelevant as this information does not relate to the argument in any way. Also, it does not weaken the conclusion in the passage. So, Option C is incorrect.

Option D: The more training and experience an employee has had with the standard keyboard, the more costly it is to train that employee to use the EFCO keyboard.
According to Option D, the transitioning of an employee from a standard keyboard to an EFCO keyboard will be expensive as training is required for the transition. This statement clearly weakens the conclusion as it says that the transition will prove to be costly, which contradicts the conclusion. Option D is correct.

Option E: Novice typists can learn to use the EFCO keyboard in about the same amount of time it takes them to learn to use the standard keyboard.
Option E states that novice typists can learn how to use the EFCO keyboard in the same amount of time it takes to learn how to use the standard keyboard. This statement is neutral and does not weaken the conclusion given. So, Option E is incorrect.

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