Computer manufacturers have sought to make computer chips ever smaller, since decreasing the size of a computer's central processing unit (CPU) chip-without making that CPU chip any less sophisticated-will proportionally increase the speed of the CPU chip and the computer containing it. But since CPU chips cannot be made significantly smaller without decreasing their sophistication, computers cannot currently be made significantly faster.

Which one of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?

Correct answer marked below

Computers cannot currently be made faster unless their CPU chips are made smaller.

Correct

Even if CPU chips are made slightly less sophisticated, they cannot currently be made much smaller.

If both the size and the sophistication of a CPU chip are decreased, the speed of that chip will decrease.

Few, if any, computer manufacturers believe that computers can be made significantly faster.

Increasing the sophistication of a CPU chip without increasing its size will proportionally increase its speed.

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What this question tests

Whether you can identify the unstated assumption a critical-reasoning argument depends on.

Picking an option that strengthens the argument or is merely relevant instead of one that is required.