The laboratory experiment, the most

Answer choices

1. A

   Very Weak Impact8% picked this

   Scientific knowledge is changing so rapidly it is difficult for secondary schools to keep up

   This is better than nothing, because it allows us to defend the use of computers in secondary schools, but this author wasn't saying, "I don't think secondary schools should be using computers!" She was saying, "I don't think students should do experiments on the computer rather than in the lab." She would probably agree that the teachers, at a minimum, should still have access to computers in order to keep tabs on scientific knowledge. Her concern is about how students conduct experiments.

   8%
2. B

   No Impact5% picked this

   In some secondary schools, teachers conduct laboratory experiments while

   This is incredibly weak (some = at least one). You very seldom see correct answers on Strengthen / Weaken / Paradox that only have the impact of "at least one" (some, sometimes, may, can, could, not all, etc.) The author is saying a trend should be stopped. She wasn't saying that every single school has already abandoned lab experiments, so it doesn't conflict with anything she's saying for us to say, "oh, author, some schools still have teachers conducting experiments".

   5%
3. C

   Weak Impact4% picked this

   Computers have proven to be a valuable tool for teaching secondary school

   Much like (A), although this is better than (A), this feels decent. It allows us to defend the value of using computers in the science classroom. However, we were told that the lab experiment is the most effective method, so even if we say, "computers are valuable", the author can counter with, "yes, but lab experiments are more valuable". More importantly, this answer is about learning science terminology, whereas the author is concerned with lab experiments and with using lab equipment.

   4%
4. D

   No Impact1% picked this

   Secondary schools and universities across the nation have put a great deal of money

   This would potentially allow us to argue, "Hey, author --- this trend should not be stopped, because schools have put a lot of money into buying computers!" Similar to (A), but even worse since this doesn't limit itself to science, this is too broadly about computers. The author wasn't arguing that we shouldn't have computers or that computers are evil / lame. She was just specifically saying, "No, don't replace lab experiments with computer experiments."

   1%
5. E

   Correct83% picked this

   University students can learn science effectively without having had experience in working

   Why this is right

   The author was saying, "We have to stop this trend — it's leading to students going on to university without knowing how to work with lab equipment!" We were wondering, "Is that bad? Do they need to know how to work with lab equipment in order to do well at university?" The author was evidently assuming that students need to know how to work with lab equipment when they get to university, and this answer choice firmly disavows that assumption.

   Skill tested: Weaken · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.

   83%