A new computer system

Answer choices

1. A

   Correct83% picked this

   the new computer system will not increase the efficiency of the Ministry of Transportation to

   Why this is right

   We were looking for this: The Ministry of Transportation's new computer system will not significantly increase the ministry's efficiency. So this seems like what we wanted (the output you get from applying the rule in the 1st sentence to the fact in the 2nd sentence). Is "won't increase to any appreciable degree" the same as "will not significantly increase"? Yes! A significant increase is an appreciable one. Insignificant is synonymous with negligible. Some of us may have savings or checking accounts that increase by an insignificant/negligible amount of interest each year (a few dollars).

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

   83%
2. B

   Out of Scope: malfunction1% picked this

   it is likely that the new computer system will not function correctly when it

   Nothing in the passage presents any possibility of malfunctioning.

   1%
3. C

   Causal Speculation4% picked this

   the leaders of the Ministry of Transportation must not be concerned with the productivity of

   This answer goes one thought farther than the derivable inference. The derivable inference is that, "This new system won't increase productivity/efficiency". This answer tries to speculate why we would use such a system. Did the leaders choose to go with this new system because they're not concerned with efficiency? Because it was the only system they could afford? Because they needed to do a favor for the manufacturer of the system? We have no idea. We can't speculate the backstory of why the ministry is installing a system that won't significantly boost efficiency (maybe they're already very efficient!)

   4%
4. D

   Out of Scope8% picked this

   the new computer system will be worthwhile if it automates many processes that are

   Out of Scope: automating Too Strong: will be Nothing in the passage talks about automating jobs that used to be done manually, so we can't derive any language like that from the two sentences we have available. This is a very strong idea, as well, which proves the system will be worthwhile, as long as it succeeds in automating many processes.

   8%
5. E

   Too Strong: easy One-Claim Support4% picked this

   it will be easy for employees of the Ministry of Transportation to learn to use

   Can we say that "because the system is built to fit the ministry's existing ways of working" that it will be easy to learn? No. It's reasonable to speculate that it will be easier to learn this new system than if the system hadn't been custom built to fit their needs. But no matter how good a computer system is, when you install a new computer system at work, there are usually hiccups and confusion and a learning curve for the employees, so calling it "easy" to learn seems pretty bold. We should also be nervous to pick this answer because we'd be supporting it using only the 2nd claim. On 99% or more of Inference questions (be they Must Be True, Most Supported, or Logical Completion), the correct answer involves combining 2 or more claims.

   4%