#16 - The ability to access information via computer is a

[Administrator]

Complete Question Explanation

Strengthen. The correct answer choice is (B)

In this stimulus, the author discusses the computer, and the fact that it can facilitate access to information for visually impaired. From this the author concludes that "visually impaired people can now access information...more easily than...from traditional sources." This is a fairly broad conclusion; the fact that computers can facilitate the spread of such information does not mean that the visually impaired automatically have access to such technology. Since the task here is to strengthen the argument, we should look for the answer choice which lends credibility to the assertion that the visually impaired can more easily access that information.

Answer choice (A): The relative price of different systems is not at issue here—the question regards access to the technology and the information it provides, so this answer choice is incorrect.

Answer choice (B): This is the correct answer choice. This choice gets to the crux of the issue—access. If the referenced technology is widely available, that adds significant credibility to the author's broad conclusion.

Answer choice (C): This answer choice has no effect on the argumentation in the stimulus, especially considering the vagueness of the term "many." Does this mean three people or a million? Regardless, the conclusion regards easy access, not preference, so this answer choice is incorrect.

Answer choice (D): This answer choice is somewhat tricky, because it may at first seem relevant. But the fact that those with access to the advanced technology also have access to the older tech is not responsive to the question of general access. If this answer said that most people have access to both types, this would strengthen the argument. As stated, however, this answer choice is incorrect.

Answer choice (E): This answer choice regards the increasing rate at which the new information will be converted—this does not speak to the general access to the newer technologies, so this answer choice is incorrect as well.

[albamolina]

I see that B is the perfect answer choice now. However, I picked A, wouldn't you say that A also strengthens the conclusion "thus, visually impaired people can now access info from computers more easily than they can from most traditional sources" because if a computerized speech synthesizer is often less expensive than a complete library of audiotapes?

I do not like the explanation you gave for not picking A, because even though price is not an issue here, if computers are less expensive then it does strengthen even if it is not an issue, it still strengthens in some way.

[AthenaDalton]

Hi Alba,

The argument in the stimulus boils down to the fact that accessing a greater amount of information via computer is easier than from traditional sources.

This is due in part to the fact that many websites, databases, and so on are available online, while the amount of information available in traditional sources (braille, audio tapes, etc) is quite limited.

Answer choice (B) is best because it assures us that easy-to-use systems are readily available to help visually impaired people access the wonders of the Internet. This combines the "easy access" element of the argument with the premise stating that a greater quantity of information is available online.

Answer choice (A) is much narrower in that it only addresses cost. The prompt discussed both (1) the quantity of information available online and (2) ease of access. Answer choice (A) doesn't really address either. It's a fine distinction, but at bottom "ease of access" is not the same as "cost to access." For example, purchasing a computer to browse books on the web is certainly more expensive than going to a public library, but is it unquestionably easier to access those books with a quick Google search than by navigating the shelves of a library.

I hope that makes sense.

Best of luck!

Athena Dalton