mba1382 wrote:
We learn to use most of the machines in our lives through written instructions, without knowledge of the machines'inner workings, because most machines are specifically designed for use by nonexperts. So, in general, attaining technological expertise would prepare students for tomorrow's job market no better than would a more traditional education stressing verbal and quantitative skills.
The argument depends on assuming which one of the following?
A) Fewer people receive a traditional education stressing verbal and quantitative skills now than did 20 years ago.
B) Facility in operating machines designed for use by nonexperts is almost never enhanced by expert knowledge of the machines' inner workings.
C) Most jobs in tomorrow's job market will not demand the ability to operate many machines that are designed for use only by experts.
D) Students cannot attain technological expertise and also receive an education that does not neglect verbal and quantitative skills.
E) When learning to use a machine, technological expertise is never more important than verbal and quantitative skills.
Please explain your reasoning. Will post OA soon.
The questions asks you to strengthen the argument. The argument is either expertise or education does not make a difference in preparing for tomorrow's job market. So first I am going to look for an answer the speaks directly to preparing for the job market. In this case, "C" speaks about the demands of tomorrow's job market. So this answer specifically strengthen's the argument.
A - No indication of time is given in the paragraph so this answer does not apply.
B - This answer talks only about the ability to operate the machine, not about preparation for the job market.
C - Correct answer
D - The paragraph does not imply that a student cannot receive both, but that neither is better than the other
E - "Never" in this answer is the use of an extreme word. In most cases, answers with extremes will not be the correct answer. This answer does indicate what the paragraph says - that expertise is not more important that verbal or quantitative skills, but again that is not the argument.
Identifying the argument correctly is the key to choosing the correct answer.