STEP 1 - UNDERSTANDING INTENDED MEANINGArtificial intelligence emerged during the late 1950’s as an academic discipline based on the assumption that computers are able to be programmed to think like people• AI developed during the late 1950s as an academic discipline.
• It was based on a certain assumption
• The assumption was: Computers could be programmed to think like people.
1. The point of comparison/similarity is: Computers could be programmed to think the way people think.
2. The comparison marker “like” has been correctly used to bring out the similarity.
3. The expression “
computers are able to be programmed” is awkward, wordy and most of all,
uses the wrong tense. The main clause of the sentence is in the simple past tense.
Thus, the use of “are” is incorrect.
STEP 2 – ANSWER CHOICE ELIMINATIONChoice B analysisArtificial intelligence emerged during the late 1950’s as an academic discipline based on the assumption that computers
were able to be programmed to think as people.• The awkward expression “able to be” still remains
• When “as” is used for comparison, it should always be followed by a clause
• In such cases, it is incorrect to use “as” with a noun/pronoun
• Here “as” is used for comparison but is incorrectly followed by the noun “people”
Incorrect ChoiceChoice C analysisArtificial intelligence emerged during the late 1950’s as an academic discipline based on the assumption that computers
can be programmed to think as people
can.• The use of “can” indicating the simple present tense of the verb “think” is incorrect since the entire sentence is in the simple past tense.
Incorrect Choice.Choice D analysisArtificial intelligence emerged during the late 1950’s as an academic discipline based on the assumption that computers
could be programmed to think like
people.1. Logical
2. Clear
3. Same as the intended meaning
Correct Choice.Choice E analysisArtificial intelligence emerged during the late 1950’s as an academic discipline based on the assumption that computers
are capable of being programmed to
think like people do• The use of the simple present “are” is incorrect since the entire sentence is in the simple past tense.
• Like/Unlike should always be followed by a noun or pronoun
• In the given sentence, “like” is followed by the clause “people do”.
Incorrect Choice. _________________