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Explanation for Question 3

3. According to information contained in the passage, the author would be most likely to describe the process by which users learn about and adapt to new technology as

A. dictated by the particular nature of the production tasks to be accomplished with the new technology

The author does not mention anything about how "the particular nature of the production tasks to be accomplished with the new technology" dictates how the learning process occurs. Rather, the author discusses what occurs "in general" when a new technology is introduced into a particular sector of a company.

Eliminate.

B. unpredictable due to differences in workers' familiarity with other technologies

The author never characterizes the learning process as "unpredictable." Rather, the author indicates that there is a pattern that occurs "in general" whenever a new technology is introduced into a particular sector of a company.

Eliminate.

C. inefficient because of inadequate planning by managers

This choice is tricky because the author does indicate that planning by managers can affect how well introduction of new technology can go.

Notice, however, that the author never says that, in general, the process by which users learn about and adapt to new technology is "inefficient" because of what managers do.

Eliminate.

D. slow initially but accelerating as employees gain familiarity with the new technology

This choice says basically the opposite what the passage says. The passage says that the process by which users learn about and adapt to new technology involves "an initial burst of learning or adaptive activity" that is "often short-lived ... with users' effort and attention declining dramatically after the first few months."

In other words, the passage says that the process is fast initially and then slows.

Eliminate.

E. occurring at intervals rather than continuously

This choice fits what the passage says perfectly.

The author says the following:

In general, the introduction of new technology into ongoing operations triggers an initial burst of learning or adaptive activity .... Such intense activity is often short-lived, however, with users' effort and attention declining dramatically after the first few months. ... The period of intense activity by users is typically followed by one in which users return their attention to their customary production tasks .... Later on ... users often turn their attention back to the new technology, initiating additional spurts of learning or adaptive activity. In many cases, this pattern continues over time, with brief periods of learning or adaptation followed by longer periods of relatively routine use.

We see that the author says that "in general" the process by which users learn about and adapt to new technology occurs in "an initial burst" followed by "additional spurts" and "brief periods of learning or adaptation followed by longer periods of relatively routine use," i.e., "at intervals rather than continuously."

The correct answer is (E)
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Explanation for Question 4

4. According to information contained in the passage, the author would be most likely to make which of the following recommendations to managers who are introducing a new technology into the workplace?

A. Emphasize the desirability of maintaining certain productivity levels during all phases of the process.

The passage never discusses anything having to do with "maintaining" productivity levels. The only mention of "productivity levels," "productivity typically begins to increase," appears toward the end of the passage, and it involves the effects of adoption of a new technology on productivity levels, not people doing anything to maintain productivity levels during the process of introducing a new technology.

Eliminate.

B. Exploit the new technology by anticipating and planning for the continuous learning curve that characterizes this process.

This choice conflicts with what the passage says in that the passage describes the learning involved with introduction of a new technology as occurring in "bursts" rather than "continuous."

Eliminate.

C. Ensure that needed improvements to the new technology are implemented during the initial period of intense user learning and adaptive activity.

This choice is supported the passage.

In the third paragraph, we see the following:

Managers who anticipate and plan for intense user activity when a new technology is first introduced are better able to exploit the surge of energy and user motivation that usually occurs at the start of a project when improvements are easiest to implement, and major problems are most obvious. Moreover, by attempting to confine major modifications to start-up periods, such managers can better realize the benefits of periods of routine usage of the technology, during which productivity typically begins to increase and the effectiveness of previous modifications can be assessed.

It follows that if "improvements are easiest to implement" "at the start of a project" and that if "by attempting to confine major modifications to start-up periods, such managers can better realize the benefits of periods of routine usage of the technology," then the author would recommend that managers "ensure that needed improvements to the new technology are implemented during the initial period of intense user learning and adaptive activity."

Keep

D. Work jointly with users to determine the amount of learning and adaptive activity that is required for users to master a new technology.

The passage says nothing about managers working "jointly with users" or determining "the amount of learning and adaptive activity that is required." Rather, the passage sticks to discussing the overall pattern of how learning occurs and how best to proceed in light of the existence of that pattern.

Eliminate.

E. Attempt to minimize the dramatic falloff in learning and adaptive activity that often occurs shortly after a new technology is introduced.

Everything discussed in the passage assumes that "the dramatic falloff in learning and adaptive activity that often occurs shortly after a new technology is introduced" will occur, and all recommendations made involve actions that take that falloff into account rather than minimize it.

Eliminate.

The correct answer is (C).
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MartyMurray

for the 2nd question the right answer is (c) but if we take a closer look at this answer choice it says "........to which an alternative is proposed".

But i don't think that the author is proposing any thing in the 2nd paragraph.
He is just stating facts or data points about what normally happens "when a new technology is introduced into a particular sector of a company".

Can you throw some light why this is the correct choice ?
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MartyMurray

for the 2nd question the right answer is (c) but if we take a closer look at this answer choice it says "........to which an alternative is proposed".

But i don't think that the author is proposing any thing in the 2nd paragraph.
He is just stating facts or data points about what normally happens "when a new technology is introduced into a particular sector of a company".

Can you throw some light why this is the correct choice ?
That's interesting, and I've edited the explanation for (C) and the end of the explanation for question 2 to reflect what you said and answer your question.

See what you think.
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