While recent decades have seen more information recorded than any

Question

New Project RC Butler 2019  -  Practice 2 RC Passages Everyday   
Passage # 202, Date : 12-Jul-2019
 This post is a part of New Project RC Butler 2019 .  Click here for Details

While recent decades have seen more information recorded than any other era, the potential for losing this information is now greater than ever. This prospect is of great concern to archivists, who are charged with preserving vital records and documents indefinitely. One archivist notes that while the quantity of material being saved has increased exponentially, the durability of recording media has decreased almost as rapidly. The clay tablets that contain the laws of ancient Mesopotamia, for example, are still displayed in museums around the world, and many medieval manuscripts written on animal parchment still look as though they were copied yesterday, whereas books printed on acidic paper as recently as the 1980s are already unreadable. Black-and-white photographs will last for a couple of centuries, but most color photographs become unstable within 40 years, and videotapes last only about 20 years.

Computer technology would seem to offer archivists an answer, as maps, photographs, films, videotapes, and all forms of printed material may now be transferred to and stored electronically on computer disks or tape, occupying very little space.  But as the pace of technological change increases, so too does the speed with which each new generation of technology supplants the last. For example, many documents and images transferred in the 1980s to optical computer disks—then the cutting edge of technology—may not now be retrievable because they depend on computer software and hardware that are no longer available. And recent generations of digital storage tape are considered safe from deterioration for only ten years. Yet, even as some archivists are reluctant to become dependent on ever‐changing computer technology, they are also quickly running out of time.

Even if viable storage systems are developed— new computer technologies are emerging that may soon provide archivists with the information storage durability they require—decisions about what to keep and what to discard will have to be made quickly, as materials recorded on conventional media continue to deteriorate. Ideally, these decisions should be informed by an assessment of the value of each document. Printed versions of ancient works by Homer and Virgil, for example, survived intact because their enduring popularity resulted in multiple copies of the works being made at different historical moments. But many great works, including those of Plato, were lost for several centuries and are known today only because random copies turned up in the archives of medieval monasteries or in other scholarly collections. Undoubtedly, many important works have not survived at all. The danger now is not so much that some recent masterpiece will be lost for an extended period of time, but rather that the sheer volume of accumulated records stored on nondurable media will make it virtually impossible for archivists to sort the essential from the dispensable in time to save it.   1 
 1. Which one of the following most accurately expresses the main point of the passage?

(A) The increasing volume of information being stored and the decreasing durability of modern storage media are making it more and more difficult for archivists to carry out their charge.
(B) Modern data storage-and-retrieval techniques have enabled archivists to distinguish essential from dispensable information with greater efficiency than ever before.
(C) Many archivists have come to believe that documents and images preserved on conventional storage media are likely to endure longer than those recorded on electronic storage media.
(D) Given the limitations on the capacity of modern storage media, it is increasingly important for archivists to save only those documents that they believe to have genuine value.
(E) Modern electronic media enable us to record and store information so easily that much of what is stored is not considered by archivists to be essential or valuable.

2 
 2. The passage provides information sufficient to answer which one of the following questions?

(A) Are there any copies of the works of Homer and Virgil stored on parchment?
(B) Why is information stored on acidic paper more unstable than information stored on digital storage tape?
(C) When were optical storage disks a state-of-the- art storage medium?
(D) Approximately how many of the original clay tablets recording Mesopotamian law are still in existence?
(E) How were the works of Plato originally recorded?

3 
 3. The passage most strongly suggests that the author holds which one of the following views?

(A) Archivists have little choice but to become dependent on computer technology to store information.
(B) Archivists should wait for truly durable data storage systems to be developed before electronically storing any more vital information.
(C) The problems concerning media durability facing most archivists would diminish greatly if their information were not stored electronically at all.
(D) Storing paintings, photographs, and other images presents greater overall problems for archivists than storing text does.
(E) Generally, the more information one attempts to store in a given amount of space, the less durable the storage of that information will be.

4 
 4. Which one of the following describes the author’s primary purpose in mentioning the fact that a wide variety of images and documents can now be stored electronically ( Highlighted )?

(A) to provide evidence to justify the assertion made in the first sentence of the passage
(B) to identify an ostensible solution to the problem raised in the first paragraph
(C) to argue a point that is rejected in the last sentence of the passage
(D) to offer an additional example of the problem stated at the end of the first paragraph
(E) to suggest that the danger described in the last paragraph has been exaggerated

5 
 5. The passage provides the most support for inferring which one of the following statements?

(A) Information stored electronically is more vulnerable than information stored on paper to unauthorized use or theft.
(B) Much of the information stored on optical computer disks in the 1980s was subsequently transferred to digital storage tape.
(C) The high cost of new electronic data storage systems is prohibiting many archivists from transferring their archives to computer disks and tape.
(D) Media used recently to store information electronically may ultimately be less durable than older, conventional media such as photographs and videotapes.
(E) The percentage of information considered essential by archivists has increased proportionally as the amount of information stored has increased.

6 
 6. The passage most strongly suggests that the author holds which one of the following views?

(A) Future electronic information storage systems will not provide archivists with capabilities any more viable in the long term than those available today.
(B) As much information should be stored by archivists as possible, as there is no way to predict which piece of information will someday be considered a great work.
(C) The general public has been misled by manufacturers as to the long-term storage capabilities of electronic information storage systems.
(D) Distinguishing what is dispensable from what is essential has only recently become a concern for archivists.
(E) Value judgments made by today’s archivists will influence how future generations view and understand the past.

GMATNinja · Accepted Answer

Here is question  #6 : "The passage most strongly suggests that the author holds which one of the following views?"

As always, it is better to come to four incorrect answers than one correct answer. So, let's go through the answer choices:

This author states that "new computer technologies are emerging that may soon provide archivists with the information storage durability they require," which contradicts the information in this answer choice. (A) is out.

In the last paragraph, the author states that "decisions about what to keep and what to discard... should be informed by an assessment of the value of each document." Clearly, the author does not believe that "as much information... as possible" should be stored, but rather each document should be assessed and only stored if it has value. Eliminate (B).

The passage does not mention what the general public believes about the capabilities of electronic information storage system, nor does it say what manufacturers have told the public. (C) is out.

The author focuses on the difficulties of distinguishing what is essential, but does he/she claim that this  only recently  became a concern for archivists?

Not at all -- while the "sheer volume" of works on nondurable media may be greater today than in previous eras, the problem of what to store and what to let go has existed for a long time. The author makes this clear in his/her example of Plato's works, which "are known today only because random copies turned up in the archives of medieval monasteries or in other scholarly collections." (D) is out.

We have four incorrect answers, so let's hope that (E) is the correct one.

We know from the passage that decisions about what to keep and what to discard "should be informed by an assessment of the value of each document." So, the value judgments of today's archivists will determine which works are available to future generations. From there, it is easy to infer that the value judgments of today's archivists will influence how future generations view and understand the past. (E) is our answer.

I hope that helps!

GMATNinja · Answer

Question 5 asks us which statement can be inferred, so let's go through the answer choices and refer back to the passage as needed:

The passage does not mention "unauthorized use or theft" of information, regardless of how it is stored. (A) is out.

The passage states that "many documents and images transferred in the 1980s to optical computer disks—then the cutting edge of technology—may not now be retrievable because they depend on computer software and hardware that are no longer available." It goes on to say that "recent generations of digital storage tape are considered safe from deterioration for only ten years." The passage  does not imply that the information stored on the optical computer disks was transferred to digital storage tapes  -- it merely lists the two types of storage as examples of ever-changing computer technology. Eliminate (B).

The passage does not discuss the  cost  of new electronic data storage systems at all, so this statement cannot be inferred. (C) is out.

About  "older, conventional media,"  the passage says that "books printed on acidic paper as recently as the 1980s are already unreadable. Black-and-white photographs will last for  a couple of centuries , but most color photographs become unstable  within 40 years , and videotapes last only  about 20 years ."

This is compared to  "media used recently to store information electronically" : "recent generations of digital storage tape are considered safe from deterioration for  only ten years. " Thus, electronic media used recently to store data will likely be less durable than older, more conventional media. Answer choice (D) is looking good.

The last sentence of the passage is the most relevant to this answer choice: "The danger now is not so much that some recent masterpiece will be lost for an extended period of time, but rather that  the sheer volume of accumulated records stored on nondurable media will make it virtually impossible for archivists to sort the essential from the dispensable  in time to save it." This shows that the "amount of information stored has increased," but it  does not support the idea that "the percentage of information considered essential... has increased proportionally"  with the increase in overall information. If anything, the passage implies that archivists will be challenged to sift through a massive amount of non-essential information to find a small amount of essential information.

Because the passage does not imply that the percentage of essential information has increased, we cannot infer this answer choice. (E) is out, and (D) is the answer to question 5.

I hope that helps!

patto · Answer

Would you please explain the correct answer in 5? Thank you

Raj30 · Answer

can someone please explain last question?
How do we infer about future generations?

auradediligodo · Answer

Hi everyone,
Got 5/6 correct in 14 minutes.

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P1

Paragraph one introduces a problem that archivists are facing today, id est there is a higher risk of losing information that in previous time. The risk is accentuated by the fact that mote data is collected today than in the past. 
One archivist underscores that the durability of the information stored is as well declining. Some examples are made to support the latter claim. 
Things written during the time of Mesopotamia are still readable while most of the books printed 40 years ago are not. Plus back and white pictures last for centuries while colored pictures last 20 years.

Brief summary : Data collected today faces higher and higher risks and its durability is decreasing

P2

Paragraph 2 explains why technology turned into and obstacle for information storage. Technology is very fast paced and often the information stored on an old technology is not retrievable because the softwares and hardwares used at that time are not anymore available. Plus Archivist do not want to rely on technology but they do not have much time since the current storage tapes last only for 10 years.

Brief summary : why technology is actually a problem

P3

Paragraph 3 presents the main problem that archivists are facing right now. Even if an ideal storage system is found, archivists are running out of time because they need to sort quickly the vital information to store. We are also given that past masterpieces are probably lost and that, on the other hand, she others survived because of their popularity.

Brief summary : Archivists are running out of time

Main point

The main point is to stress the weaknesses of current storage systems, underscoring the fact that archivists are running out of time.

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1. Which one of the following most accurately expresses the  main point  of the passage?

Pre-thinking

Main point question

Refer to main point and summaries above

(A)   The increasing volume of information being stored and the decreasing durability of modern storage media are making it more and more difficult for archivists to carry out their charge.
 In line with pre-thinking

(B) Modern data storage-and-retrieval techniques have enabled archivists to distinguish essential from dispensable information with greater efficiency than ever before.
 This option does not represent the focus of the passage

(C) Many archivists have come to believe that documents and images preserved on conventional storage media are likely to endure longer than those recorded on electronic storage media.
 Partial scope

(D) Given the limitations on the capacity of modern storage media, it is increasingly important for archivists to save only those documents that they believe to have genuine value.
 Partial scope

(E) Modern electronic media enable us to record and store information so easily that much of what is stored is not considered by archivists to be essential or valuable.
 Out of scope

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2. The passage provides information  sufficient to answer  which one of the following questions?

Pre-thinking

Detail question

We need to evaluate each option

(A) Are there any copies of the works of Homer and Virgil stored on parchment?
 Not given

(B) Why is information stored on acidic paper more unstable than information stored on digital storage tape?
 The why aspect is not given

(C)   When were optical storage disks a state-of-the- art storage medium?
 From P2: "  For example, many documents and images transferred in the 1980s to optical computer disks—then the cutting edge of technology—may not now be retrievable because they depend on computer software and hardware that are no longer available.  "

Tip: If we are  100%  sure that this option is answered in the passage we should already mark it as the correct choice in order to save time.

(D) Approximately how many of the original clay tablets recording Mesopotamian law are still in existence?
 Not given

(E) How were the works of Plato originally recorded?
 Not given

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3. The passage most strongly  suggests  that the author holds which one of the following views?

Pre-thinking

Inference question

The author generally thinks that archivists are running out of time. Let's work from here

(A)   Archivists have little choice but to become dependent on computer technology to store information.
 From P2: "  Yet, even as some archivists are reluctant to become dependent on ever‑changing computer technology, they are also quickly running out of time.  ". 
This option presents a contrast that supports the above statement. Archivists are reluctant but they don't really have much of a choice

(B) Archivists should wait for truly durable data storage systems to be developed before electronically storing any more vital information.
 Opposite

(C) The problems concerning media durability facing most archivists would diminish greatly if their information were not stored electronically at all.
 Cannot be inferred

(D) Storing paintings, photographs, and other images presents greater overall problems for archivists than storing text does.
 cannot be inferred

(E) Generally, the more information one attempts to store in a given amount of space, the less durable the storage of that information will be.
 The passage establishes a correlation while this option establishes a cause-effect relation which is flawed

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4. Which one of the following describes the author’s primary  purpose  in mentioning the fact that a wide variety of images and documents can now be stored electronically (Highlighted)?

Pre-thinking

Purpose question

The purpose of the author in telling us this information is to present a solution to the storage problem, solution which actually is flawed.

(A) to provide evidence to justify the assertion made in the first sentence of the passage
 First sentence of the passage: "  While recent decades have seen more information recorded than any other era, the potential for losing this information is now greater than ever.  ". As we can see there is no relation. Out

(B)   to identify an ostensible solution to the problem raised in the first paragraph
 Taking into consideration the meaning of ostensible (=apparent), we can mark this choice as correct since in line with pre-thinking.

(C) to argue a point that is rejected in the last sentence of the passage
 Last sentence of the passage: " The danger now is not so much that some recent masterpiece will be lost for an extended period of time, but rather that the sheer volume of accumulated records stored on nondurable media will make it virtually impossible for archivists to sort the essential from the dispensable in time to save it. . 
As we can see this option is incorrect

(D) to offer an additional example of the problem stated at the end of the first paragraph
 The two portions of the passage are unrelated.

(E) to suggest that the danger described in the last paragraph has been exaggerated
 Too extreme and wrong

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5. The passage provides the most support for  inferring  which one of the following statements?

Pre-thinking

Inference question

Let's evaluate each option

(A) Information stored electronically is more vulnerable than information stored on paper to unauthorized use or theft.
 Cannot be inferred

(B) Much of the information stored on optical computer disks in the 1980s was subsequently transferred to digital storage tape.
 Cannot be inferred

(C) The high cost of new electronic data storage systems is prohibiting many archivists from transferring their archives to computer disks and tape.
 The cost aspect is not even discussed

(D)   Media used recently to store information electronically may ultimately be less durable than older, conventional media such as photographs and videotapes.
 Many times in paragraph 1 we are given that often traditional storage systems were more efficient than current storage systems

(E) The percentage of information considered essential by archivists has increased proportionally as the amount of information stored has increased.
 Such information cannot be inferred

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6. The passage most strongly  suggests  that the author holds which one of the following views?

Pre-thinking

Inference question

Let's evaluate each option

(A) Future electronic information storage systems will not provide archivists with capabilities any more viable in the long term than those available today.
 Oposite. It is mentioned in the last paragraph that maybe such storage systems will exist

(B) As much information should be stored by archivists as possible, as there is no way to predict which piece of information will someday be considered a great work.
 Per the author it is important that archivists store only the most important information since they are running out of time

(C) The general public has been misled by manufacturers as to the long-term storage capabilities of electronic information storage systems.
  The general public is not even mentioned

(D) Distinguishing what is dispensable from what is essential has only recently become a concern for archivists.
 Of course now more than ever it is important to make this differentiation but we do not know whether   only   recently this concern occured

(E)   Value judgments made by today’s archivists will influence how future generations view and understand the past.
 From last paragraph: "  Ideally, these decisions should be informed by an assessment of the value of each document.   ".
So why should archivist select information based on its value? Probably such selection has some sort of end such as aiding future generations.. Hence the information selected will influence somehow future generations.

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It is a good day to be alive!

Jks3000 · Answer

GMATNinja   Sajjad1994  ..., How much should be an ideal time to solve 1 LSAT passage??

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Pretty generic question it is. Ideal time depends on a number of factors.

The length of the text 
 Number of questions 
 The difficulty level

If you are talking about this particular passage, time up to 13 minutes is fine in my opinion.

Thank you

Jks3000 · Answer

Sajjad Bhai.., If possible, Please tell time for LSAT passage for each difficulty level 600,650,700 respectively  Sajjad1994

VerbalBot · Answer

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While recent decades have seen more information recorded than any

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While recent decades have seen more information recorded than any

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