PrepTest 138, Section 2, Question 19
Research into artificial intelligence will fail to produce(62 more words not shown)
Which one of the following(9 more words not shown)
- AThe current focus(27 more words not shown)
- BIf the current(23 more words not shown)
- CDespite progress in(17 more words not shown)
- DThe capacity to(18 more words not shown)
- EIf a machine(16 more words not shown)
Reading the argument
Does true intelligence require more than the ability to compute?
The author thinks so. Machines have become computationally sophisticated, but the author compares the current approach with producing a human who lacks emotions and other noncognitive responses. That comparison is supposed to show why continuing the same research focus won't produce true intelligence.
I can question the assumption: why couldn't sophisticated computation be enough? The argument hasn't established why those other responses are required. But we're asked for the main conclusion, not the missing assumption. What is that comparison supporting? The opening warning that the research focus must radically change if it is to produce truly intelligent machines.
What we’re looking for
Keep the direction straight. The author says that without a radical change, the effort will fail. That doesn't guarantee success after a change. A necessary change could be one of several things needed.
Working the answers
- A
This restates the comparison the author uses as support. The thought is that focusing only on computation produces something lacking the other responses supposedly needed for true intelligence. That is the reason for the warning about the research program, not the warning itself.
- BCorrect
Without a radical change in focus, the research won't produce machines capable of true intelligence. This restates the first sentence and preserves its direction. The comparison with an emotionally unresponsive human is offered to explain why the change is needed.
- C
This describes a failure to meet objectives so far. The main conclusion instead makes a conditional forecast: the research will fail unless its focus changes. C also substitutes unspecified research objectives for the particular goal of producing true intelligence.
- D
The author relies on noncognitive responses mattering, but never ranks their importance against computational sophistication. Something can be needed without being 'at least as important' as something else. In any event, that comparison isn't the stated conclusion about changing the research focus.
- E
This resembles an assumption needed to make the author's comparison work: lacking the relevant noncognitive responses would rule out true intelligence. But the question asks for the main point actually argued for. That point concerns the research program's need for a radical change, which B states directly.
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