PrepTest 155, Section 4, Question 7
Computer security experts correctly maintain that computer passwords(58 more words not shown)
The conclusion drawn above follows(9 more words not shown)
- AThere are ways(12 more words not shown)
- BAny security option(16 more words not shown)
- CMost computer security(17 more words not shown)
- DSecurity options that(21 more words not shown)
- EAs soon as(25 more words not shown)
Reading the argument
Being more secure doesn't automatically make a system easy to adopt. A fingerprint scanner needs the right equipment, and getting people to switch from a familiar password system could take time. So I can see why better alternatives might not replace passwords immediately.
But the author needs more than that general plausibility. The specific reasons are that the alternatives cost significantly more and that replacing passwords requires them to become standard on most of the world's computers. Why does their expense mean they won't meet that requirement soon? Maybe the cost will fall, or people will decide the extra security is worth paying for.
What we’re looking for
We need an assumption that closes that gap. My first thought is a rule connecting high cost with failure to become standard. It doesn't have to say these alternatives will never succeed. The conclusion only says they won't replace passwords anytime soon, so a rule about that time period is enough.
Working the answers
- A
Improving passwords could make them more competitive, but it wouldn't guarantee that people keep using them. An alternative might still offer enough of an advantage to replace them. A gives us something that could help passwords survive without proving the near-term prediction.
- B
This compares the security of passwords with options that cost no more than passwords. The alternatives we're concerned about are significantly more expensive. Even if every cheaper option were worse, people could still adopt an expensive, better option. B doesn't prevent those alternatives from becoming standard.
- C
Experts agreeing with the conclusion isn't a rule that makes the conclusion follow. They could be mistaken about how quickly adoption will happen. We need a connection between the facts about expense and standard use, not another report that people believe the prediction.
- DCorrect
Now we can complete the reasoning. The alternatives are significantly more expensive, so under D they won't become standard on most computers anytime soon. Becoming standard is required before they can replace passwords. Since they won't meet that requirement soon, they won't replace passwords soon. Each step carries us from a given fact to the conclusion.
- E
This tells us what would trigger replacement: developing an option that isn't significantly more expensive. It doesn't tell us that developing such an option will take a long time. If one arrived soon, the rule would predict replacement soon. E therefore doesn't establish the author's claim that replacement won't happen anytime soon.
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