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artificial inteligence

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by pradeepkaushal9518 » Wed Jul 21, 2010 2:20 am
Artificial 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.


(A) are able to be programmed to think like people
(B) were able to be programmed to think as people
(C) can be programmed to think as people can
(D) could be programmed to think like people
(E) are capable of being programmed to think like people do
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by brijesh » Wed Jul 21, 2010 2:31 am
pradeepkaushal9518 wrote:Artificial 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.


(A) are able to be programmed to think like people (should be in past tense)
(B) were able to be programmed to think as people (like people)
(C) can be programmed to think as people can (As A)
(D) could be programmed to think like people (right ans)
(E) are capable of being programmed to think like people do
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by kvcpk » Wed Jul 21, 2010 5:09 am
Good Question.. IMO D.

Only C, D are close.

in C - can be programmed to think as people can (be programmed) gives wrong meaning.

hence pick D
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by tomada » Wed Jul 21, 2010 7:33 am
One more for D
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by uwhusky » Wed Jul 21, 2010 7:47 am
Artificial intelligence emerged during the late 1950's as an academic discipline based on the assumption that computers could be programmed to think like people.

Well, since "like" can only compare nouns, this sentence is somewhat illogical to say that computers could think like people. I think a better construction would be that computers could think as people do [think].
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by tomada » Wed Jul 21, 2010 8:01 am
"...assumption that computers (noun) could be programmed to think like people (noun)"
I'm not seeing the problem.

uwhusky wrote:Artificial intelligence emerged during the late 1950's as an academic discipline based on the assumption that computers could be programmed to think like people.

Well, since "like" can only compare nouns, this sentence is somewhat illogical to say that computers could think like people. I think a better construction would be that computers could think as people do [think].
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by paes » Wed Jul 21, 2010 8:01 am
D : like is used to compare nouns, so looking incorrect.

Expert help needed.
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by tomada » Wed Jul 21, 2010 8:03 am
computers = noun
people = noun

What am I misssing?

paes wrote:D : like is used to compare nouns, so looking incorrect.

Expert help needed.
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by uwhusky » Wed Jul 21, 2010 8:36 am
tomada wrote:computers = noun
people = noun

What am I misssing?

paes wrote:D : like is used to compare nouns, so looking incorrect.

Expert help needed.
Are we comparing computer's ability to think or simply computers?

If we are comparing computers to people, then like is correct, but above sentence is comparing computer's ability to think to people's ability to think.

Actually, I guess it's the same thing.

"computer, is [adjective], like people" noun is comparing to noun.

If we take off the BE verb, then as would make more sense:

Computer can think as people can think.
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by tomada » Wed Jul 21, 2010 8:51 am
I'm comparing computers to people, with the thinking process as the applicable trait.
I realize that the usage of like is the 'sticking point', but I believe that its usage is acceptable for this type of comparison.

uwhusky wrote:
tomada wrote:computers = noun
people = noun

What am I misssing?

paes wrote:D : like is used to compare nouns, so looking incorrect.

Expert help needed.
Are we comparing computer's ability to think or simply computers?

If we are comparing computers to people, then like is correct, but above sentence is comparing computer's ability to think to people's ability to think.
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by uwhusky » Wed Jul 21, 2010 8:59 am
I concurred. I realized afterward that "programmed to think" is really the predicate adjective modifying the noun. Thus the comparison is valid, noun to noun.
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by tomada » Wed Jul 21, 2010 9:00 am
I'm wondering if this would be considered a '700'-level question, because it really is quite subtle.
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by uwhusky » Wed Jul 21, 2010 9:04 am
tomada wrote:I'm wondering if this would be considered a '700'-level question, because it really is quite subtle.
It could very well be. There is a lot of minor and subtle details put into some of the wrong choices. If you do not understand the role of an auxiliary verb (helping verb) like "can", you might choose C.

I think I have a little better understanding of a decent strategy to attacking SC. Understanding the structure is the foundation used to quickly eliminate most wrong answers, but it's the ability to spot minor errors that will put you above 700.
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by GMATGuruNY » Wed Jul 21, 2010 9:11 am
pradeepkaushal9518 wrote:Artificial 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.


(A) are able to be programmed to think like people
(B) were able to be programmed to think as people
(C) can be programmed to think as people can
(D) could be programmed to think like people
(E) are capable of being programmed to think like people do
Quickest approach:

The non-underlined verb emerged is in the past tense, so we can eliminate any answer choices that use a present tense verb. Eliminate A, C and E.

Stay in one tense unless a change in tense is needed.

In B, the verb were able is in the wrong tense because the emergence of the academic discipline and the programming of the computers did not happen at the same time. The emergence happened first, then the programming. We need a verb that indicates this order of events. Eliminate B.

In D, the verb could implies the correct order of events. The discipline emerged because people thought that the computers could be programmed (isometime after the emergence of the discipline).

Hope this helps!
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by paes » Wed Jul 21, 2010 9:25 am
Thanks Guru.

Everything is looking right with D except the usage of 'like'

D says :
could be programmed to think like people

But I think, it should be :

could be programmed to think as people do

I am not able to justify usage of 'like'. I think that we should use 'as' ( intention is to compare the two clauses )

Please clarify.
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