Q1

[didi0504]

Can you explain why is A wrong?

Thanks!

[giladedelman]

Thanks for posting!

The main point of Passage B doesn't become clear until the second paragraph, when the author describes the "paradigm shift" occurring in computing and the reasons why it makes sense to shift from sequential computing to parallel computing.

That's why (C) is correct; the main point is about this paradigm shift.

(A) is incorrect because it's too narrow in scope. That is, the passage does support this point, but only as one reason to explain the main point that a paradigm shift is underway: the fact that many computing problems are naturally parallel is offered as a reason for the shift.

Does that make sense?

[maryadkins]

1. (C)
Question Type: Synthesis
We are asked for the main point of Passage B. We know that the author of Passage B likes the parallel method of computing, and much of the passage is devoted to explaining how and why this "paradigm shift" in computing has come about. (C) expresses this main point.

(A) is too narrow. While the author would agree with this statement, it is not the main point of the passage but rather a reason offered to explain the paradigm shift.
(B) is tempting! The author states that sequential computing faces speed limits that parallel computing does not. (64-65.) But nowhere does the author go so far as to say that sequential computing is not useful. This is unsupported.
(D) is out of scope. Nowhere in the passage does the author mention biological or social systems, and the passage is not about the next frontier in computer simulation; it describes the shift as happening now.
(E) is out of scope. The author does not make this claim"”the human mind?!

[XiaoranZ794]

I expected an answer like: "parallel computing is useful to solve computation-intensive problems". I narrowed down to B and C, and end up choosing B. I think the author is an advocator of the parallel computing model and he write the passage to praise it. Though B is narrower and foocuses on the old model, it does reflect the author's attitude. By contrast, C is just telling a fact. Does the scope of choice always outweigh the author's attitude?

[Misti Duvall]

I expected an answer like: "parallel computing is useful to solve computation-intensive problems". I narrowed down to B and C, and end up choosing B. I think the author is an advocator of the parallel computing model and he write the passage to praise it. Though B is narrower and foocuses on the old model, it does reflect the author's attitude. By contrast, C is just telling a fact. Does the scope of choice always outweigh the author's attitude?

I think it's less about choosing between the author's attitude and the scope of the choice, and more about eliminating answers that are not supported. As Mary notes above, (B) is very close, but it goes just a little too far into a judgment the passage doesn't support. For main point questions, though, it is best to look for the answer that best reflects the main point. The author's attitude is part of that, but it's not the only consideration. Answer choice (C) provides a more accurate summary of the main point of the passage.

Hope this helps.