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Information and Ideas / Command of Evidence Difficulty: Medium

Participants’ Evaluation of the Likelihood That Robots Can Work Effectively in Different Occupations

OccupationSomewhat or very unlikely (%)Neutral (%)Somewhat or very likely (%)
television news anchor24967
teacher371647
firefighter62930
surgeon74916
tour guide10882

Rows in table may not add up to 100 due to rounding.

Georgia Tech roboticists De’Aira Bryant and Ayanna Howard, along with ethicist Jason Borenstein, were interested in people’s perceptions of robots’ competence. They recruited participants and asked them how likely they think it is that a robot could do the work required in various occupations. Participants’ evaluations varied widely depending on which occupation was being considered; for example, blank

Which choice most effectively uses data from the table to complete the example?

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Explanation

Choice C is the best answer because it effectively uses data from the table to complete the example of variations in participants’ evaluations. The table shows participants’ evaluations of the likelihood that robots could work effectively in different occupations. The text asserts that participants’ evaluations varied widely depending on the occupation being considered and introduces an example supporting that assertion. The data from the table showing that 82% of participants believe that it is somewhat or very likely that a robot could work effectively as a tour guide but only 16% of participants believe that it is somewhat or very likely that a robot could work effectively as a surgeon illustrate this assertion: those data show participants’ views changing substantially with the occupation being considered.  

Choice A is incorrect because it does not describe data that illustrate the assertion that participants’ evaluations varied widely depending on which occupation was being considered. Although this choice accurately describes data in the table, data about participants’ responses when considering a single occupation—teaching—could not be an example of people’s views changing substantially depending on the occupation being considered. Choice B is incorrect because it identifies a similarity in participants’ responses when considering two different occupations, but the assertion that the example is intended to illustrate is that participants’ evaluations varied widely depending on the occupation being considered. Although this choice accurately describes data in the table, those data do not illustrate the assertion in the text. Choice D is incorrect because it does not describe data that illustrate the assertion that participants’ evaluations varied widely depending on which occupation was being considered. Although this choice accurately describes data in the table, data showing participants’ evaluation of just one occupation could not be an example of participants’ evaluations changing depending on the occupation under evaluation.