Text 1: Technology journalist Anna Peterson reports on smart home devices. "Voice assistants and connected appliances offer unprecedented convenience," Peterson writes. "Adjusting thermostats, controlling lights, and managing schedules through voice commands saves time and energy. Smart homes represent the natural evolution of domestic technology."
Text 2: Cybersecurity expert Dr. Michael Chen warns about smart home vulnerabilities. "Every connected device is a potential entry point for hackers," Chen cautions. "Smart cameras have been hijacked, voice recordings have been accessed without consent, and personal data has been exposed. Convenience comes at a significant privacy cost."
Based on the texts, Peterson and Chen would most likely disagree about which of the following?
Whether smart home devices can perform the functions Peterson describes
Whether the benefits of smart home technology outweigh the risks
Whether home technology has evolved over time
Whether cybersecurity threats exist in general
Correct Answer: B
Choice B is the correct answer. Peterson emphasizes benefits ("unprecedented convenience," "natural evolution"), while Chen emphasizes risks ("significant privacy cost"). They disagree on whether benefits exceed drawbacks.
- Evidence: Peterson highlights convenience; Chen highlights security vulnerabilities.
- Reasoning: Each prioritizes different considerations in evaluating smart homes.
- Conclusion: Their fundamental disagreement is about the overall value proposition.
Choice A is incorrect because Chen doesn't dispute the functional claims. Choice C is incorrect because both would likely agree technology evolves. Choice D is incorrect because Peterson doesn't deny cybersecurity threats exist.