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Set 9: Rhetorical Synthesis

Explanation

Answer: B

PASSAGE

A student is writing about the Turing test. The student wants to explain its purpose and the criticisms it has faced. Notes: - Turing proposed testing machine intelligence through conversation. - If humans cannot distinguish machine from human, it demonstrates intelligence. - Critics argue passing the test doesn't require understanding, just imitation. - The Chinese Room argument suggests symbol manipulation isn't understanding.

Which choice most effectively uses information from the notes to accomplish the student's goal?

A. Alan Turing was a pioneering figure in computer science.
B. The Turing test proposes that conversational indistinguishability from humans demonstrates machine intelligence; critics argue this requires only imitation, not understanding—a concern crystallized in the Chinese Room argument that symbol manipulation needn't involve comprehension.✓ Correct
C. Artificial intelligence research has advanced rapidly in recent years.
D. Modern chatbots can engage in increasingly convincing conversations.

Detailed Answer Explanation

This question asks you to effectively combine information to achieve a goal. The goal requires PURPOSE AND criticisms. Conversational test (purpose) + imitation-not-understanding critique + Chinese Room (criticisms). The correct synthesis will use relevant details from the notes in a logical, purposeful way. Focus on what the question asks you to accomplish, then choose the answer that best achieves that goal using the provided information. Effective synthesis requires selecting and combining the most relevant information to achieve a specific purpose. Not all provided notes may be equally useful. Focus on what best accomplishes the stated goal while maintaining logical coherence.

Key Evidence:

• "explain its purpose and the criticisms"

• "testing machine intelligence through conversation"

• "cannot distinguish machine from human, it demonstrates intelligence"

• "passing the test doesn't require understanding"

• "Chinese Room argument suggests symbol manipulation isn't understanding"

Why others are wrong: A (Not in notes; biographical, not about test purpose/criticism.), D (Not in notes; discusses chatbots, not test purpose/criticism.), C (Not in notes; general AI statement.).

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