Q7 - Computer security experts correctly maintain

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Question Type:
Sufficient Assumption

Stimulus Breakdown:
Premises:
1. Alternatives to computer passwords are significantly more expensive.
2. Alternatives must become standard on most computers in order to replace passwords.

Conclusion:
Alternatives will not replace passwords any time soon.

Answer Anticipation:
The premises alone do not guarantee the truth of the conclusion. We're told that the alternatives are more expensive, but we don't know if this is actually a problem. Maybe they're worth the added expense. The first premise fully supports the conclusion if we assume that the current expense of alternatives will prevent the alternatives from replacing passwords any time soon.

The second premise fully supports the conclusion if we know that alternatives will not become standard on most computers any time soon.

We're looking for an answer that will combine with the given premises to fully support the conclusion.

Correct answer:
(D)

Answer choice analysis:
(A) This might be tempting, because it strengthens the idea that passwords will remain in use. But it doesn't guarantee that passwords won't be replaced anytime soon, which is what we need the correct answer to do. It also doesn't directly connect either premise to the conclusion: it's not related in any way to alternatives being more expensive or the need for them to become standard.

(B) Like choice (A), this strengthens the idea that passwords will remain in use. But just like choice (A), it doesn't guarantee that passwords won't be replaced, and doesn't directly connect either premise to the conclusion.

(C) This doesn't allow the conclusion to be properly drawn. It just tells us that most computer security experts agree with the conclusion. It doesn't completely guarantee that the conclusion is true. In addition, this answer choice doesn't connect the conclusion to either of our existing premises, which should make us suspicious.

(D) This connects both premises together in a way that guarantees the truth of the conclusion. If alternatives are significantly more expensive (first premise), options that are significantly more expensive will not become standard any time soon (answer choice (D)), and options that don't become standard cannot replace passwords (second premise), these three facts together would guarantee the truth of the conclusion.

(E) If anything, this answer is doing the opposite of what we want. It's supporting the idea that passwords will be replaced. Another problem with choice (E) is that it states that passwords will be replaced "as soon as" a comparably priced option is developed, but gives no indication of when that might happen, so we don't actually know how this might impact the conclusion.

Takeaway/Pattern:
Our task in a Sufficient Assumption question is to find the answer that combines with one or more existing premises in a way that guarantees the truth of the conclusion. Watch out for answers that merely strengthen the argument without completely justifying the conclusion.

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