Question 21
ComprehensionJAMB 1987 Passage V: Record keeping
Developments in electronic science have transformed the art of record keeping the modern age. Traditionally, records of events were kept only in people's minds. It depended very much on the retentive power of the human memory. This was extremely dangerous as people either forgot events wholly or in part, or deliberately falsified details to suit their various interests. Interminable arguments were thus the order of the day. Even writing which replaced mental recording was not entirely free from these shortcomings as untruths could be written as true records either willingly or inadvertently. With the advent of the electronic memory, however, these dangers have been largely overcome. Recording on audio and video cassettes now show not what happened, but also who did or said what including how and when.
The author believes that electronic recording is
- A.superior only to mental recording
- B.inferior to both mental recording and writing
- C.superior to both mental recording and writing
- D.inferior to only writing
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: C (superior to both mental recording and writing)
Explanation
Both memory and writing could be wrong, but 'with the advent of the electronic memory ... these dangers have been largely overcome', so electronic recording is better than both.