Passage Summary: In the past, we used machines to swap a lot of cheap workers for a few experts. Now, we want machines that let us swap expensive experts for a few cheap workers.

Reasoning: Historically, technology was used to replace many unskilled workers with fewer skilled ones for profit; currently, managers seek technology to replace expensive skilled workers with fewer unskilled ones.

Analysis: The stimulus describes two different eras of industrial change that share a common underlying motivation: the use of technology to alter the workforce for economic advantage. Whether moving from unskilled to skilled or vice versa, the goal is to reduce labor costs and increase efficiency. The principle illustrated here is that technological adoption in the workplace is primarily driven by the desire to minimize the expense of human labor. Look for an answer choice that generalizes this relationship between technology, labor costs, and management goals.