Which of the following was NOT a result of the adoption of mechanical calculators?
A. Less demand for “superstars” who could rapidly compute sums by hand
B. Higher productivity of bookkeepers
C. Higher salaries of bookkeepers
D. Proliferation of companies making calculators
I think it's A, but not sure
I think you're right.
I think it might be C. I don't think their salaries went up.
You are correct. The correct answer is A. The adoption of mechanical calculators actually increased the demand for "superstars" who could operate and maintain these machines, as they required specialized skills. The other answer choices, B, C, and D, are all true statements. Mechanical calculators increased the productivity of bookkeepers, leading to higher salaries for them, and also led to the proliferation of companies manufacturing calculators.
To determine which of the options is NOT a result of the adoption of mechanical calculators, we can analyze each option.
Option A states that there would be less demand for "superstars" who could rapidly compute sums by hand. With the adoption of mechanical calculators, it is expected that the need for individuals with exceptional manual calculation skills would decrease, as calculators would be able to perform calculations more quickly and accurately. Therefore, Option A is a potential result of the adoption of mechanical calculators.
Option B suggests that the productivity of bookkeepers would increase with the use of mechanical calculators. Since calculators can perform calculations more efficiently than manual calculations, bookkeepers would be able to complete their tasks faster, leading to increased productivity. Therefore, Option B is a potential result of the adoption of mechanical calculators.
Option C states that there would be higher salaries for bookkeepers due to the adoption of mechanical calculators. However, since mechanical calculators increase efficiency and productivity, it is unlikely that this would lead to higher salaries for bookkeepers. Instead, it is more plausible that the use of calculators would lead to cost savings for companies, potentially resulting in stagnant or even decreased salaries. Therefore, Option C is a potential result of the adoption of mechanical calculators.
Option D suggests that there would be a proliferation of companies making calculators as a result of their adoption. This seems logical, as the increased demand for calculators would incentivize businesses to enter the market and produce them. Therefore, Option D is a potential result of the adoption of mechanical calculators.
By analyzing the options, we can conclude that the option that is NOT a result of the adoption of mechanical calculators is Option C, which is higher salaries of bookkeepers.