Can/do

[skaria]

Artificial intelligence emerged during the late 1950’s as an academic discipline based on the assumption that computers are able to be programmed to think like people.
(A) are able to be programmed to think like people
(B) were able to be programmed to think as people
(C) can be programmed to think as people can
(D) could be programmed to think like people
(E) are capable of being programmed to think like people do


PLEASE EXPLAIN THE answer

[modusoperandi]

D by POE

A - are able to be wordy
B- think as people is not correct
C - as people
E - being

[DJValentino]

I would go for D.

sorry for not being able to post a detailed explanation.

firstly, "think like people" sounds better than "think as people" secondly, "are able to be programmed" and "are capable of being programmed" are very wordy.


that eliminates all the choices excepting D.

[celesking]

I'd go with D. It needs the past tense (RE: 1950's). That rules out A, C and E. B is wordy and a bit awkward becuase of 'think as people'

[tablesalt]

D too, just sound good to me.

[meghago]

imho C.
Like is used for comparing nouns.
Here I believe it is the action (think) we need to consider.
.......programmed to think as people can (think).

[sandeep_142]

Vote for C

[Orange08]

D looks better.

[jaspetrovic]

D is my answer.
Computers cannot really think the way that people can. So "like" is needed.

[Nothing less than 780]

IMO C

its a poblem of like vs As.
Correct usage is 'as people can.'