Read the following statements and answer the question that follows. A. Back then, they were owned by companies and installed on their premises. B. Rooms and servers began to replace computer mainframes in the 1990’s. C. These were supplemented by processors from Intel, which by the mid-2000s translated its dominance of PC semiconductors into a near monopoly of the server market. D. They mostly ran on chips made by IBM and HP, the big tech of the day. E. Things started to change once again around a decade ago, when Amazon began selling some of its spare server capacity. Which of the following combinations is the MOST logically ordered?
Step 1: Establish the chronological order of events. The text details the evolution of server technology, beginning with corporate ownership, the subsequent replacement of mainframes, the impact of processors, the market leadership of IBM and HP, and concluding with the transformative influence of Amazon. Step 2: Examine the order of statements. - Statement A: Refers to the initial period of company-owned servers. - Statement B: Describes the transition away from mainframes in the 1990s. - Statement C: Emphasizes the significance of Intel processors in the mid-2000s. - Statement D: Outlines the former dominance of IBM and HP. - Statement E: Highlights recent shifts attributed to Amazon's actions approximately a decade ago. Step 3: Confirm the logical sequence. - Option 1 (A, B, C, D, E): Correct. This option accurately reflects the chronological progression of server evolution. - Option 2 (E, A, D, C, B): Incorrect. This sequence begins with Amazon's recent activities, thereby disrupting the timeline. - Option 3 (B, A, D, C, E): Incorrect. This option places the introduction of mainframes after earlier developmental stages. - Option 4 (E, C, D, A, B): Incorrect. Amazon's impact is presented at the beginning, which breaks the logical flow. - Option 5 (B, E, C, D, A): Incorrect. The sequence is not in chronological order.
