Question

Companies are relying more and more on networked computers for such critical tasks as inventory management, electronic funds transfer, and electronic data interchange, in which standard business transactions are handled via computer rather than on paper.

(A) in which standard business transactions are handled via computer rather than on paper
(B) where computers handle standard business transactions rather than on paper
(C) in which computers handle standard business transactions instead of on paper
(D) where standard business transactions are handled, not with paper, but instead via computer
(E) in which standard business transactions are being handled via computer, in place of on paper

Answer 1

Companies increasingly rely on networked computers for key operations, shifting from paper to digital transactions and contributing to the information economy.

Step-by-step explanation:

With the advent of telecommunications, companies are leveraging networked computers for critical tasks like inventory management, electronic funds transfer, and electronic data interchange. These systems shift the paradigm from traditional paper-based processes to digital transactions, underscoring the transition to an information economy. Such networking facilitates the efficient management of production and sales activities over long distances, offering economic advantages and encouraging global trade. Meanwhile, banks facilitate a complex economy by enabling a robust range of transactions through financial instruments rather than cash, further augmenting the shift towards an information and postindustrial economy.

The original sentence states that companies are relying more and more on networked computers for critical tasks such as inventory management, electronic funds transfer, and electronic data interchange. The phrase 'in which computers handle standard business transactions instead of on paper' properly explains how these tasks are being handled.

The correct option uses the preposition 'in' to indicate the manner in which standard business transactions are being handled with the help of networked computers, rather than on paper.