Arrange the steps for selecting an appropriate storage medium for a task in the correct logical order.

### Why this is right Storage selection works best as a funnel: first define what the task must have, then remove options that cannot meet those needs. Only after the essential requirements are satisfied should you compare remaining choices on less decisive factors, then choose one device. ### The concept A **storage medium** is the material or technology used to hold data, such as a memory card or hard drive. Start by identifying needs such as **capacity**, how much data must fit, **portability**, whether it must be easy to carry, and **rewritability**, whether saved data must be changed or replaced. Also check whether the task needs **removable storage**, which can be physically taken out of the computer. These are essential requirements: a medium that fails one cannot be rescued by being cheap or fast. Then compare candidates that pass, considering factors such as speed, cost, and compatibility with the computer and intended use. | Stage | What it decides | |---|---| | Requirements | What the task needs | | Filtering | Which media cannot meet those needs | | Comparison | Which suitable candidates offer the best trade-offs | | Selection | Which device to use | ### The order 1. **A. Analyze the storage requirements of the task.** You need to know what the task requires before judging any medium. 2. **B. Filter out storage media types that fail essential requirements.** This prevents unsuitable choices from advancing just because they score well on other factors. 3. **C. Evaluate the remaining candidates on secondary factors.** Compare speed, cost, and compatibility only among options that meet the essential needs. 4. **D. Make the final selection.** Choose the most suitable device after the requirements and trade-offs are clear. ### Watch out Do not rank every medium by speed or cost before checking whether it can meet the task’s basic needs. A fast, inexpensive option is still unsuitable if it lacks enough capacity or cannot be rewritten when the task requires it. ### Terms - **Storage medium**: The technology or material that holds data. - **Capacity**: The amount of data a storage device can hold. - **Portability**: How easily a device can be carried or moved between systems. - **Rewritability**: Whether data on a medium can be changed or replaced after it is stored. - **Removable storage**: Storage that can be physically detached from a computer. - **Compatibility**: Whether a device can work with the computer and intended use. - **Secondary factors**: Considerations such as speed and cost, used to compare options that already meet essential requirements. ### Remember Check essential requirements first, compare suitable options second, and select last.