Ambiguous CS question

[windriver]

The recording industry is fighting a losing battle: it simply does not have the resources to prosecute all of the individuals who illegally download music from the Internet. Because the number of individuals who will be charged with a crime is so limited, the actions of the recording industry will have a minimal impact on the number of people who illegally download music.

The answer to which of the following questions would best help evaluate the accuracy of the conclusion above?

A) Will recording industry lawyers dedicate the majority of their time to prosecuting those who illegally download music?
B) Is a small minority of individuals responsible for the majority of illegal song downloads?
C) Do many individuals who illegally download songs share their music files with other Internet users?
D) Will new Internet security technology permit the recording industry to more quickly and easily identify individuals who illegally download music?
E) Will the threat of prosecution alter the behavior of those who illegally download music?


Official Answer:

SPOILER: E

I narrowed the answer choices to B and E, but I am confused as to why B cannot be the answer. Thinking about it, if the answer to B is "no", then that means that more people are illegally downloading music and therefore it will directly support the conclusion that the recording industry isn't able to prosecute enough people to fight it's battle. So, why would E be the answer and NOT B. To me both seem equally compelling.

[givemeanid]

I agree B looked compelling. But then it has an extra assumption that the individuals who are doing most of the downloading will be the ones charged with crime. E requires no such further assumption.

[catchamogh]

here conclusion is related to impact of action of recording industry. we should look for question whoes positive answer will help us to evaluate accuracy of conclusion.

in B if ans is yes then we can conclude that it is a minority of individuals who do all illegal downloads but we can not accurately state that after prosecuting some of them, illegal download will stop as it may be the case that new minority group will evolve and continue this activity of illegal download and in turn prosecuting may not have any impact on illegal download. so any ans of B will not lead to state accurate conclusion regarding impact on illegal download.

Now if ans of question E is Yes then it will definitely affect illegal download activity as threat of prosecution will not allow any new individual to do illegal download.

[maverick312]

Imo E

[gmattrap]

E is better than B.
The argument says that because only a limited number of individuals are charged with the crrime, the battle is lost. The question is, "what if 100% of criminals are charged and the threat of prosecution does not show any change in their behaviour?"

[GordenGekko]

Another way to look at Ans. E is: if prosecuting the limited number of individuals will have the desired effect of reducing the downloads (as E stipulates), then the conclusion is inaccurate. Thus, E evaluates the accuracy of the conclusion.