Users of the Internetthe worldwide network of interconnected computer

Question

(The following passage was written in the mid-1990s.)

Users of the Internet—the worldwide network of
interconnected computer systems—envision it as a way
for people to have free access to information via their
personal computers. Most Internet communication
  (5)   consists of sending electronic mail or exchanging ideas
on electronic bulletin boards; however, a growing
number of transmissions are of copyrighted works—
books, photographs, videos and films, and sound
recordings. In Canada, as elsewhere, the goals of
  (10)   Internet users have begun to conflict with reality as
copyright holders look for ways to protect their
material from unauthorized and uncompensated
distribution.

Copyright experts say that Canadian copyright law,
  (15)   which was revised in 1987 to cover works such as
choreography and photography, has not kept pace with
technology—specifically with digitalization, the
conversion of data into a series of digits that are
transmitted as electronic signals over computer
  (20)   networks. Digitalization makes it possible to create an
unlimited number of copies of a book, recording, or
movie and distribute them to millions of people around
the world. Current law prohibits unauthorized parties
from reproducing a work or any substantial part of it in
  (25)   any material form (e.g., photocopies of books or
pirated audiotapes), but because digitalization merely
transforms the work into electronic signals in a
computer’s memory, it is not clear whether
digitalization constitutes a material reproduction—and
  (30)   so unauthorized digitalization is not yet technically a
crime.

Some experts propose simply adding unauthorized
digitalization to the list of activities proscribed under
current law, to make it clear that copyright holders own
  (35)   electronic reproduction rights just as they own rights to
other types of reproduction. But criminalizing
digitalization raises a host of questions. For example,
given that digitalization allows the multiple recipients
of a transmission to re-create copies of a work, would
  (40)   only the act of digitalization itself be criminal, or
should each copy made from the transmission be
considered a separate instance of piracy—even though
those who made the copies never had access to the
original? In addition, laws against digitalization might
  (45)   be virtually unenforceable given that an estimated
20 million people around the world have access to the
Internet, and that copying and distributing material is a
relatively simple process. Furthermore, even an
expanded law might not cover the majority of
  (50)   transmissions, given the vast numbers of users who are
academics and the fact that current copyright law
allows generous exemptions for those engaged in
private study or research. But even if the law is revised
to contain a more sophisticated treatment of
  (55)   digitalization, most experts think it will be hard to
resolve the clash between the Internet community,
which is accustomed to treating information as raw
material available for everyone to use, and the
publishing community, which is accustomed to treating
  (60)   it as a commodity owned by its creator.    1 
 1. Which one of the following most accurately expresses the main point of the passage?

(A) Despite the widely recognized need to revise Canadian copyright law to protect works from unauthorized reproduction and distribution over the Internet, users of the Internet have mounted many legal challenges to the criminalizing of digitalization.
(B) Although the necessity of revising Canadian copyright law to protect works from unauthorized reproduction and distribution over the Internet is widely recognized, effective criminalizing of digitalization is likely to prove highly complicated.
(C) While the unauthorized reproduction and distribution of copyrighted works over the Internet is not yet a crime, legal experts believe it is only a matter of time before Canadian copyright law is amended to prohibit unauthorized digitalization.
(D) Despite the fact that current Canadian copyright law does not cover digitalization, the unauthorized reproduction and distribution of copyrighted works over the Internet clearly ought to be considered a crime.
(E) Although legal experts in Canada disagree about the most effective way to punish the unauthorized reproduction and distribution of copyrighted works over the Internet, they nonetheless agree that such digitalization should clearly be a punishable crime.

2 
 2. Given the author’s argument, which one of the following additions to current Canadian copyright law would most likely be an agreeable compromise to both the Internet community and the publishing community?

(A) Digitalization of copyrighted works is permitted to Internet users who pay a small fee to copyright holders.
(B) Digitalization of copyrighted works is prohibited to Internet users who are not academics.
(C) Digitalization of copyrighted works is permitted to all Internet users without restriction.
(D) Digitalization of copyrighted works is prohibited to all Internet users without exception.
(E) Digitalization of copyrighted works is permitted to Internet users engaged in research.

3 
 3. The discussion in the second paragraph is intended primarily to explain which one of the following?

(A) how copyright infringement of protected works is punished under current Canadian copyright law
(B) why current Canadian copyright law is not easily applicable to digitalization
(C) how the Internet has caused copyright holders to look for new forms of legal protection
(D) why copyright experts propose protecting copyrighted works from unauthorized digitalization
(E) how unauthorized reproductions of copyrighted works are transmitted over the Internet

4 
 4. The passage supports each of the following inferences EXCEPT:

(A) It is unlikely that every instance of digitalization could be detected under a copyright law revised to criminalize digitalization.
(B) Criminalizing unauthorized digitalization appears to be consistent with the publishing community’s treatment of information as an owned commodity.
(C) When copyright law is revised to cover digitalization, the revised law will include a prohibition on making copies from an unauthorized digitalization of a copyrighted work.
(D) The number of instances of unauthorized digitalization would likely rise if digitalization technology were made even easier to use.
(E) Under current law, many academics are allowed to make copies of copyrighted works as long as they are used only for private research.

5 
 5. Which one of the following views can most reasonably be attributed to the experts cited in line 32?

(A) Unauthorized digitalization of a copyrighted work should be considered a crime except when it is done for purposes of private study or research.
(B) Unauthorized digitalization of a copyrighted work should be considered a crime even when it is done for purposes of private study or research.
(C) Making a copy of a copyrighted work from an unauthorized digitalization of the work should not be considered a crime.
(D) Making a copy of a copyrighted work from an unauthorized digitalization of the work should be punished, but not as severely as making the original digitalization.
(E) Making a copy of a copyrighted work from an unauthorized digitalization of the work should be punished just as severely as making the original digitalization.

PyjamaScientist · Answer

(A) can be inferred as the author speaks volumes regarding how tough it is to implement any law against digitalization given the nature of technology.

(B) The author clearly gives the copyright holders the right to have their copyrighted material be saved from this theft through the digitalization of their property. Hence, criminalizing unauthorized digitalization does look consistent with the publishing community's treatment of information as an owned commodity.

(C) From this excerpt from the passage,  "For example, given that digitalization allows the multiple recipients of a transmission to re-create copies of a work, would only the act of digitalization itself be criminal, or should each copy made from the transmission be considered a separate instance of piracy—even though those who made the copies never had access to the original?"  we can see that the author ends this sentence with a question mark, which means that the author himself does not know whether the act of making copies from another copy (unauthorized digitalization) of original work will be covered under the revised law. So, we can not say, by placing our knowledge on what's given in the passage, for sure, that the revised law "WILL INCLUDE" a prohibition for that act. Hence, this can not be inferred from the passage. Hence, the correct choice.

(D) The passage has clearly indicated that the technology is moving at a much faster pace and that this issue of digital theft has already grown out of control. So, it can be inferred from the passage that this issue would further increase (given technology's rising pace) if no step is taken (though implementation of which is under doubt in the passage).

(E) In the last few lines of the passage it is written,  "current copyright law allows generous exemptions for those engaged in private study or research" . So, this is exactly what option E is saying. Hence, it can be inferred.

I hope it helps.

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Explanation

5. Which one of the following views can most reasonably be attributed to the experts cited in line 32?

Explanation

The experts want to lump unauthorized digitalization in with all other unauthorized copying  “under current law.”  That means to proscribe it  (lines 32–34)  with exceptions for academics  (lines 50–53).  Current law, in other words, is summarized by  (A) , so  (A)  must reflect the experts’ view.

(B)  denies the exemptions currently available to academics, but no reference is made to revoking such exemptions for digitalization. Indeed, if the experts do in fact want to proceed  “under current law,” (B)  would be opposite: contradictory to their view.

(C)  is certainly opposite, of a different sort. The experts are in favor of criminalization, for sure.

(D)  and  (E) , each in its differing way, resolves the issue raised  (in lines 37–44)  as to the relative severity of punishment for original vs. later users.

However, that issue is specifically presented as unresolved. We cannot fairly ascribe a resolution of this question to anyone, let alone the experts of  line 32.

Answer: A

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Explanation

2. Given the author’s argument, which one of the following additions to current Canadian copyright law would most likely be an agreeable compromise to both the Internet community and the publishing community?

Explanation

This question relates to the two warring camps described in  lines 55–60.  The Internet community seems to want widespread availability while the publishers want creators’ ownership to be respected, and  (A)  gives each side a little of what it wants.

(B), (D) —Outright prohibition of digitalization would certainly not be agreeable to the Internet community.

(C), (E) —Outright permission to duplicate digitally would certainly not be agreeable to the publishers.

Answer: A

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Explanation

4. The passage supports each of the following inferences EXCEPT:

Explanation

If you go through the choices in some sort of order, whether  (A)  to  (E) , or  (E)  to  (A)  or briefest to longest, sooner or later  (C)  should jump out, because its certainty as to what will happen (“will include a prohibition...”) when digitalization is covered by copyright law is belied by the frankly uncertain tone of the entire final paragraph, particularly the final six lines. If, instead, you skim the choices looking for a sentiment out of kilter with the passage, again  (C)  should capture your attention. It’s too categorical in its prediction.

(A)  is inferable from  lines 44–48.  Those millions of Internet users are what would make  “laws...virtually unenforceable.”

(B)  picks up on  lines 32–36  and  lines 59–60.  One can readily see that supporters of the rights of a work’s creator would want to lump digitalization in with all the other unauthorized copying.

(D) , like  (A) , comes out of  lines 44–48.  It reflects the result of any  “relatively simple process,”  i.e. the process will be taken advantage of.

(E)  spells out what  lines 50–53  hints are the special circumstances currently available to academic users of printed work.

Answer: C

Users of the Internetthe worldwide network of interconnected computer

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Users of the Internetthe worldwide network of interconnected computer

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