Professor A: The rise of an electronic medium that disregards geograph

Question

Professor A:  The rise of an electronic medium that disregards geographical boundaries throws the law into disarray by creating entirely new phenomena that cannot be governed, satisfactorily, by any territorially based sovereign. Because events that occur on the Internet are not tied to any particular geographical location, no physical jurisdiction has a more compelling claim than does any other to subject these events exclusively to its laws.

Professor B:  Territorial sovereignty is relevant to Internet regulation in a straightforward fashion. The Internet is not a separate place removed from our world. Like the telephone and the telegraph, the Internet is a medium through which people in real space in one jurisdiction communicate with people in real space in another jurisdiction. Territorial sovereignty supports national regulation of persons within the territory who use the Internet.

The main point of disagreement between Professor A and Professor B is whether  __ 1  __  have the ability to regulate  __ 2  __

Select for 1 and for 2 the options that complete the statement in the manner that most accurately reflects the given information. Make only two selections, one in each column.

GMATCoachBen · Accepted Answer

Video solution here (4:46):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drPXwnCi-84&feature=youtu.be

mollyweasley · Answer

GMATCoachBen  could you please explain why the 2nd one could not be "people within a jurisdiction"? The last statement of professor B's paragraph seems to indicate this. Thanks!
 KarishmaB   GMATNinja

GMATNinja · Answer

The problem with that one is that Professor A doesn't think that internet users fall within any particular jurisdiction. It's the LACK of jurisdiction that, in Professor A's opinion, makes it impossible for territorially based sovereigns to regulate events on the internet. So the OA is a better fit.

I hope that helps a bit!

purplelemonsoda · Answer

why the other choices for the first blank don’t work for  who has the ability to regulate :

1.  Activities within a jurisdiction 
This doesn’t fit because  activities  are not entities that can "have the ability to regulate." Regulation requires an agent or authority, such as a government or sovereign entity.

2.  Communications between people 
Similarly,  communications  cannot "have the ability to regulate." Communication is something that can be regulated, not the entity doing the regulating.

3.  Geographical boundaries  
 Geographical boundaries  also cannot "have the ability to regulate." Boundaries are physical or conceptual divisions; they define jurisdiction but do not actively regulate.

4.  People within a jurisdiction (TRAP!) 
While people can engage in regulated activities, they are not the ones imposing regulations. Regulation is the role of an authority like a sovereign entity.

5.  Territorially based sovereigns (Correct) 
This is the only valid option because  sovereigns  are the agents responsible for creating and enforcing regulations. The disagreement between the professors centers on whether territorial governments (sovereigns) can effectively regulate the Internet.

>> Professor A argues that territorial sovereigns lack authority over Internet events because these events transcend boundaries. Professor B counters that territorial sovereigns  do  have the ability to regulate within their jurisdictions. Hence, the debate is about  sovereigns' ability to regulate .

Borrat · Answer

some nasty words here. 
activities within a jurisdiction
Stuff that happens inside a country/state’s legal territory (business actions, transactions, crimes, etc.).

communications between people
Messages/contacts (email, chat, calls, posts) exchanged by people—could cross borders.

events that occur on the Internet
Online acts: posting, downloading, hacking, buying/selling online, hosting content, etc.

geographical boundaries
Physical borders/territorial lines (country borders). Not a “regulator,” more like the concept of territory.

people within a jurisdiction
The residents/users physically located in a territory (the government regulates its people).

territorially based sovereigns
Governments/states with territory-based authority (France, Taiwan, etc.).

Professor A: The rise of an electronic medium that disregards geograph

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1	2
		activities within a jurisdiction
		communications between people
		events that occur on the Internet
		geographical boundaries
		people within a jurisdiction
		territorially based sovereigns

GMAT Two-part Analysis (TPA) Questions

Professor A: The rise of an electronic medium that disregards geograph

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

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Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards