There are claims from the entertainment industry authorities that files shared…
2023
There are claims from the entertainment industry authorities that files shared online are harming their sales and business, because viewers are getting them online for free, which they would have otherwise purchased. However, DVD sales have actually increased once file sharing became popular.
Which of the following, if true, best explains the apparent contradiction described above?
- A.
File-sharing networks carry a more complete variety of videos than most traditional video stores.
- B.
The few people using file-sharing networks already purchased more videos than most people.
- C.
Many people prefer to store their videos as computer files rather than maintain large DVD collections.
- D.
Many consumers have purchased videos by artists they discovered through file-sharing networks.
Attempted by 1 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
A 'resolve the paradox' question gives two facts that seem to conflict. The correct option supplies an additional fact that lets both stated facts be true together -- it must reveal the hidden causal link connecting them, not merely restate one side of the paradox or deny either fact.
Here the two facts are: free file-sharing lets people get content without paying, which should hurt sales; yet DVD sales rose once file-sharing became popular. The fact that many consumers purchased videos by artists they discovered through file-sharing networks reconciles this -- file-sharing acted as free exposure and promotion, so people discovered new artists online and then went on to buy their DVDs. This supplies the missing causal link, so both facts hold true at the same time.
Why the other options do not resolve the contradiction:
Carrying more variety only explains why someone might use file-sharing networks; it says nothing about why DVD purchases would rise.
A small group of users already buying more before file-sharing spread does not explain a rise in sales across the whole industry after it spread.
A shift toward storing files instead of buying DVDs would explain a fall in DVD sales, not the rise described in the passage.
Only the option about discovering artists through file-sharing supplies the causal bridge between free sharing and rising sales, so it is the correct choice.