Evaluating an Argument and Questioning: The Code Book
Question 2 • MO-English Language Arts 9 B-CR
Read the excerpt from The Code Book.However, as with every technology, there is a dark side to encryption. As well as protecting the communications of law-abiding citizens, encryption also protects the communications of criminals and terrorists. Currently, the police use wiretapping as a way of gathering evidence in serious cases, such as organized crime and terrorism, but this would be impossible if criminals used unbreakable ciphers. As we enter the twenty-first century, the fundamental dilemm
Answer
Z
Zimmermann encourages everyone to use strong encryption.
C
Criminals could use encryption to avoid the law and cause terror.
Z
Zimmermann has made security experts panic because of his encryption.
E
Encryption software can protect the privacy of law-abiding citizens.
Explanation
The excerpt focuses on encryption’s “dark side”: it can keep police from gathering evidence if criminals use unbreakable ciphers. This supports the idea that criminals could use encryption to evade the law and carry out harmful acts. Choice D is true of encryption generally, but it does not express the concern emphasized in this excerpt.
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