Advances in photocopying technology

Answer choices

1. A

   Correct69% picked this

   When an anticounterfeiting technique depends on the detection of counterfeits by experts, the cost of inspection by experts adds significantly to the

   Why this is right

   This elaborates on the negative of microprinting. Microprinting depends on detection of counterfeits by expert (we know that because counterfeits of this style usually circulate widely before being detected, meaning that regular non-experts don't notice that it's a fake and so the counterfeit bill gets used in lots of different transactions). If we have to pay those experts a lot of money to detect the fakes, then maybe microprinting isn't less costly overall. Said another way, this answer is taking the one advantage that microprinting supposedly had (less costly) and watering down that advantage a lot, since the money we have to pay for the experts significantly adds to the societal cost of that method.

   Skill tested: Strengthen · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.

   69%
2. B

   No Distinction, No Impact8% picked this

   For any anticounterfeiting technique to be effective, the existence of anticounterfeiting techniques should be widely broadcast, but the method by which counterfeits

   As soon as we see "for any counterfeiting technique to be effective", we should start suspecting this answer won't help us. We don't want any general truth about counterfeiting techniques. We need a specific fact that makes us lean more towards colored ink and more away from microprinting.

   8%
3. C

   Weakens, if anything7% picked this

   The process of microprinting paper currency involves fewer steps than does the printing of paper currency

   This seems to describe a positive about microprinting (it takes the mint fewer steps to make it). We want negatives about microprinting or positives about colored ink.

   7%
4. D

   No Impact: past methods1% picked this

   Before photocopying technology existed, most counterfeits of paper currency were accomplished

   This historical footnote about counterfeiting in the days before photocopying existed is totally irrelevant to our present concern. Today, there are photocopiers. So given that, should we go with microprinting or colored ink? This answer offers us nothing to help inform that decision.

   1%
5. E

   Weakens, if anything15% picked this

   Many criminals do not have access to the advanced photocopiers that are needed to produce counterfeits of microprinted paper currency that

   This seems to describe a positive about microprinting (a lot of criminals don't have access to the advanced photocopiers you would need to make a microprint counterfeit) We want negatives about microprinting or positives about colored ink.

   15%