Practice Test 10
•25 QuestionsRead the passage and answer the question.
When policymakers consider regulating a new technology, they often face a dilemma: acting early can prevent harms from becoming entrenched, but acting too early can freeze innovation around premature assumptions. One response is to delay until evidence accumulates; yet delay can itself shape the market, allowing dominant designs and business models to set norms that later regulation struggles to change. Another response is to regulate principles rather than mechanisms—for example, focusing on transparency, accountability, and consumer choice—so that rules remain relevant as technical details evolve. Still, principle-based regulation can be criticized as vague, leaving firms uncertain about compliance. The most promising strategies therefore combine adaptive mechanisms, such as periodic review and sunset clauses, with targeted requirements in high-risk contexts. The goal is not to find a timeless rule but to create institutions that can learn, revise, and respond as both benefits and harms become clearer.
The primary purpose of the passage is to:
Read the passage and answer the question.
When policymakers consider regulating a new technology, they often face a dilemma: acting early can prevent harms from becoming entrenched, but acting too early can freeze innovation around premature assumptions. One response is to delay until evidence accumulates; yet delay can itself shape the market, allowing dominant designs and business models to set norms that later regulation struggles to change. Another response is to regulate principles rather than mechanisms—for example, focusing on transparency, accountability, and consumer choice—so that rules remain relevant as technical details evolve. Still, principle-based regulation can be criticized as vague, leaving firms uncertain about compliance. The most promising strategies therefore combine adaptive mechanisms, such as periodic review and sunset clauses, with targeted requirements in high-risk contexts. The goal is not to find a timeless rule but to create institutions that can learn, revise, and respond as both benefits and harms become clearer.
The primary purpose of the passage is to: