Discussion

Explanation:

Option (a): The digital publishing model described in the first two paragraphs involves “digital files of books” that will be “printed and bound on demand at point of sale by machines that can quickly and inexpensively make single copies that are indistinguishable from books made in factories.” These point-of-sale machines will need to be stocked with the paper and bindings needed to print books on demand, so these supplies—rather than individual books—will likely need to be warehoused.

Option (b): This choice is an unlikely outcome. Under the new model described, even though the books won’t be pre-printed, they’ll still be printed when the customer makes the purchase. And these printed-on-demand books will “be indistinguishable from books made in factories.” Book-grade paper would still be needed to make them truly “indistinguishable” from traditional ones.

Option (c): We don’t have enough information to say that (C) would be likely to happen. The digital publishing model described in the first two paragraphs involves instant printing at the point of sale. The books will be sold at “book printing machines at numerous regional sites,” but whether these machines will belong to the publishers or distributors or retailers is not discussed.

Option (d): This choice is an unlikely outcome. Under the new model described, even though the books won’t be pre-printed, they’ll still be printed when the customer makes the purchase. And these printed-on-demand books will “be indistinguishable from books made in factories.” So copy editors (who edit the text) and book designers (who design the book cover and/or layout of the text) would probably still be needed by publishers.

Hence, option (a).

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