Consumers Union is a nonprofit organization that provides information and counsel on consumer goods and services. A major part of its function is the testing of different brands of consumer products that are purchased on the open market and then the reporting of the results of the tests in Consumer Reports$,$ a monthly publication. Examples of the types of products it tests are$$ mid$-$sized automobiles, residential$$ dehumidifiers, flat$-$screen$$ TVs$,$ and blue jeans.a$.$

In what ways are the services provided by Consumers Union similar to assurance services provided by CPA$$ firms?

b$.$

Compare the concept of information risk with the information risk problem faced by a buyer of an automobile.

c$.$

Compare the four causes of information risk faced by users of financial statements with those faced by a buyer of an automobile.

d$.$

Compare the three ways users of financial statements can reduce information risk with those available to a buyer of an automobile.