Which statement about arson is true?

Which statement about arson is true?

• A. The malicious burning of a building.
• B. It requires burning only if the building is occupied.
• C. It requires burning a vehicle.
• D. It is satisfied by any scorching of property.

Answer: (A)

Arson is defined by the intentional, malicious burning of a building. The key idea is that someone deliberately sets a fire to destroy or damage a building or structure, not merely to touch or scorch property. The building need not be occupied at the time—the fire can occur in an empty structure and still be arson. It’s not satisfied by just scorching or by burning a vehicle in the general sense described here, since the core act centers on burning a building. So the statement describing the malicious burning of a building accurately captures what arson is, making it true.

Arson is defined by the intentional, malicious burning of a building. The key idea is that someone deliberately sets a fire to destroy or damage a building or structure, not merely to touch or scorch property. The building need not be occupied at the time—the fire can occur in an empty structure and still be arson. It’s not satisfied by just scorching or by burning a vehicle in the general sense described here, since the core act centers on burning a building. So the statement describing the malicious burning of a building accurately captures what arson is, making it true.