Final answer:
The best option to describe the value added by maintaining traceability is that it enables targeting areas that may be impacted by side effects of a change for confirmation testing, thus improving software quality and reliability.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks which option best describes how value is added by maintaining traceability between the test basis and test artifacts in a software development context. The correct answer is D. Areas that may be impacted by side effects of a change can be targeted by confirmation testing. This is because traceability allows teams to track each requirement through the stages of development to testing. When changes are made, they can quickly identify which test cases need to be revisited. This targeting helps ensure that any potential unintended impacts of the change (side-effects) are addressed, which improves the quality and reliability of the software.