Final answer:
Regression testing is for detecting unintended side effects of new code on existing functionality, whereas confirmation testing is to verify that a specific bug has been fixed.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer to the student's question is C: The purpose of regression testing is to detect unintended side effects, while the purpose of confirmation testing is to check if the original defect has been fixed. Regression testing is performed after software changes to ensure that the new code has not adversely affected existing functionality. In contrast, confirmation testing, also known as re-testing, is conducted to verify that a specific issue or bug which was previously identified has been successfully resolved.