CR question

jamesk486 · Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 8:08 am Post subject: CR question

During the 1980s the homicide rate in Britain rose by 50 percent. The weapon used usually was a knife. Potentially lethal knives arc sold openly and legally in many shops. Most homicide deaths occur as a result of unpremeditated assaults within the family. Even if these are increasing, they would probably not result in deaths if it were not for the prevalence of such knives. Thus the blame lies with the permissiveness of the government that allows such lethal weapons to be sold.

Which one of the following is the strongest criticism of the argument?

A There are other means besides knives, such as guns or poison ,that can be used to accomplish homicide by a person who intends to cause the death of another.

B It is impossible to know how many unpremeditated assaults occur within the family, since many are not reported to the authorities.

C Knives are used in other homicides besides those that result from unpremeditated assaults within the family.

D The argument assumes without justification that the knives used to commit homicide are generally purchased as part of a deliberate plan to commit murder or to inflict grievous harm on a family member.

E If the potentially lethal knives referred to are ordinary household knives, such knives were common before the rise in the homicide rate； but if they are weaponry, such knives are not generally available in households.

==> i had a tough choice between D and E

Early in the twentieth century, Lake Konfa became very polluted. Recently fish populations have recovered as release of industrial pollutants has declined and the lake’s waters have become cleaner. Fears are now being voiced that the planned construction of an oil pipeline across the lake’s bottom might revive pollution and cause the fish population to decline again. However, a technology for preventing leaks is being installed. Therefore, provided this technology is effective, those fears are groundless. 28-09
The argument depends on assuming which of the following?

A: Apart from development related to the pipeline, there will be no new industrial development around the lake that will create renewed pollution in its waters.

B: Other than the possibility of a leak, there is no realistic pollution threat posed to the lake by the pipeline’s construction

C: There is no reason to believe that the leak-preventing technology would be ineffective when installed in the pipeline in Lake Konfa.

D: Damage to the lake’s fish populations would be the only harm that a leak of oil from the pipeline would cause.

E: The species of fish that are present in LakeKonfa now are the same as those that were in the lake before it was affected by pollution.

==> i chose C, which is wrong, but as long as the technology is effective, then there needs to be worry about pollution...?

jayhawk2001 · Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 9:31 am Post subject: Re: CR question