An economic or political crisis

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An economic or political crisis

by apex231 » Mon Dec 05, 2011 7:22 am
An economic or political crisis in a poor country can lead to a lack of faith in the country's leaders, which is often followed by violent behavior, dissent, and even revolt among specific segments of the population. In many cases, propaganda is immediately issued from media outlets that quells such reactions by downplaying the extent of the recent crisis, thereby helping to restore belief in the efficacy of the government. However, the habitual violence exhibited by certain groups of disaffected youths in such countries generally has nothing to do with a lack of faith in their leaders, but rather is the consequence of an endemic boredom and lack of any vision of a positive future for themselves.
Which of the following statements follows most logically from the statements in the passage above?
(A) It is easier to quell periodic revolts in poor countries than it is to solve the habitual problem of youth violence.
(B) In all poor countries, propaganda alone cannot entirely diffuse dissent stemming from an economic or political crisis.
(C) Economic and political crises do not lead to any instances of youth violence in poor countries.
(D) The effect that propaganda has in putting down revolts in poor countries is primarily related to its ability to alter people's fundamental beliefs.
(E) To the extent that propaganda may help to decrease youth violence in a poor country, it is probably not the result of restoring the youths' faith in their country's leadership.
Source: — Critical Reasoning |

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by mankey » Mon Dec 05, 2011 9:14 am
It should be B since the propaganda would not be able to diffuse violence committed out of habit.

What is the OA?

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by chieftang » Mon Dec 05, 2011 11:39 am
I'll go with [spoiler]E[/spoiler].

[spoiler]B's phrasing, "In all poor countries"[/spoiler] doesn't follow from the passage.

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by VivianKerr » Mon Dec 05, 2011 1:49 pm
Conclusion: Boredom/Lack of Vision (NOT lack of faith) ---> Violence

Evidence: Crisis ---> Lack of Faith ---> Violence ---> Propaganda ---> Restored Belief (until crisis)

Assumption: Violence is not caused by crisis. (The author questions the "cycle" presented.)

Question: What follows?

Prediction: A break in the cycle.

The answer is E. - Propaganda ---> Less Violence (this is a paraphrase of the evidence), but Faith does NOT ---> Propaganda (this is a correct break in the cycle)
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by ranjeet75 » Mon Dec 05, 2011 8:53 pm
Why D should not be the answer? Whether the use of "fundamental beliefs" is the reason.

[quote]Conclusion: Boredom/Lack of Vision (NOT lack of faith) ---> Violence

Evidence: Crisis ---> Lack of Faith ---> Violence ---> Propaganda ---> Restored Belief (until crisis)

Assumption: Violence is not caused by crisis. (The author questions the "cycle" presented.)

Question: What follows?

Prediction: A break in the cycle.

The answer is E. - Propaganda ---> Less Violence (this is a paraphrase of the evidence), but Faith does NOT ---> Propaganda (this is a correct break in the cycle)[/quote]

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by zaarathelab » Tue Dec 06, 2011 12:31 pm
I'll go with E, purely by POE.

But when i look again, I see that E clearly spells out the answer as well.
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by apex231 » Tue Dec 06, 2011 7:13 pm
However, the habitual violence exhibited by certain groups of disaffected youths in such countries generally has nothing to do with a lack of faith in their leaders, but rather is the consequence of an endemic boredom and lack of any vision of a positive future for themselves.

Now according to the question stem, habitual violence is exhibited by certain groups of disaffected youths.

But doesn't option E generalizes "habitual violence exhibited by certain groups of disaffected youths" to all instances of youth violence.

(E) To the extent that propaganda may help to decrease youth violence in a poor country, it is probably not the result of restoring the youths' faith in their country's leadership.

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by tuanquang269 » Thu Dec 08, 2011 4:40 am
VivianKerr wrote:Conclusion: Boredom/Lack of Vision (NOT lack of faith) ---> Violence

Evidence: Crisis ---> Lack of Faith ---> Violence ---> Propaganda ---> Restored Belief (until crisis)

Assumption: Violence is not caused by crisis. (The author questions the "cycle" presented.)

Question: What follows?

Prediction: A break in the cycle.

The answer is E. - Propaganda ---> Less Violence (this is a paraphrase of the evidence), but Faith does NOT ---> Propaganda (this is a correct break in the cycle)
Hey VivianKerr, I think your reasoning in my boldface is mistake.

Premise: An economic or political crisis in a poor country ==> a lack of faith in the country's leaders + violent behavior, dissent, and even revolt among specific segments of the population

propaganda => downplaying the extent of the recent crisis => restore belief in the efficacy of the government

Conclusion: the consequence of an endemic boredom and lack of any vision of a positive future for themselves (NOT he habitual violence exhibited by certain groups of disaffected youths) => a lack of faith in their leaders

Choice E is correct one