Incorrect answer in Answer Key in the famous "500 CR&qu

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Dear all,

I got this CR question from this website only....

What is thh answer of the below CR question. I answered as D. But the answer key says "C". I think C is worng because it strengths the argument of teh officers.

Regards
Suresh G

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A year after the start an experiment to decrease crime in two high-crime subway stations by the installation of closed-circuit televisions, the experiment is being discontinued, city officials say the program has led to an increase in crime, citing the fact that following the installation, both stations showed increases in the number of crimes reported.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the claim of the city officials that the program has led to an increase in crime?

(A) The two subway stations had been chosen on the basis subway stations was higher than that of other high-crime subway stations not equipped with closed-circuit-television.
(B) The rate of increase in crimes reported for two subway stations was higher than that of other high-crime subway stations not equipped with closed-circuit television.
(C) The percentage of all crimes committed at the two subway stations that were reported rose as a result of increased instances of observations of crime on the closed-circuit televisions.
(D) The year in which the experiment was conducted was a year in which the total number of crimes reported in the city fell.
(E) Closed-circuit televisions installed in shops and stores throughout the city have proved to be useful in the prevention of shoplifting and burglaries.
Source: — Critical Reasoning |

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by g_beatthegmat » Fri Aug 03, 2007 6:31 am
Hey Suresh,

(C) is indeed the right answer. Here's why-
... city officials say the program has led to an increase in crime, citing the fact that following the installation, both stations showed increases in the number of crimes reported.
That's the conclusion above- saying that the increase in crime is because of the installation of the CCTv.

To weaken, if we can prove that somehow CCTVs did not result in the increase of crime, then our job is done. Probably show that the crime was always high, just that it wasn't noticed or recorded earlier.

(C) is the only option from the given choices which comes closet to the required answer.
Though I understand your concern, that the argument also mentions-
stations showed increases in the number of crimes reported.
This doesn't really make it clear what we are trying to say in (C). (C) very clearly explains why the government's conclusion of removing CCTVs is wrong.

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by g_beatthegmat » Fri Aug 03, 2007 6:35 am
Also to add, (D) actually strengthens the argument, saying that the total crime in that city actually fell that year- implying that installation of CCTv was really the cause of increase in crime in the 2 stations.

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by samanthaJ79 » Fri May 13, 2016 3:10 am
I like the explanation on C.