Critical Reasoning

Criminologist: Some legislators advocate mandating a sentence of life in prison for anyone who, having twice served sentences for serious crimes, is subsequently convicted of a third serious crime. These legislators argue that such a policy would reduce crime dramatically, since it would take people with a proven tendency to commit crimes off the streets permanently. What this reasoning overlooks, however, is that people old enough to have served two prison sentences for serious crimes rarely commit more than one subsequent crime. Filling our prisons with such individuals would have exactly the opposite of the desired effect, since it would limit our ability to incarcerate younger criminals, who commit a far greater proportion of serious crimes.
In the argument as a whole, the two boldfaced portions play which of the following roles?
A. The first is a conclusion that the argument as a whole seeks to refute; the second is a claim that has been advanced in support of that conclusion.
B. The first is a conclusion that the argument as a whole seeks to refute; the second is the main conclusion of the argument.
C. The first is the main conclusion of the argument; the second is an objection that has been raised against that conclusion.
D. The first is the main conclusion of the argument; the second is a prediction made on the basis of that conclusion.
E. The first is a generalization about the likely effect of a policy under consideration
in the argument; the second points out a group of exceptional cases to which that generalization does not apply.
[spoiler]Answer:A/B[/spoiler]

IMO B

Ludacrispat26 wrote:IMO B

and whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

IMO B.

Look closely ,the first boldface is the conclusion of legislators.

The second is the authors conclusion.

The argument as a whole ( which includes premises and main conclusion ) tries to refute the legislators conclusion.

Spring

Is it B??

first is the conclusion or point that the argument is trying to refute...second is the main conclusion of criminologist ...that adopting the policy advised by legislators would have an opposite effect...

maihuna wrote:

Ludacrispat26 wrote:IMO B

and whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

I found the below approach pretty helpful (courtesy Ron )

Approach for Boldface:

3-point procedure:

1) FIND THE CONCLUSION OF THE PASSAGE IN SIMPLE TERMS

in this case, the conclusion is Filling our prisons with such individuals would have exactly the opposite of the desired effect

2) JUDGE WHETHER THE BOLDFACE PARTS CHALLENGE, SUPPORT, OR ACTUALLY ARE THE CONCLUSION

no need to be more subtle than this, at least at first.
in this case, first boldface parts is conclusion that is countered. Second, is the main conclusion.

3) SELECT THE APPROPRIATE ANSWER CHOICE

B

I would go with option B as the correct option