Assumption question

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Assumption question

by nikhilkatira » Mon Jul 12, 2010 6:26 am
Newspaper editorial:
In an attempt to reduce the crime rate, the governor is getting tough on criminals and making prison conditions harsher. Part of this effort has been to deny inmates the access they formerly had to college-level courses. However, this action is clearly counter to the governor's ultimate goal, since after being released form prison, inmates who had taken such courses committed far fewer crimes overall than other inmates.

Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?

A.Not being able to take college-level courses while in prison is unlikely to deter anyone from a crime that he or she might otherwise have committed.

B.Former inmates are no more likely to commit crimes than are members of the general population.

C.The group of inmates who chose to take college-level courses were not already less likely than other inmates to commit crimes after being released.

D.Taking high school level courses in prison has less effect on an inmate's subsequent behavior than taking college-level courses does.

E.The governor's ultimate goal actually is to gain popularity by convincing people that something effective is being done about crime.
Best,
Nikhil H. Katira
Source: — Critical Reasoning |

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by ashish2104 » Mon Jul 12, 2010 6:35 am
IMO A.

Conclusion: Governor is being harsh on inmates to reduce crime by denying access to college-level courses.

If A is true, ie if inmates are not taking college-level courses , they will commit crime, supports the governor's point.
Negation test, weakens the argument.

hence, A.

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by debmalya_dutta » Mon Jul 12, 2010 7:13 am
I would go with option C
Because the argument depends on the assumption that access to college level courses helps in reducing the likelihood to commit a crime .

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by loveusonu » Mon Jul 12, 2010 11:31 am
nikhilkatira wrote:Newspaper editorial:
In an attempt to reduce the crime rate, the governor is getting tough on criminals and making prison conditions harsher. Part of this effort has been to deny inmates the access they formerly had to college-level courses. However, this action is clearly counter to the governor's ultimate goal, since after being released form prison, inmates who had taken such courses committed far fewer crimes overall than other inmates.

Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?

A.Not being able to take college-level courses while in prison is unlikely to deter anyone from a crime that he or she might otherwise have committed.

B.Former inmates are no more likely to commit crimes than are members of the general population.

C.The group of inmates who chose to take college-level courses were not already less likely than other inmates to commit crimes after being released.

D.Taking high school level courses in prison has less effect on an inmate's subsequent behavior than taking college-level courses does.

E.The governor's ultimate goal actually is to gain popularity by convincing people that something effective is being done about crime.
Should be C:

Conclusion: The action that government deny access to college-level courses, is clearly countering the governor's ultimate, goal, which is to reduce crime rate.

Evidence: inmates who had taken such courses committed far fewer crimes overall than other inmates.

For assumption, we generally Negate the options.

C says: The group of inmates who chose to take college-level courses were not already less likely than other inmates to commit crimes after being released.

Negating: The group of inmates who chose to take college-level courses were already less likely than other inmates to commit crimes after being released.

If this negation is true then definitely hitting by conclusion by stating that action will not counter government's ultimate goal.

Hope that helps dude!
Sonu
--------
When you want something desperately, the whole Universe conspires in helping to give it to you - The Alchemist

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by outreach » Mon Jul 12, 2010 11:50 am
answer is C
below is another link where same Q has been discussed

https://www.beatthegmat.com/governor-and ... 14221.html
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