1000CR Question No 10 : Test III

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1000CR Question No 10 : Test III

by samyak » Mon May 03, 2010 8:26 am
10. 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.

Please help me answer the question.
Source: — Critical Reasoning |

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by iamseer » Mon May 03, 2010 10:10 am
IMO C

(X)CCTV were installed on 2 high-crime subway stations. (Y)The number of crimes increased.

X happened then Y happened. Conclusion is X caused Y. i.e. CCTV caused the increase.
We have to weaken this argument.

We can weaken this argument by finding alternatives that cause of Y. C states that the number has increased b'cos the percentage of all crimes committed that were reported has increased.
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by grockit_andrea » Mon May 03, 2010 11:47 am
I agree. The argument posits a causal connection between two correlated occurrences: the installation of cameras and the number of crimes reported. There's an assumption that the number of crimes reported has increased because the overall number of crimes has increased; therefore, we can weaken the argument by disproving that assumption. C does that, by showing that the number of crimes reported rose because the televisions allowed for better observation, and thus better reporting. This makes it less likely that the increase in crime reports was caused by an increase in crime.
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