Prison conditions

[dv_dheeraj]

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.

[Alaka]

Is it A?

[dv_dheeraj]

Please give some explainations as well

[coolaman]

A. The fact that if inmates are not able to take college-level courses while in prison is unlikely to affect the proclivity of anyone to commit a crime that he or she might otherwise have committed. This in fact weakens the argument.

B. If Former inmates are no more likely to commit crimes than are members of the general population then college-level courses in prison is not required .

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. The group of inmates who chose to take college-level courses became less likely than other inmates to commit crimes because of college-level courses.

D. Taking high school level courses in prison has less effect on an inmate’s subsequent behavior than taking college-level courses does. It weakens the argument
E. The governor’s ultimate goal actually is to gain popularity by convincing people that something effective is being done about crime. Out of scope


Hence C.

[Alaka]

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.

Simplified by removing Not & Un
Being able to take college level.........is likely to stop anyone.... Right ??

[genie]

IMO C

The group of inmates who chose to take college-level courses were as likely as other inmates to commit crimes after being released. But the courses helped the to commit fewer crimes

What is OA

[cubicle]

I will go with C.

I think it is discussed before but in my mind it has dusted off.

Please let me know OA.

[somajoshi]

I would also go with C

[J2010]

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. – By negating this choice, we break the conclusion that “taking courses will stop anyone from committing a crime” and hence this is the answer
B. Former inmates are no more likely to commit crimes than are members of the general population. – no relation to the argument
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. – By negating this choice, we are not breaking the conclusion in that taking college level courses will not deter someone from committing a crime
D. Taking high school level courses in prison has less effect on an inmate’s subsequent behavior than taking college-level courses does. – totally unrelated
E. The governor’s ultimate goal actually is to gain popularity by convincing people that something effective is being done about crime. --- out of scope

[gettomanish]

C is the correct one which really seems to be an assumption based on which the argument is made.