WeakenDiff: Medium
Logic Breakdown
Passage Summary: News shows report way more crime than they used to, so the author thinks the world has become a dangerous mess and we should all hide indoors.
Conclusion: Violent crime has become so uncontrollable that people should only leave their homes for essential tasks to avoid being attacked.
Reasoning: Modern newspapers and television news programs report significantly more stories about local murders and assaults than they did in the past.
Analysis: The author assumes that an increase in news coverage is a perfect mirror for an increase in actual crime rates. To weaken this, look for an answer that provides an alternative explanation for the media's behavior, such as a shift toward sensationalism or better technology for tracking local incidents. Just because the news is 'full' of crime doesn't mean the streets are; it might just mean that 'if it bleeds, it leads' has become the editorial mantra of the day.
Conclusion: Violent crime has become so uncontrollable that people should only leave their homes for essential tasks to avoid being attacked.
Reasoning: Modern newspapers and television news programs report significantly more stories about local murders and assaults than they did in the past.
Analysis: The author assumes that an increase in news coverage is a perfect mirror for an increase in actual crime rates. To weaken this, look for an answer that provides an alternative explanation for the media's behavior, such as a shift toward sensationalism or better technology for tracking local incidents. Just because the news is 'full' of crime doesn't mean the streets are; it might just mean that 'if it bleeds, it leads' has become the editorial mantra of the day.
Passage Stimulus
Passage Redacted
Unlock Full Passage7.Which one of the following, if true, would cast the most serious doubt on the conclusion?
Correct Answer
A
If coverage is now more comprehensive than before, the observed increase in crime stories can be explained by reporting practices rather than by an increase in violent crime. That directly undercuts the inference that crime is out of control.
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