WeakenDiff: Hardest
Logic Breakdown
Passage Summary: Crime went down right after a new law started, and since no other rules changed, the law must be the reason for the improvement.
Conclusion: The recent 15 percent drop in violent crime was caused by the new mandatory sentencing law.
Reasoning: The law was enacted at the start of the year, and no other major policy changes occurred during that same period.
Analysis: The commissioner is falling into the trap of assuming that 'policy changes' are the only things that affect crime rates. This ignores a whole world of external variables like economic shifts, demographic changes, or even local employment rates. To weaken this, we need to find an alternative explanation for the crime drop that has nothing to do with the law. Look for an answer that introduces a different factor that changed during that same year, such as a sudden increase in the local youth employment rate or a decrease in the city's total population.
Conclusion: The recent 15 percent drop in violent crime was caused by the new mandatory sentencing law.
Reasoning: The law was enacted at the start of the year, and no other major policy changes occurred during that same period.
Analysis: The commissioner is falling into the trap of assuming that 'policy changes' are the only things that affect crime rates. This ignores a whole world of external variables like economic shifts, demographic changes, or even local employment rates. To weaken this, we need to find an alternative explanation for the crime drop that has nothing to do with the law. Look for an answer that introduces a different factor that changed during that same year, such as a sudden increase in the local youth employment rate or a decrease in the city's total population.
Passage Stimulus
Passage Redacted
Unlock Full Passage24.Which one of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the police commissioner's argument?
Correct Answer
E
E reveals an ongoing policy led to hiring 100 new officers last year (and in each of three years). That’s a substantial change during the year in question, offering a competing cause and directly undercutting the claim that no other major policy changes occurred.
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