According to futuristic writings in the 1960s, robots would

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According to futuristic writings in the 1960s, robots would [#permalink]

03 Jul 2012, 17:06

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According to futuristic writings in the 1960s, robots would soon drastically reduce crime. With night vision and ability to detect the chemicals involved in ballistics, such robots could be programed to paralyze anyone roaming the street at night with a gun: virtually all criminals fit that description. These criminals would be incapacitated and thus unable to resist an easy arrest.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly indicates that the logic of the prediction is flawed?
(A) Such robots would need to be charged during the daytime.
(B) Since policemen carry guns, the robots would incapacitate them just as efficiently as they incapacitate criminals
(C) Because these robots could pose a hazard to cars at night, special barriers would have to be constructed between the paths of the robots and the lanes of traffic.
(D) It's not obvious that reducing the number of criminals will always be beneficial.
(E) If the proposal plan were successful, it might ultimate result in a smaller and more efficient police force.

[Reveal] Spoiler: OA

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Re: crime reducing robots [#permalink]

03 Jul 2012, 20:12

+1 B

B. If we have robots roaming the streets at night paralyzing anyone with guns then police will also be paralyzed and criminals without guns will be able to roam free.
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Re: crime reducing robots [#permalink]

03 Jul 2012, 21:34

+1 for (B)
Robots will start harming the gun-holding policemen,who are working for crime reduction too,because robots would not be figure out the difference between criminals and policemen/or anyone else for that matter.
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Re: crime reducing robots [#permalink]

04 Jul 2012, 09:15

I usually break the arguments apart, seperating the premise from the conclusion.
Concerning the argument you posted i get:
Premise: With night vision and ability to detect the chemicals involved in ballistics, such robots could be programed to paralyze anyone roaming the street at night with a gun: virtually all criminals fit that description. These criminals would be incapacitated and thus unable to resist an easy arrest.
Conclusion: robots would soon drastically reduce crime

So, the only answer choice that could express a flaw in the prediction (the prediction being that "robots would soon drastically reduce crime") is answer choice A, because if the robots are charging at day time and are only effective at night time, then crime rates will consequently increase in day time, weakening the conclusion that "robots would soon drastically reduce crime".

I did not chose B because this answer choice is reffering to the premise of the argument instead of attacking the conclusion.

Nevertheless, I feel I am a bit confused. Could someone please clear this up for me.

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Re: crime reducing robots [#permalink]

05 Jul 2012, 07:52

tried to Weaken
Conclusion: These criminals would be incapacitated and thus unable to resist an easy arrest.
Premise1: robots could be programed to paralyze anyone roaming the street at night with a gun:virtually all criminals fit that description

(A) Such robots would need to be charged during the daytime.
--> out of scope (charging the robots has nothing to do with Arrests, also robots can work on alternal source of enery such as solar)

(B) Since policemen carry guns, the robots would incapacitate them just as efficiently as they incapacitate criminals
--> correct: should the flow as police also carry guns and robots will not differentiate between police and criminals, as the premise states that "anyone roaming the street at night with a gun"

(C) Because these robots could pose a hazard to cars at night, special barriers would have to be constructed between the paths of the robots and the lanes of traffic.
--> out of scope

(D) It's not obvious that reducing the number of criminals will always be beneficial.
--> out of scope

(E) If the proposal plan were successful, it might ultimate result in a smaller and more efficient police force.
--> this strengthen the conclusion

Re: crime reducing robots [#permalink] 05 Jul 2012, 07:52

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According to futuristic writings in the 1960s, robots would

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