Very clever question to test whether test taker understand the concept of XperY in both direction
The CORRECT ANSWER is E.
The WRONG REVERSE ANSWER for hasty test taker is C
Question ask us to make the officers statement weak. We will make his conclusion weak and his statement will automatically become weak.
Officers conclusion :- The number of murder victims per 100 people has actually fallen slightly in the city since 1970.
See how cleverly the Officer has changed the original argument from VIOLENT CRIME to MURDER.
Murder is a violent crime and Almost murder, attempt to murder violence against someone making him almost dead is also violent crime.
Option E tell us :- In 1970 healthcare was bad. Even less injured assault victim would died easily. Last year Healthcare was good. Even highly injured, almost dead people were saved by doctors. Since they were saved therefore they were not murdered. Since they were not murdered, rate of murder came down compared to 1970. But this does not mean they were not subjected to extreme violence. It means lot of violent crimes are happening but due to doctors these violent crimes are not getting converted as murders.
How do we know this .. the statement says so :-
If the health care received by assault victims last year had been of the same quality as it was in 1970, the murder rate in the city last year would have turned out to be several times what it actually was.
Now lets look at option C which will fool a lot of people
C. Murders and other violent crimes are more likely to be reported now than they were in 1970.
In 1970 say, 100 murder took place 40 were reported. So actually more murder happened but police only thought less murders are happening because less complaint were filed
Last year :- 100 murder took place and 94 were reported. So police may think a lot of murder is happening but actually murder rate is same. Only now police know about it.
This fact does not most strongly counter the city official's response who thinks murder rate is less. This is actually the reverse of what the officer is saying.
Citizen: Each year since 1970, a new record has been set for the number of murders committed in this city. This fact points to the decreasing ability of our law enforcement system to prevent violent crime.
City Official: You overlook the fact that the city's population has risen steadily since 1970. In fact, the number of murder victims per 100 people has actually fallen slightly in the city since 1970.
Which one of the following, if true, would most strongly counter the city official's response?
A. The incidence of fraud has greatly increased int he city since 1970.
B. The rate of murders in the city since 1970 decreased according to the age group of the victim, decreasing more for younger victims.
C. Murders and other violent crimes are more likely to be reported now than they were in 1970.
D. The number of law enforcement officials in the city has increased at a rate judged by city law enforcement experts to be sufficient to serve the city's increased population.
E. If the health care received by assault victims last year had been of the same quality as it was in 1970, the murder rate in the city last year would have turned out to be several times what it actually was.