A recent report determined that although only 10 percent of

10% of people in Police Custody volunteered to undergo Polygraph Test. ( Charged Criminals )

40% of People in Police Custody without being charged volunteered for Polygraph Test. ( Judgement Pending )

Higher percentage suggests people in Custody have less chance of having committed a crime.

which of the following is an assumption on which the argument above depends?

A) Some of the people in police custody who had volunteered to undergo the polygraph test were not released without being charged

Out of scope and Irrelevant.

B)Suspects who volunteer to undergo polygraph tests while in police custody for an alleged crime are more likely to be innocent of that crime

Might be true , however this seems like an Inference to me.

C)the number of suspects released from police custody without being charged was greater than the number of suspects who volunteered to undergo a polygraph test

Out of scope.

D)Some of the suspects who were not released from police custody were suspected of having committed more than one crime during the time period covered by the report

Out of scope.

E)the city of egan has a higher crime rate than other cities of its size

Out of scope.



I am of the same opinion as MacFauz , hence will mark the answer as (B) but eager to know the OA as well as the Official Explanations for this Question...

Option B sounds good.
A - Irrelevant
B - Ok it tallies with my assumption that Volunteering implies less likelihood of involving in crime.
C- Irrelevant.
D- Irrelevant - Releasing .
E- Irrelevant - Crime Rate is unnecessary .

Option B

A) Some of the people in police custody who had volunteered to undergo the polygraph test were not released witout being charged
Weaken the argument
B)Suspects who volunteer to undergo polygraph tests while in police custody for an alleged crime are more likely to be innocent of that crime
Author assume Suspects who have volunteered are innocent, hence will not be prosecuted.
C)the number of suspects released from police custody witout being charged was greater than the number of suspects who volunteered to undergo a polygraph test
Out of scope - Magnitude of crime is not define or discussed.
D)Some of the suspects who were not released from police custody were suspected of having committed more than one crime during the time period covered by the report.
Out of scope - No description of crime / no. of times / period is given in the argument.
E)the city of egan has a higher crime rate than other cities of its size
Out of scope - No comparison provided

A supporter type of assumption. Option B fills the gap. Although I had a hard time reading and understanding the poorly worded question.

Isnt option B restating the conclusion?

Other questions in assumption, the option which restates the conclusion is the wrong one and the reasoning given is that any option which restates the conclusion in an assumption type question is wrong
So can anyone please explain why we chose option B??

Hi,
Background: This is more like a strengthen question than an assumption question. The author has already provided the data required. All we have to do is defend author's take from being breached. We need to provide extra information which could to do so.

A) Some of the people in police custody who had volunteered to undergo the polygraph test were not released without being charged : This is just the outcome of test. it is actually weakening author's take. So, Move on.

B) Suspects who volunteer to undergo polygraph tests while in police custody for an alleged crime are more likely to be innocent of that crime : This does sound like an extra pillar. If we can confirm that people who agree for polygraph test are actually innocent and there is already author's conclusion/pillar that those who do not agree are more likely to be criminal, we are actually providing support and making author's conclusion/podium strong. Listener would be more likely to agree with author now.

C) The number of suspects released from police custody without being charged was greater than the number of suspects who volunteered to undergo a polygraph test: This will again weaken author's take.

D) Some of the suspects who were not released from police custody were suspected of having committed more than one crime during the time period covered by the report : We dont know, nor do we care.

E) The city of egan has a higher crime rate than other cities of its size: I wouldnt say this even it were the last thing I had to say to support author. Author would just look at me and say WTF mate!!

Question makes sense as a 'Strengthen' question than an 'Assumption' question