Although the recent debate over the efficacy of capital punishment as

Question

Although the recent debate over the efficacy of capital punishment as a deterrent to violent crime has produced informed commentary from both camps, few of the “experts” cited in public discussion of the issue are aware that the basic concept of deterrence was developed during the eighteenth century by the Italian writer Cesare Beccaria in his book  Crimes and Punishments  (1764). While arguing vehemently in favor of strict punishments for violent criminals, Beccaria nevertheless rejected torture, secret trials, and capital punishment as viable deterrents to violent crime.

Beccaria's writings have had a profound influence on the treatment of criminals.  However, at present there is little evidence to support Beccaria's fundamental contention that strict punishment leads to a reduction in violent crime.   In a survey of the American penal system recently carried out by the Justice Department, a vast majority of convicted felons revealed that the threat of strict punishment, even capital punishment, in no way deterred them from committing a particular crime or pursuing a career in crime.  One wonders how Beccaria would alter his arguments if evidence like this had been available to him. He might be pleased to note that the evidence does support his belief that capital punishment is an ineffective deterrent, but he would be hard pressed to find compelling support for his other Draconian recommendations.    1 
 1. The passage is primarily concerned with

A. promoting the theories of a little-known author
B. urging the reader to address a pressing social concern
C. presenting an alternative to a widely-held belief
D. discussing the strengths and weaknesses of a theory
E. tracing the history of a particular social movement

2 
 2. Which of the following describes the author's attitude toward the debate over Capital punishment?

A. Neither side has produced any cogent argument in favor of its position.
B. It is a passionate dispute that has produced more rhetoric than substance.
C. One side has a stronger position based on theories first expressed in the eighteenth century.
D. Any resolution of the debate will require drastic reconsideration of current penal codes.
E. Both sides have contributed thoughtful arguments to the debate.

3 
 3. According to the author, which of the following is true of Beccaria's conception of criminal punishment?

A. It is discounted by most participants in the debate over capital punishment.
B. It typifies eighteenth-century attitudes toward the treatment of violent criminals.
C. it is less relevant to the debate over capital punishment than it was two centuries ago.
D. It forms the basis of the most contemporary discussions of crime and punishment.
E. It contains an early expression of a central issue to the debate over capital punishment.

4 
 4. In describing Beccaria's book, the author emphasizes which of the following?

A. Beccaria's insistence on maintaining law and order in an increasingly violent society
B. The importance of placing Beccaria's ideas in their proper historical context
C. Beccaria's focus on the use of punishment as a deterrent to crime
D. The similarity between Beccaria's ideas and those of most modern proponents of capital punishment
E. Beccaria's ignorance of statistics on crime and punishment in the eighteenth century

5 
 5. The author's criticism of Beccaria's “fundamental contention" ( Text in Red ) assumes which of the following?

A. The opinions of convicted felons reflect those of all criminals.
B. Those who choose to obey the law do so out of a fear of punishment.
C. Conditions in eighteenth-century Italy accurately reflect those in twentieth-century America.
D. The behavior of criminals is indicative of people who have considered a life of crime and rejected it.
E. Torture and secret trials are still viable alternatives to current law-enforcement practices.

6 
 6. The author refers to the Justice Department study ( Text in Blue ) in order to illustrate the

A. need for harsher penalties for lawbreakers
B. flaws In a particular theory
C. inefficacy of the American penal system
D. prophetic quality of  Crimes ano Punishments 
E. public's distrust of lenient punishment

7 
 7. According to the author, Beccaria was correct in thinking that

A. the general public approves of most law-enforcement measures
B. career criminals seldom consider the consequences of their acts
C. torture is an effective deterrent to crime
D. the threat of capital punishment deters few would-be felons
E. human behavior can be regulated by legislation

RC Butler 2021  -  Practice Two RC Questions Everyday.   
Passage # 47 Date: 03-Feb-2021
 This question is a part of RC Butler 2021 .  Click here for Details

road740 · Answer

My answers

Question 1 - B 
Question 2 - E
Question 3 - D
Question 4 - D
Question 5 - A (I´m not sure though, maybe C)
Question 6 - B
Question 7 - D

Kuanl · Answer

5th question's A option has all criminals and in passage we have a vast majority 
 C option has exact replication which is not possible so i guess D is suitable answer

nsrivastav064 · Answer

Sajjad1994  : Request you to provide detailed solutions for Q3 and Q5

GAngstA · Answer

plz provide explanation for question for 3 and 5........

LaveenaPanchal · Answer

1. The passage is primarily concerned with

A. promoting the theories of a little-known author.  Incorrect The passage does not promote anything. 
B. urging the reader to address a pressing social concern.  Incorrect. The passage does not press any social concern. It discusses the efficacy of strict punishments. 
C. presenting an alternative to a widely-held belief.  Incorrect. The author does not present any alternative to the subject discussion. 
D. discussing the strengths and weaknesses of a theory.  Correct The purpose of the passage is to discuss the efficacy of strict punishments in deterring crime. 
E. tracing the history of a particular social movement.  Incorrect. Partial scope.

2. Which of the following describes the author's attitude toward the debate over Capital punishment?

A. Neither side has produced any cogent argument in favor of its position.  Incorrect. Both the sides have presented the argument. This is opposite. 
B. It is a passionate dispute that has produced more rhetoric than substance.  Incorrect. The discussion contains substance over the subject issue. 
C. One side has a stronger position based on theories first expressed in the eighteenth century.  Incorrect. The stronger position is not based on the early theories but recent survey. 
D. Any resolution of the debate will require drastic reconsideration of current penal codes.  Incorrect. No such contention discussed in the passage. 
E. Both sides have contributed thoughtful arguments to the debate.  Correct. The author asks a question on the efficacy of strict punishments based on early theories and recent surveys.

3. According to the author, which of the following is true of Beccaria's conception of criminal punishment?

A. It is discounted by most participants in the debate over capital punishment.  Incorrect. No this is not mentioned anywhere in the passage. 
B. It typifies eighteenth-century attitudes toward the treatment of violent criminals.  Incorrect. No such information in the passage. 
C. it is less relevant to the debate over capital punishment than it was two centuries ago.  Incorrect there is no comparison of debate in difference times. 
D. It forms the basis of the most contemporary discussions of crime and punishment.  Incorrect.   few of the “experts ” cited in public discussion of the issue are aware that the basic concept of deterrence was developed during the eighteenth century  
E. It contains an early expression of a central issue to the debate over capital punishment.  Correct. It is suggested by the statement he basic concept of deterrence was developed during the eighteenth century by the Italian writer Cesare Beccaria in his book Crimes and Punishments (1764).

4. In describing Beccaria's book, the author emphasizes which of the following?

A. Beccaria's insistence on maintaining law and order in an increasingly violent society.  Incorrect. Law and order maintenance is not the main topic. 
B. The importance of placing Beccaria's ideas in their proper historical context.  Incorrect. This is not the purpose of description of book. 
C. Beccaria's focus on the use of punishment as a deterrent to crime.  Correct. The main point of the passage is the efficacy of capital or strict punishment in the deterrence of crime. The author mentions to book to notify the emergence of the subject matter discussion. 
D. The similarity between Beccaria's ideas and those of most modern proponents of capital punishment.  Incorrect no similarities discussed. 
E. Beccaria's ignorance of statistics on crime and punishment in the eighteenth century.  Incorrect. Not discussed in the passage.

5. The author's criticism of Beccaria's “fundamental contention" (Text in Red) assumes which of the following?

A. The opinions of convicted felons reflect those of all criminals.  Incorrect. If we negate the statement then the Beccaria's fundamental contention becomes good. If the opinions of convicted felons does not reflect those of all criminals that the strict punishment deters crime. 
B. Those who choose to obey the law do so out of a fear of punishment.  Incorrect. Negation does not hold the authors criticism good. 
C. Conditions in eighteenth-century Italy accurately reflect those in twentieth-century America.  Incorrect no such connection. 
D. The behavior of criminals is indicative of people who have considered a life of crime and rejected it.  Correct. If we negate the statement then the contention that strict punishment deters crime holds good and destroys author's criticism.  
E. Torture and secret trials are still viable alternatives to current law-enforcement practices.  Incorrect. No such indication in the passage.

6. The author refers to the Justice Department study (Text in Blue) in order to illustrate the

A. need for harsher penalties for lawbreakers.  Incorrect. No such intention. 
B. flaws In a particular theory  Correct. The authors refers to the survey of justice department to confirm to his criticism of strict punishment not resulting to deterrence of crime. 
C. inefficacy of the American penal system.  Incorrect Efficacy of capital or strict punishments is discussed in the passage not the penal system. 
D. prophetic quality of Crimes and Punishments.  Incorrect. No consequences of crimes or punishments discussed in the passage. 
E. public's distrust of lenient punishment.  Incorrect. Public opinions not discussed in the passage.

7. According to the author, Beccaria was correct in thinking that

A. the general public approves of most law-enforcement measures.  Incorrect Public opinions not discussed in the passage 
B. career criminals seldom consider the consequences of their acts.  Incorrect. The author does not provide any agreement on this statement.  
C. torture is an effective deterrent to crime.  Incorrect. No such information in the passage. 
D. the threat of capital punishment deters few would-be felons.  Correct. The author and Beccaria agree to this statement. 
E. human behavior can be regulated by legislation.  Incorrect. No such contention in the passage.

PSP92 · Answer

Hi  LaveenaPanchal .
I am confused between options A & D of Question #5.
I see in your explanation that when you negated each option, both destroyed the author's argument. How come you chose D over A?
PS. I chose option A as the author's conclusion was mostly based on the opinions of the criminals and not on their actual behaviour.

LaveenaPanchal · Answer

Hi,

You are right. Negation of Both options A & D break the conclusion. Please pay attention to the line "vast majority of convicted felons revealed that the threat of strict punishment, even capital punishment, in no way deterred them from committing a particular crime or pursuing a career in crime"

Based on this statement, author has concluded the criticism of Beccaria's foundation using evidence of Criminal's behaviour and not opinion.

So the answer lies in your question itself. Thanks for bringing this to notice.

Posted from my mobile device

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Although the recent debate over the efficacy of capital punishment as

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