Minorities were five times as likely as non-minorities to be

2. Minorities were five times as likely as non-minorities to be stopped by the police in 1992. Once stopped, however, they were no more likely to actually be arrested. The police have compounded the problem by loading information on these people into its permanent database, which is one of the first stops for investigating actual crimes. Innocent individuals become a permanent focus of the police because of their ethnic background.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly undermines the argument above?

(a) Policed stopped nine times more total people in 1992 than in previous years. >>> Doesn't discuss the issue of minority Vs. Non-minority
(b) Innocent people listed on the database are highly unlikely to be arrested for actual crimes.>>> Already discussed in the question and it also doesn't help the issue of "Innocent individuals become a permanent focus of the police because of their ethnic background."
(c) The database has been instrumental in the capture of several important criminals.>>> This fact doesn't permit to bother/not bother minorities/non-minorities..
(d) The minority population is much larger than the non-minority population.>>> Correct >>> In this case the minority actually becomes MAJORITY...and it's not partial to keep the records for majority..!!
(e) Not everyone stopped by police is entered into the database. >>> Doesn't discuss the issue of minority Vs. Non-minority

The minority population is much larger than the non-minority population.

If the minority population is much larger than the non-minority population, how can they still be considered minority?

The minority population is much larger than the non-minority population.

If the minority population is much larger than the non-minority population, how can they still be considered minority?

You have to take the premises and given options to be true.

Also, some specific areas of a country could have a majority of some particular ethnic population (who are still considered minority in the country) and that's how the minority population could be larger than non-minority in that area.

Karishma I dont think so that this is a very Good question. I guess the question is not properly constructed and in GMAT there WILL BE NO question which can be open to interpretation.

(a) Policed stopped nine times more total people in 1992 than in previous years. - Out of scope
(b) Innocent people listed on the database are highly unlikely to be arrested for actual crimes. - The argument talks about the probing the database list of people for investigation and not for arrest - Out of scope
(c) The database has been instrumental in the capture of several important criminals. - Out of scope
(d) The minority population is much larger than the non-minority population. - Correct.
More number of people, so more number of people are stopped. - Weakens the argument
(e) Not everyone stopped by police is entered into the database. - Doesn't weaken if it is found that all of the minority population details are entered but non-minority people's details are not entered - In fact this case strengthens it. - Incorrect

Hi,

I am unable to decipher this one.

(d) The minority population is much larger than the non-minority population. - Correct.
More number of people, so more number of people are stopped. - Weakens the argument
- So what it to do with the conclusion of the argument?

Can u brief on this?

Thanks in Advance,
Swami

Hi,

I am unable to decipher this one.

(d) The minority population is much larger than the non-minority population. - Correct.
More number of people, so more number of people are stopped. - Weakens the argument
- So what it to do with the conclusion of the argument?

Can u brief on this?

Thanks in Advance,
Swami

2. Minorities were five times as likely as non-minorities to be stopped by the police in 1992. Once stopped, however, they were no more likely to actually be arrested. The police have compounded the problem by loading information on these people into its permanent database, which is one of the first stops for investigating actual crimes. Innocent individuals become a permanent focus of the police because of their ethnic background.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly undermines the argument above?

(a) Policed stopped nine times more total people in 1992 than in previous years.
(b) Innocent people listed on the database are highly unlikely to be arrested for actual crimes.
(c) The database has been instrumental in the capture of several important criminals.
(d) The minority population is much larger than the non-minority population.
(e) Not everyone stopped by police is entered into the database.

You have to take the premises and given options to be true.

Also, some specific areas of a country could have a majority of some particular ethnic population (who are still considered minority in the country) and that's how the minority population could be larger than non-minority in that area.

You have to take the premises and given options to be true.

Also, some specific areas of a country could have a majority of some particular ethnic population (who are still considered minority in the country) and that's how the minority population could be larger than non-minority in that area.

2. Minorities were five times as likely as non-minorities to be stopped by the police in 1992. Once stopped, however, they were no more likely to actually be arrested. The police have compounded the problem by loading information on these people into its permanent database, which is one of the first stops for investigating actual crimes. Innocent individuals become a permanent focus of the police because of their ethnic background.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly undermines the argument above?

(a) Policed stopped nine times more total people in 1992 than in previous years.
(b) Innocent people listed on the database are highly unlikely to be arrested for actual crimes.
(c) The database has been instrumental in the capture of several important criminals.
(d) The minority population is much larger than the non-minority population.
(e) Not everyone stopped by police is entered into the database.

Consider different groups of minorities.

Total population = 100 people
Majority group A = 40 people
Minority group 1 = 30 people
Minority group 2 = 30 people