The Economist Reading Challenge Week 2: Article 2

2.1 Which of the following conclusions is supported by the passage?


Imo A

A.People are many times more likely to have brain injuries while in prison than while out of it.


- This statement is supported by the passage. In the 1st paragraph given that ,
Estimates vary, but they consistently show that people in prison are many times more likely to have brain injuries …than people not in Prison
- Correct Choice



B. Most criminals have had traumatic brain injuries.


- This statement is not supported by the passage. In the 2nd paragraph, given that
Those whose brains are not “neurotypical” in other ways also make up an extraordinarily large share of the prison population. Large doesn’t mean most.
- Incorrect Choice


C. Most criminals are likely to suffer mental-health problems and loneliness.


- This statement is not supported by the passage. In the 1st paragraph, given that
Those who have experienced such injuries are more likely to suffer mental-health problems and loneliness. They are more likely to struggle with addiction to drink or drugs, or to be homeless. They are also more likely to commit crimes, including violent ones, although most do not. Estimates vary, but they consistently show that people in prison are many times more likely to have brain injuries.
No where it is given that >50% (i.e. most) of the criminals are likely to suffer mental-health problems and loneliness.

- Incorrect Choice


D. People with traumatic brain injuries are more likely to have social and health-related issues.

- This statement is not supported by the passage. In the 1st paragraph, given that
Those who have experienced such injuries are more likely to suffer mental-health problems and loneliness. Not Social and health issues.
- Incorrect Choice



E. Traumatic brain injuries affect mostly people in rich countries.


- This statement is not supported by the passage. In the 1st paragraph, given that
Traumatic brain injuries affect around one in ten people in rich countries... It doesn’t mean that Traumatic brain injuries affect mostly people in rich countries.
- Incorrect Choice





2.2 The article implies which of the following?

imo C

A. People from poor backgrounds are 4 times more likely to be incarcerated than those from rich backgrounds.

- This statement is not supported by the passage. In the 3rd paragraph, given that
A child from a poor background is four times more likely to suffer a brain injury before the age of five than a child from a wealthy background.
It cannot be implied that People from poor backgrounds are 4 times more likely to be incarcerated than those from rich backgrounds.
- Incorrect Choice



B. People with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder are 19 times more likely to become criminals than those without it.

- This statement is not supported by the passage. In the 2nd paragraph, given that
In Canada young people with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, which is the result of exposure to alcohol in the womb and which damages the brain’s frontal lobe, are incarcerated at 19 times the rate of the wider population.
No comparison of the likelihood of becoming a criminal can be inferred between People with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and those without it.

- Incorrect Choice



C. Education and medication can each reduce the incidence of incarceration


- This statement is supported by the passage. In the1st , 3rd ,4th and 5th paragraph, given that
People with brain injuries are more likely to struggle with addiction to drink or drugs, or to be homeless. They are also more likely to commit crimes, including violent ones, although most do not.

Education is a good place to start to prevent brain injuries. Parents and children need to be taught about the risks, urged to wear bicycle helmets and deterred from drunk-driving. Schools and police should do more to curb violence—by far the main cause of traumatic brain injuries affecting women in prison is domestic abuse
Once identified, the brain injuries can be treated—sometimes with medication (such as stimulants for cognitive functioning and fatigue), most often with neuro-rehabilitation.
Also it is given that For many such people, neuro-rehabilitation centres would be cheaper than prison and better at reducing recidivism.
So we can infer that Education and medication can each reduce the incidence of incarceration
- Correct Choice


D. Prisons should put more effort into preventing prisoner injuries.

- This statement is not supported by the passage. No where in the passage is given that Prisons should put more effort into preventing prisoner injuries.
- Incorrect Choice



E. In Britain, the cost medical treatment for a 15-year-old with brain injury is $475,000 .


- This statement is not supported by the passage. It is given that
Prevention policies would pay for themselves, because brain injuries are expensive. In Britain the average lifetime cost of one in a 15-year-old who goes on to offend is estimated to be around £345,000 ($475,000).
Not the cost medical treatment for a 15-year-old with brain injury is $475,000
- Incorrect Choice




2.3 In the second paragraph, the phrase “Those whose brains are not ‘neurotypical’ in other ways” refers to:


imo ,B

Pre-Thinking –
In second paragraph it is given that Those whose brains are not “neurotypical” in other ways also make up an extraordinarily large share of the prison population.
Those refer to people having neural problem or people who don’t behave in accepted way .


A. prisoners.

Those refer to people having neural problem or people who don’t behave in accepted way .
- Incorrect Choice



B. those who do not behave in a socially acceptable way.

This is inline with our pre-thinking
- Correct Choice


C. those who have not experienced a traumatic brain injury.

We cannot infer this.
- Incorrect Choice



D. those who have disrupted brain function due to falls, fights, or car accidents.

We cannot infer this. It is different cause of disrupted brain function . But not the only reason to be for the disorder .
- Incorrect Choice


E. those who came from a poor background.

We cannot infer this as well as not all people having brain disorder are from poor background .
- Incorrect Choice




2.4 According to the passage author implies which of the following?


imo B

A. Women often receive traumatic brain injuries in prison.


Author cannot imply this. Paragraph 4 says that by far the main cause of traumatic brain injuries affecting women in prison is domestic abuse.
Not Women often receive traumatic brain injuries in prison.
- Incorrect Choice


B. Screening of neglected school children will lead to an increase in neuro-rehabilitation.

This can be inferred from the passage . 5th Paragraph says that In the most neglected schoolchildren, screening might catch injuries. Once identified, they can be treated—sometimes with medication (such as stimulants for cognitive functioning and fatigue), most often with neuro-rehabilitation.
So author can imply that Screening of neglected school children will lead to an increase in neuro-rehabilitation.

- Correct Choice


C. British prisons are planning to screen all prisoners for brain injuries.

Author cannot imply this. Paragraph 6 says that From April, British prisons will have to screen all inmates who have experienced domestic violence for brain injuries. Not to screen all prisoners
- Incorrect Choice


D. Brain injury should be persecuted and not used to avoid responsibility.

Author doesn’t imply this. Punishing people without also offering them the help they need is short-sighted and wrong.
- Incorrect Choice


E. Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder is not a neurodisability.

Author doesn’t imply this. The last paragraph says that it is easier to curb crime if you understand the factors that make it more likely, of which neurodisabilities are an important and neglected one. More research is needed, but it is striking that offenders with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder who take their medication are a third less likely to reoffend than those who do not.
We can infer from this that Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder is a neurodisability.

- Incorrect Choice

IMO
1. D
2. C
3. C
4. B
My explanation is below.
_________________________________________________________________

1. Which of the following conclusions is supported by the passage?

A.People are many times more likely to have brain injuries while in prison than while out of it. --> No comparison about brain injuries between while in prison and while out of it.
B. Most criminals have had traumatic brain injuries. --> No mention. "People in prison are many times more likely to have brain injuries.", not mean most of them have had brain injuries.
C. Most criminals are likely to suffer mental-health problems and loneliness. --> Again, no mention that most criminals are likely to suffer those problems.
D. People with traumatic brain injuries are more likely to have social and health-related issues. --> CORRECT. Can infer from "Those who have experienced such injuries are more likely to suffer mental-health problems and loneliness."
E. Traumatic brain injuries affect mostly people in rich countries. --> "Traumatic brain injuries affect around one in ten people in rich countries." I think one in ten is not mostly.

2. The article implies which of the following?

A. People from poor backgrounds are 4 times more likely to be incarcerated than those from rich backgrounds. --> No mention about this comparison.
B. People with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder are 19 times more likely to become criminals than those without it. --> No comparison with another group.
C. Education and medication can each reduce the incidence of incarceration. --> CORRECT.

• Preventing brain injuries would avert much suffering, both directly (by reducing the number of people so impaired) and indirectly (by reducing the number who hurt others). Education is a good place to start.

• Not all injuries can be averted, of course. So more help is needed for those who suffer them. Most important such injuries need to be identified earlier, especially in children, and teenagers. Hospitals need to try harder to spot and report brain trauma in children who show up with other injuries, and to ensure that they receive follow-up care.

D. Prisons should put more effort into preventing prisoner injuries. --> No mention about what should prisons do.
E. In Britain, the cost medical treatment for a 15-year-old with brain injury is $475,000. --> INCORRECT. "In Britain the average lifetime cost of one in a 15-year-old who goes on to offend is estimated to be around £345,000 ($475,000)." Estimation, not exactly $475,000.

3. In the second paragraph, the phrase “Those whose brains are not ‘neurotypical’ in other ways” refers to:

A. prisoners.
B. those who do not behave in a socially acceptable way.
C. those who have not experienced a traumatic brain injury. --> CORRECT. Last sentence of paragraph1 talks about people in prison are many times more likely to have brain injuries. However, the first sentence of paragraph2 talks about another group that also make up an extraordinarily large share of the prison population. Another group = Those who have not experienced a traumatic brain injury.
D. those who have disrupted brain function due to falls, fights, or car accidents.
E. those who came from a poor background.

4. According to the passage author implies which of the following?

A. Women often receive traumatic brain injuries in prison. --> No mention.
B. Screening of neglected school children will lead to an increase in neuro-rehabilitation. --> CORRECT. "Screening might catch injuries. Once identified, they can be treated—sometimes with medication (such as stimulants for cognitive functioning and fatigue), most often with neuro-rehabilitation." If screening is worked, the injuries will sometimes treat with medication, but most treat with neuro-rehabilitation.
C. British prisons are planning to screen all prisoners for brain injuries. --> INCORRECT. "From April, British prisons will have to screen all inmates who have experienced domestic violence for brain injuries.", not all prisoners.
D. Brain injury should be persecuted and not used to avoid responsibility. --> Strong word.
E. Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder is not a neurodisability. --> Cannot conclude now. More research is needed.

1. Which of the following conclusions is supported by the passage? - IMO D

A.People are many times more likely to have brain injuries while in prison than while out of it. - Incorrect
instances consistently show that people in prison are many times more likely to have brain injuries. The passage does not mention that people get these injuries in prison, but that people have brain injuries
B. Most criminals have had traumatic brain injuries. - Incorrect
the passage states that people whose brains are not “neurotypical” in other ways make up a large share of the prison population. this is different from those who have had a traumatic brain injury who are more likely than the rest to go to prison
C. Most criminals are likely to suffer mental-health problems and loneliness. - Incorrect
the passage states that people with brain injuries are more likely to suffer mental health problems and are more likely to show up in prison, but it does not mention that most criminals suffer from this problem.
D. People with traumatic brain injuries are more likely to have social and health-related issues. - Correct
the passage states the people with traumatic brain injuries are more likely than other to suffer from mental-health problems
E. Traumatic brain injuries affect mostly people in rich countries. - Incorrect
the passage mentions that traumatic brain injuries affect one in ten people in rich countries, but does not mention anything regarding the numbers elsewhere to be able to draw this conclusion


2. The article implies which of the following? - IMO C

A. People from poor backgrounds are 4 times more likely to be incarcerated than those from rich backgrounds. - Incorrect
the passage states that a child from a poor background is 4 times likely to be injured but it does not mention anything about them being equally likely to be incarcerated
B. People with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder are 19 times more likely to become criminals than those without it. - Incorrect
this is stated with reference to Canada, not people in general.
C. Education and medication can each reduce the incidence of incarceration - Correct
the passage states that education and medication can reduce injuries which can indirectly reduce the number of criminals in prisons
D. Prisons should put more effort into preventing prisoner injuries. - Incorrect
the passage mentions that more effort is needed to provide appropriate support in prison. It does not mention anything on preventing injuries in prison.
E. In Britain, the cost medical treatment for a 15-year-old with brain injury is $475,000 . - Incorrect
the passage does not mention this amount as the medical cost, but as the average cost of someone who goes on to offend


3. In the second paragraph, the phrase “Those whose brains are not ‘neurotypical’ in other ways” refers to: - IMO C

A. prisoners. - Incorrect
it is used to describe a category of prisoners
B. those who do not behave in a socially acceptable way. - Incorrect
prisoners usually behave in a socially unacceptable way but not all fall in the above mentioned category
C. those who have not experienced a traumatic brain injury. - Correct
the passage mentions two types of people that are likely to go to prison: people with traumatic brain injuries and those whose brains are not neurotypical.
D. those who have disrupted brain function due to falls, fights, or car accidents. - Incorrect
these people may not turn out to be the criminals that the author implies using the above statement
E. those who came from a poor background. - Incorrect
the above is used to describe a category of criminals and not poor people in general



4. According to the passage author implies which of the following? - IMO B

A. Women often receive traumatic brain injuries in prison. - Incorrect
the brain injuries affecting women in prison is often domestic abuse
B. Screening of neglected school children will lead to an increase in neuro-rehabilitation. - Correct
screening of the neglected kids can can catch injuries which can often be treated with neuro-rehabilitation. So as more of these cases are caught, the number of people in neuro-rehabilitation will also increase.
C. British prisons are planning to screen all prisoners for brain injuries. - Incorrect
they are planning to screen only those prisoners who have experienced domestic violence
D. Brain injury should be persecuted and not used to avoid responsibility. - Incorrect
the author acknowledges that the link between brain injuries and criminal behaviour should not be used as an excuse for lawbreaking. but states that neuro-rehabilitation centres would be cheaper than prison and better at reducing recidivism.
E. Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder is not a neurodisability. - Incorrect
the passage does not mention anything regarding the types of neurodisabilities

Estimates vary, but they consistently show that people in prison are many times more likely to have brain injuries.

A.People are many times more likely to have brain injuries while in prison than while out of it.
Reverse is mentioned that people with injuries are more likely to be found in prison , doesn’t mean effects ( in prison) leads to the causes ( brain injuries)

B. Most criminals have had traumatic brain injuries.
They are also more likely to commit crimes, including violent ones, although most do not
So most dn’t commit crimes
Wrong: Not mentioned

C. Most criminals are likely to suffer mental-health problems and loneliness.
Wrong: Those who have experienced such injuries are more likely to suffer mental-health problems and loneliness and most of such people may not be criminals

D. People with traumatic brain injuries are more likely to have social and health-related issues.
Traumatic brain injuries affect around one in ten people in rich countries. Those who have experienced such injuries are more likely to suffer mental-health problems and loneliness
Social and health
Seems correct


E. Traumatic brain injuries affect mostly people in rich countries.
1/10 --> is it most? -->no




A. People from poor backgrounds are 4 times more likely to be incarcerated than those from rich backgrounds.
Not mentioned:
Incarcerated means lock up or confine, in or as in a jail
A child from a poor background is four times more likely to suffer a brain injury before the age of five than a child from a wealthy background.
Do all end up criminals – not mentoned


B. People with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder are 19 times more likely to become criminals than those without it.
In Canada young people with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, which is the result of exposure to alcohol in the womb and which damages the brain’s frontal lobe, are incarcerated at 19 times the rate of the wider population.

This is in Canada doesn’t mean global effect? Maybe overall the average is other number

C. Education and medication can each reduce the incidence of incarceration
Education is a good place to start. Parents and children need to be taught about the risks, urged to wear bicycle helmets and deterred from drunk-driving.
Once identified, they can be treated—sometimes with medication
Education and medical can reduce brain injuries , does all injuries end up in incident of incarceration; not but at least some. So in this case education and medication help help to reduce incidence of incarceration.
Seems not wrong.


D. Prisons should put more effort into preventing prisoner injuries.

Such screening should be extended to all prisoners. It would enable staff to identify those whose brains have been damaged and offer them appropriate support. Those with the most severe brain injuries should probably not be in prison at all
It says prisons spend more time in screening and identifying which prisoners have brain injuries


E. In Britain, the cost medical treatment for a 15-year-old with brain injury is $475,000 .
In Britain the average lifetime cost of one in a 15-year-old who goes on to offend is estimated to be around £345,000 ($475,000).

Offend doesn’t mean brain injuries
It maybe that cost of brain injury is higher than cost of offend.



Estimates vary, but they consistently show that people in prison are many times more likely to have brain injuries.

Those whose brains are not “neurotypical” in other ways also make up an extraordinarily large share of the prison population

A. prisoners.
Those people take up large share of prison population. Doesn’t mean they are prisoners at the time


B. those who do not behave in a socially acceptable way.
Not in the context

C. those who have not experienced a traumatic brain injury.

Traumatic brain injuries affect around one in ten people in rich countries.--> 1st para talks about traumatic brain injuries

In Canada young people with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, w—another example of brain injurye
2nd para talks about other injuries


D. those who have disrupted brain function due to falls, fights, or car accidents.
Nopes, these are Traumatic brain injuries people

E. those who came from a poor background.
Not in the context




A. Women often receive traumatic brain injuries in prison.
No,
—by far the main cause of traumatic brain injuries affecting women in prison is domestic abuse

B. Screening of neglected school children will lead to an increase in neuro-rehabilitation.
In the most neglected schoolchildren, screening might catch injuries. Once identified, they can be treated—sometimes with medication (such as stimulants for cognitive functioning and fatigue), most often with neuro-rehabilitation.


C. British prisons are planning to screen all prisoners for brain injuries.
And those who end up in prison need help turning their lives around. From April, British prisons will have to screen all inmates who have experienced domestic violence for brain injuries. Such screening should be extended to all prisoners.
It’s a suggestion , doesn’t mean they are planning to screen all prisoners

D. Brain injury should be persecuted and not used to avoid responsibility.

Acknowledging the link between brain injuries and criminal behavior is not to excuse lawbreaking. Most people with such injuries are capable of taking responsibility for their actions.
Punishing people without also offering them the help they need is short-sighted and wrong.
Not strongly supported



E. Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder is not a neuro disability.

However, it is easier to curb crime if you understand the factors that make it more likely, of which neuro disabilities are an important and neglected one. More research is needed, but it is striking that offenders with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder who take their medication are a third less likely to reoffend than those who do not.
It maybe that Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder could be one type of neuro disability.

1. Which of the following conclusions is supported by the passage?

A.People are many times more likely to have brain injuries while in prison than while out of it.
Does not support this claim, brain injuries as per the article can occur anytime.

B. Most criminals have had traumatic brain injuries.
"Most" means majority, and the article does say an extraordinarily large share. But does that mean majority? Don't think so. B's out.

C. Most criminals are likely to suffer mental-health problems and loneliness.
People with head injuries are more prone to suffer those things, not just criminals. Not C.

D. People with traumatic brain injuries are more likely to have social and health-related issues.
This can be said. many examples are given to the effect. Keep D.

E. Traumatic brain injuries affect mostly people in rich countries.
No evidence for this is given. 10% of people in rich countries are affected by brain injuries, and no information is given about non-rich countries. Not E.

So we're left with D, which seems to be a safe conclusion to make.

2. The article implies which of the following?

A. People from poor backgrounds are 4 times more likely to be incarcerated than those from rich backgrounds.
No. People from poor backgrounds are 4 times more likely to have a brain injury before the age of 5. A's out.

B. People with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder are 19 times more likely to become criminals than those without it.
Yes, this is clearly stated in the passage. But does being a criminal directly relate to the rate of incarceration? Let's look at the other options.

C. Education and medication can each reduce the incidence of incarceration
Nope. They can reduce the rate of brain injuries as per the passage, not necessarily incarceration.

D. Prisons should put more effort into preventing prisoner injuries.
It says in the passage Prisons should put more efforts in detecting prisoner brain injuries, not preventing them. Not D.

E. In Britain, the cost medical treatment for a 15-year-old with brain injury is $475,000 .
Incorrect. The stated cost is for a 15-year-old who "offends" or is a criminal. Not E.

This leaves us with B, which I can be happy with.

3. In the second paragraph, the phrase “Those whose brains are not ‘neurotypical’ in other ways” refers to:

Based on the usage of "neurotypical" and the examples that follow, it seems they are using the word to refer to a brain having normal functioning, not displaying any of the examples that follow. Based on this, I would directly go ahead and pick B (while excluding C, because many of the examples of non-neurotypical brains are not linked to injuries)

A. prisoners.
B. those who do not behave in a socially acceptable way.
C. those who have not experienced a traumatic brain injury.
D. those who have disrupted brain function due to falls, fights, or car accidents.
E. those who came from a poor background.

4. According to the passage author implies which of the following?

A. Women often receive traumatic brain injuries in prison.
Nope. They do so outside prison, due to violence. Not A.

B. Screening of neglected school children will lead to an increase in neuro-rehabilitation.
Yes, this can be said based on the passage. Screening catches injuries, which in turn leads to rehabilitation. Let's look at the other options.

C. British prisons are planning to screen all prisoners for brain injuries.
Nope. All prisoners of domestic violence cases only, as stated in the passage.

D. Brain injury should be persecuted and not used to avoid responsibility.
Brain Injury shouldn't be persecuted. It shouldn't be used to avoid responsibility, but by itself it should not be persecuted. Eliminate D.

E. Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder is not a neurodisability.
The passage states ADD as an example of neurodisabilites in the last paragraph. E's out.

We're left with B which can be the answer.

Answers:

Q1. D
Q2. C
Q3. B
Q4. B

1.

Eliminate A because the passage does not mention or imply that. It does say that people who end up in prison might be because of brain injuries.

Eliminate B and C because although the passage does say that a huge share of prisoners have brain injuries it does not necessarily mean that most of the criminals suffer from them.

Eliminate E because the passage only quotes a data from rich world countries, it does not make any comparisons with other kind of countries.

D remains and is the correct answer. In the first paragraph, the author mentions that those who have suffered such injuries are more likely to suffer mental and health problems and loneliness.


2.

Eliminate A because the passage says a child from poor background is 4 times more likely to suffer from a brain injury and that does not necessarily mean they are 4 times more likely to be incarcerated.

Eliminate B because the statement confuses the likelihood of being incarcerated with the likelihood of becoming criminals.

Eliminate D because the passage only mentions that prisons should put more effort into identifying injuries among the prisoners.

Eliminate E because the passage mentions the average lifetime cost of 15 year old offender not just the cost of medical treatment.

C remains and is the correct answer. Through education and proper medication, number of prisoners ending up in prisons because of brain injuries can be reduced.


3.

B is right answer. People whose brains are not neuro-typical include people with learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities and autism i.e. people who do not behave in socially acceptable ways.


4.

Eliminate A because those women, who end up in prison, end up in prison because they go through domestic abuse.

Eliminate C because British prisons are planning to screen only prisoners who have experienced domestic violence.

Eliminate D because the author acknowledges that linking brain injuries and criminal behavior is not to excuse lawbreaking and that such people should be helped rather than persecuted.

Eliminate E because the author implies to the contrary.

B remains and is the correct answer. The passage mentions that screening such children might catch injuries, which are most often treated with the help of neuro-rehabilitation.

Hello everyone!

Competition mode on this post is off now, anyone can see other user's responses. The submissions are closed now. The winner will be announced on Monday at around 8am Pacific Time.

Congrats to the users who answered correctly, and especially to those who provided a detailed explanation for each answer choice.

None of the questions seemed to give particular difficulty, so if you do not understand why a certain answer is or is not correct, do not hesitate to read your colleagues’ explanations. Correctly identifying the majority of the wrong answer choices in this article’s questions turned on careful reading of both the text and passage, and especially of attention to quantitative words such as “mostly”. For those struggling, it might be helpful to do what MrBaby did: in every incorrect answer choice, highlight the specific words that make that answer choice wrong.

A few additional comments:

Note that becoming incarcerated and becoming a criminal are two distinct things: the first means actually going to jail, the second does not.

Note that Q2 (E) (which is missing a word “of”: it should say “the cost of…”) does not refer to the lifetime cost as the passage does but to the cost of treating that specific 15-year-old’s injury.

In Q3, some used prior knowledge of what neurotypical brains might or might not imply to answer the question. Never do this! Always rely only on what the passage discusses.

In Q4 (E) note that, if anything, the passage does imply that ADD is a neurodisability: it is discussed directly after neurodisabilities are introduced, in a way that it implies that it is an example of such a disability.