Six years ago, the police force of Harrisville was reduced, in an

Question

Six years ago, the police force of Harrisville was reduced, in an effort to make a smaller but more efficient force. In the first two years, crimes in Harrisville, especially by career criminals, were at a higher rate than they had been in the previous decades. Then, for the most recent four years, the crime rate has been the lowest in the seventy years on record, with the significant drop in crimes by career criminals.

Which of the following, if true, most helps to explain the change in the crime rate between the first two years after the change and the last four years?

(A) Of the seventy similar sized cities in this and neighboring states, 40% reported some drop in the crime rate over the last four years.

(B) The population of Harrisville increased slightly each year over the last six years, with a large number of senior citizens moving to a substantial retirement community within the city.

(C) By the end of the second year of the newly organized police force, a large proportion of career criminals operating in Harrisville had been captured and incarcerated.

(D) During each of the last six year period, retention and graduation rates at the local high schools have increased.

(E) Two years after the change in the police force, police began daytime foot patrols in the downtown region.

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cdrectenwald · Answer

The correct answer is:

(C) By the end of the second year of the newly organized police force, a large proportion of career criminals operating in Harrisville had been captured and incarcerated.

Explanation:
This choice directly addresses the key issue: why the crime rate was initially higher during the first two years and then significantly dropped in the subsequent four years. If a large proportion of career criminals were captured and incarcerated by the end of the second year, this would explain the initial spike (as the police adjusted to their new structure) followed by the significant drop in crime during the last four years.

Why not the others?
(A): This is irrelevant. A drop in crime rates in similar cities does not explain why Harrisville's crime rate first increased and then decreased.
(B): While an influx of senior citizens might contribute to a lower crime rate (as seniors are less likely to commit crimes), it doesn't explain the initial increase during the first two years.
(D): Improved high school retention and graduation rates could correlate with long-term reductions in crime, but they don't specifically explain the short-term change over the six years.
(E): Daytime foot patrols starting two years after the reorganization might help reduce crime, but they don't explain the initial increase during the first two years.
Thus, (C) most effectively explains the pattern of crime rate changes.

Whoisdmx15 · Answer

(A) Of the seventy similar sized cities in this and neighboring states, 40% reported some drop in the crime rate over the last four years.  Eliminated  The crime rates of similar neighboring cities have no bearing on the city in question.

(B) The population of Harrisville increased slightly each year over the last six years, with a large number of senior citizens moving to a substantial retirement community within the city.  Eliminated  This does not solve the conundrum of smaller police force and more effective policing.

(C) By the end of the second year of the newly organized police force, a large proportion of career criminals operating in Harrisville had been captured and incarcerated.  suitable  This fact, if true, will help explain why police force in spite of being lower in number were able to keep crime rates lower than before.

(D) During each of the last six year period, retention and graduation rates at the local high schools have increased.  Eliminated  Out of context.

(E) Two years after the change in the police force, police began daytime foot patrols in the downtown region.  Eliminated  This may slightly help explain the contradiction, but is too weak of an effort and it's support gets nullified by the fact that fewer police are available for patrolling than before.

bhargavhhhhhhhh · Answer

Question Breakdown:
- Six years ago, Harrisville reduced its police force to make it smaller but more efficient.
- For the first two years, crime increased, especially by career criminals.
- In the last four years, crime dropped significantly, especially crimes by career criminals.
- Find the statement that best explains why crime dropped after the initial two years.

Answer Choices Analysis:

(A) 40% of similar-sized cities reported a drop in crime over the last four years. 
This provides general information but does not explain the specific change in Harrisville’s crime rate.

(B) Harrisville's population increased, especially with senior citizens moving into the city. 
An increase in senior citizens may affect demographics but does not directly explain the decrease in crimes by career criminals.

(C) By the end of the second year, most career criminals in Harrisville were captured and incarcerated. 
This directly explains the reduction in crimes by career criminals during the last four years, as they were no longer operating in Harrisville.

(D) Local high schools had increased retention and graduation rates over the six years. 
While improved education may contribute to lower crime rates long-term, it does not specifically explain the drop in crimes by career criminals after the first two years.

(E) Police started daytime foot patrols downtown two years after the change. 
Daytime foot patrols could have contributed to crime reduction, but this does not specifically address crimes by career criminals or explain why the drop occurred after the first two years.

Correct Answer: C 
The incarceration of most career criminals by the end of the second year directly explains the significant drop in crime during the last four years.

Gmat750aspirant · Answer

(C) By the end of the second year of the newly organized police force, a large proportion of career criminals operating in Harrisville had been captured and incarcerated. suitable

NextstopISB · Answer

(C) By the end of the second year of the newly organized police force, a large proportion of career criminals operating in Harrisville had been captured and incarcerated. suitable This fact, if true, will help explain why police force in spite of being lower in number were able to keep crime rates lower than before.

Bunuel · Answer

Magoosh Official Explanation:

The credited answer is (C). If most of the career criminals had been captured and incarcerated by the end of the second year, that would explain why the rates of crime were significantly lower after the first two years: most of the worst offenders would be off the street and in jail, unable to commit new crimes.

Choice (A) is suggestive, but not the most cogent explanation. Some other cities experienced a drop in crime, and more didn't. Does this trend account for the drop in Harrisville? Maybe, maybe not. It's simply not clear, so this is not a clear explanation. Choice (A) is incorrect.

The population increased steadily over six years, so this doesn't explain the abrupt change in crime rate at the end of the second year. Furthermore, does the presence of senior citizens account for more or fewer crimes? It's unclear. This is not a good explanation. Choice (B) is incorrect.

Choice (D) is suggestive, but if the rates at high schools increases steadily for all six years, this doesn't explain the sudden change in trend for the crime rate at the end of the second year. Furthermore, do high school dropouts contribute inordinately to the crime rate? Maybe under some circumstances, but there's no evidence at all in the prompt about what might happen to such people in Harrisville. Choice (D) is incorrect.

In the first two years, did most of the crimes take place at day or during the night? Did they take place mostly downtown or mostly in other neighborhoods? We don't know the answer to either of these questions, so it's not at all clear how daytime foot patrols in the downtown region would affect the overall crime rate. Choice (E) is incorrect.

A_Nishith · Answer

The correct answer is:

(C) By the end of the second year of the newly organized police force, a large proportion of career criminals operating in Harrisville had been captured and incarcerated.

Explanation:
This choice directly addresses the key issue: why the crime rate was initially higher during the first two years and then significantly dropped in the subsequent four years. If a large proportion of career criminals were captured and incarcerated by the end of the second year, this would explain the initial spike (as the police adjusted to their new structure) followed by the significant drop in crime during the last four years.

Answer: C

Six years ago, the police force of Harrisville was reduced, in an

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Six years ago, the police force of Harrisville was reduced, in an

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