Multiple choice

Directions: For this question, select the best of the answer choices given.

Crimes are mainly committed by the young, and for this reason merely increasing the number of police officers or expenditures on police services has little effect on reducing the crime rate. In fact, the only factor associated with a crime-rate drop is a decrease in the number of people in the community aged fourteen to thirty. The findings above can best serve as part of an argument against

  1. the likelihood that any law enforcement program will be effective in reducing the crime rate within a short time

  2. increasing prison terms for young people found guilty of crimes

  3. introducing compulsory military conscription for people aged seventeen to nineteen

  4. raising the age at which students are permitted to leave school
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The passage states that young people (14-30) commit most crimes, and the only proven factor in crime reduction is decreasing this population segment. It also states that traditional policing measures don't reduce crime. This combination serves as evidence against believing law enforcement programs can quickly reduce crime rates (Option A). Option A correctly follows from these premises - if demographics drive crime rates and policing is ineffective, expecting short-term results from law enforcement is unreasonable. Options B, C, and D are policy proposals that don't logically follow from or get refuted by the premises.

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