GWD-3-Q32:

Newspaper editorial:

In an attempt to reduce the crime rate, the governor is getting tough on criminals and making prison conditions harsher.  Part of this effort has been to deny inmates the access they formerly had to college-level courses.  However, this action is clearly counter to the governor’s ultimate goal, since after being released form prison, inmates who had taken such courses committed far fewer crimes overall than other inmates.

Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?

1. Not being able to take college-level courses while in prison is unlikely to deter anyone from a crime that he or she might otherwise have committed.

2. Former inmates are no more likely to commit crimes than are members of the general population.

3. The group of inmates who chose to take college-level courses were not already less likely than other inmates to commit crimes after being released.

4. Taking high school level courses in prison has less effect on an inmate’s subsequent behavior than taking college-level courses does.

5. The governor’s ultimate goal actually is to gain popularity by convincing people that something effective is being done about crime.

这道题为什么不是A呢？GWD给的答案是C.

Come to think it again, I am more convinced that A is a better choice.

There are many factors that will affect the overall crime rate, the final outcome depends on the net effects of all these factors. For example, if more people get detered from commiting the crimes (because of the tougher punishment) than those who commit crimes again because they get deprived of the chance of more education, then the overall crime rate will drop, just as the governor expects.

So if A is not the assumption, then there is a serious flaw in the logic of the argument. It must be that the author assumes that getting tougher with the punishment will not deter people from commiting crimes (thus, there will not be any significant decrease in the number of crimes committed by people generally), and at the same time the author thinks that taking away the education will increase the number of crimes committed by people who would otherwise not cimmit these crimes should they have the chance of more education, so the author believes that the overall effect is the increase of the crime rate. In other words, if author didn't assume A, he/she can't get the conclusion that "this action is clearly counter to the governor’s ultimate goal".

Above is my analysis, please share your insights with me. Your input will be greatly appreciated.

但A在这里是说"不上课不太可能阻止犯罪",是不是我哪里没看到呢? 还有,"取非"是指? 谢谢mbz.

A) Not being able to take college-level courses while in prison is unlikely to deter anyone from a crime that he or she might otherwise have committed.

is not the same as:

Taking college-level courses while in prision is likely to deter anyone from a crime that he or she might otherwise have committed. (this one can be an assumption, but not choice A)

But A doesn't mean "taking college-level courses is basically the only way to stop future crime." at all. I think A means: A person who is going to commit crime is not going to stop doing it if only he knows that he will not get college level courses when he gets caught and put in prison. That is: Getting tougher will not deter people from commiting the crime they might otherwise have committed.

Please correct me if I am wrong.

I found some discussion here: http://forum.chasedream.com/dispbbs.asp?BoardID=24&replyID=836102&id=91469&skin=0

Seems like A is the prefered answer.

Thanks.

到底是A还是C