PrepTest 129, Section 2, Question 12
Criminologist: The main purpose of most criminal organizations(30 more words not shown)
The conclusion of the criminologist's(12 more words not shown)
- AIf an organization(24 more words not shown)
- BAt least some(24 more words not shown)
- CCriminal organizations are(12 more words not shown)
- DAny organization whose(22 more words not shown)
- EMost criminal organizations(14 more words not shown)
Reading the argument
Wanting profits does not mean pursuing every profitable opportunity. A criminal organization might concentrate on familiar activities rather than try to develop medical technology or new software. Those new fields can promise enormous profits without being fields that this particular organization will enter.
That is the gap in the criminologist's argument. We know the main purpose of most criminal organizations, and we know that biotechnology and information technology promise profits. We do not yet know that having that purpose will make those organizations try to become more involved in these particular opportunities.
What we’re looking for
We are asked to make the conclusion follow. A rule connecting the motive with the predicted action would do it: organizations primarily seeking profits will try to increase their involvement in any technological revolution promising enormous profits. Then these organizations' motive would take us to the attempted involvement the conclusion predicts.
Working the answers
- A
This starts with the behavior we are trying to establish: increasing involvement in profitable areas. It then tells us what motive such an organization has. We already have the motive and need to establish the behavior. A does not say that every profit-seeking organization will pursue these opportunities.
- B
Awareness is not action. An organization could know that biotechnology promises enormous profits and still decide to leave it alone. B may remove one obstacle to involvement, but it does not establish that the organizations will actually try to become more involved.
- C
Being heavily involved already is different from trying to increase involvement. A group could have substantial investments and intend to keep them at their current level. “Heavily” does not mean it has reached an absolute maximum, but neither does it promise a further increase. The conclusion is about that further effort.
- DCorrect
This is the missing rule. Most criminal organizations have profit generation as their main purpose. Under D, an organization with that purpose will try to increase its involvement in any technological revolution promising enormous profits. The described revolutions in biotechnology and information technology meet that condition, so the predicted attempts follow.
- E
Being willing to do something is not the same as intending to do it. I could be willing to travel to Alabama without making any plan to go. Similarly, an organization could be open to profitable legal activities without trying to enter these particular fields. E does not supply the action promised by the conclusion.
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