Critical Reasoning: Paradox Questions

Just over ten years ago, Regnalia, a developed, financially secure, and liberal-minded country, implemented controversial legislation, despite pleas by neighboring nations, allowing the use, sale, and ownership of certain recreational drugs in accordance with various restrictions. Although the passing of the new laws resulted in Regnalia's gradual transformation into an international trading hub for illegal merchandise and services, the country reports drastic drops in the incidents of crime and drug abuse by its youths.

Which of the following, if true, best resolves the above paradox?

Incorrect.

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This answer choice simply means that the laws were created democratically and gradually. However, this fact alone cannot resolve the paradox of why less youths are involved in crime despite the illegal activity in the country.

Incorrect.

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This answer choice eliminates a perceived relationship between one's family background and one's life choices. However, the paradox in the argument rests on a different relationship - that between Regnalia's laws and the behavior of youth.

Incorrect.

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This answer choice means that the police in Regnalia has enough power to enforce the law and catch criminals. However, in the last premise we are told the number of youths arrested dropped. Hence, this answer choice emphasizes the paradox - if the drop in youth arrests cannot be explained by a dysfunctional police force, what is it then?

Incorrect.

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This answer choice emphasizes the paradox by describing how Regnalia's crime tempts youths. Regnalia is now an attraction to thrill-seeking youths; we would expect more young people, not less, to commit crimes and abuse drugs.

Superb!

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This answer choice depicts the situation of a country other than Regnalia where, because all drugs are illegal, only criminals deal with them. Since youths want to buy drugs, they are forced into positions where they have to interact with such criminals.

This scenario suggests that Regnalia's position is in fact the opposite since to get hold of such substances, the youths would not have to make contact with criminals. This explains why in spite of the rising illegal activity, fewer youths are involved in it.

The implementation of the legislature regarding a certain lenience towards the consumption of specific intoxicating substances in Regnalia was performed through well-paced democratic procedures.

In countries where all drugs are illegal, youths are no less attracted to them although to buy them they are forced to interact with retailers who, in such circumstances, are always linked to organized crime syndicates in order to be able to obtain goods.

In contradiction to previous misconceptions, youths involved in crime or in drug abuse do not necessarily originate from homes suffering from extreme cases of social or economic hardship.

It would be false to state that the Regnalian officials responsible for enforcing its drug policy and for punishing those who cross the laws' clear boundaries are not endowed with sufficient power and freedom of operation to effectively combat the country's illegal activities.

The influx of people dealing in illegal trade into the country gave Regnalia the reputation of being a centre for unmitigated recreation, drawing the attention of younger people tempted by promises of exciting and previously unknown experiences.