Question

read this example:
central claim: the death penalty should be abolished because it is too expensive.
which reason best supports the central claim?
a. the death penalty is legal in 32 states, but that number is shrinking.
b. the death penalty is a cruel and unusual form of punishment that forces the state to commit murder.
c. it cost three times as much to put prisoners to death than it does to give them life in prison.
d. many law enforcement agencies support the abolishment of the death penalty for various reasons.

Explanation:

The central claim is that the death penalty should be abolished because it is too expensive. We need to find a reason that supports the cost - related aspect of this claim.

• Option A talks about the number of states where the death penalty is legal, which has nothing to do with cost.
• Option B focuses on the moral aspect of the death penalty (being cruel and unusual), not cost.
• Option C states that it costs three times as much to execute prisoners as to give them life in prison. This directly supports the claim that the death penalty is too expensive.
• Option D mentions law enforcement agencies' support for abolition but does not address the cost factor.

Answer:

C. It cost three times as much to put prisoners to death than it does to give them life in prison.