Reference no: EM133303016
Part A
Which of the following best states the author's point of view?
Watching movies encourages criminal behavior in children.
Violent movies may help reduce crime rates.
Violent children find movies to be very entertaining.
Crime rates in our country are decreasing.
Part B
Which sentence or phrase from the passage best supports your answer?
Opponents of movie violence claim that crime is on the rise.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, crime rates have dropped steadily since 1993, when 80 of every 1,000 people reported being victims of violent crime.
The homicide rate declined 48% from 1993 to 2011.
According to Gordon Dahl and Stefano DellaVigna, research associates of the National Bureau of Economic Research, "estimates suggest that in the short-run violent movies deter almost 1,000 assaults on an average weekend."
Topic: Opponents of movie violence claim that crime is on the rise. According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, crime rates have dropped steadily since 1993, when 80 of every 1,000 people reported being victims of violent crime. The homicide rate declined 48% from 1993 to 2011. In fact, violent movies may actually play a part in this reduction in violent crime. Children who are watching a movie are taking part in a nonviolent activity. Movie watching provides time for entertainment and takes away from the time in which these children might engage in violent behaviors. According to Gordon Dahl and Stefano DellaVigna, research associates of the National Bureau of Economic Research, "estimates suggest that in the short-run violent movies deter almost 1,000 assaults on an average weekend." Because watching violent movies provides those who might otherwise engage in violent behaviors with an alternative, nonviolent activity, it turns out to be a beneficial activity to those with aggressive tendencies. Do we really want to restrict violence in movies and risk an increase in violent crime?