I've been finding that the "anticipation" part of active reading for RC has been a challenge and doesn't come naturally for me. This act of asking myself why the author is telling me x has been an arduous, non-intuitive process. ...
I understand that any choice proving that the murder rate would've been higher is correct, but I'm not understanding the connection between healthcare and assault victims. How is that relevant and what does it imply?
I second what Amanda is saying, background is key. You can also try checking out an Art History book from the library. I read something like Art History of the 19th Century when I was having similar problems. Took the mystery out of it for me.