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Critical Reasoning: Identifying Assumptions

Practice identifying underlying assumptions in arguments. This quiz tests your ability to recognize the unstated premises that support logical conclusions across various contexts including business, policy, and everyday reasoning.

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Questions

Question 1 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

I. Several persons who state that they are chefs can not actually be so described.
II. Their main source of income is not from cooking at all.

The statement II above makes the assumption that

  1. several persons who enjoy cooking consider themselves as chefs
  2. chefs have a varied, vast and diverse repertoire
  3. professional chefs' take home incomes are high
  4. only a person who derives the major portion of his income from cooking can be considered a chief
  5. several chefs change their vocations to others that are more lucrative
Question 2 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

Since Neil is a fast sprinter he will never be a successful high stamina marathon runner.
Which of the following is a necessary assumption of the above statement?

I. Only marathon runners have high stamina.
II. Fast sprinters do not have high stamina.
III. High stamina is a necessary pre–requisite for a successful marathon runner.

  1. I only
  2. II only
  3. III only
  4. I & II
  5. II & III
Question 3 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

The new initiative of the government to slash the cost of power supply to industries will boost the industrial growth significantly. At the same time, it will help the ruling party to garner votes in the coming elections. A majority of the residents of the state will give a nod to the initiative and will be happy.

The argument above depends upon which of the following assumptions?

  1. Hitherto the cost of power supply to the industry was exorbitant.
  2. A majority of the residents are industrialists or are directly benefited.
  3. The discounted cost will encourage industries from overseas to invest in the state.
  4. A part of the cost reduction will be passed on by the industry to the consumers.
  5. Residents will protest against the drop particularly since cost of domestic supply has not been reduced.
Question 4 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

The world's energy resources are being severely strained. Experts prognosticate that if the demand continues at the present rates, the world's oil reserves will be exhausted by 2035.

Which of the following is an irrefutable assumption of the argument?

  1. Big businesses are not entering the oil exploration market.
  2. Alternative sources of energy are not gaining in popularity.
  3. The trend for increase in demand for oil will continue unabated.
  4. Oil conservation and preservation of ecosystem will not make much headway.
  5. No major oil-rich, though deeper, geological structures seem feasible any longer.
Question 5 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

Chocolates have been found to release a hormone in the human body that is responsible for happiness.
Chocolates have also been found to be helpful in eliminating stress and work related fatigue. Therefore, the employees in IT sector should resort to eating chocolates while they are at work. This would boost up the performance and company’s profits significantly.

Which of the following assumptions is inherent in the argument?

  1. IT professionals don’t eat much of sugar which brings their performance down and results in a great loss to the employer too.
  2. Excess consumption of chocolates and the resultant high intake of sugar will not cause a decline in the performance of IT professionals.
  3. Since chocolate eating is said to add to performance levels, the cost will be borne by the company.
  4. The IT professionals are a stressed lot due to the nature of their work.
  5. The busy schedule of the IT professionals leaves them with spare time to savor chocolates.
Question 6 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

The recent decline in the number of accidents involving collisions on intersections in the city of Wreckville has brought a wave of cheer among the residents. They have thanked the mayor of the city for getting traffic signals installed at major intersections in the city and outskirts. The neighboring city of Havocville also plans to invest highly in traffic lights to bring the accident rate down in the near future.

Which of the following is an assumption inherent in the move by the mayor of Havocville?

  1. The road mishaps will not drop in number unless traffic lights are installed at major locations.
  2. With a drop in the number of road-wrecks, the traffic police will have their hands free to focus on other safety related issues.
  3. Traffic lights play a major role in reducing the accidents at night.
  4. The mishaps occurring at intersections are the main constituent of road accidents and traffic lights will go a long way in curbing the menace.
  5. The existing traffic management system in Havocville is similar to what it was in Wreckville before the traffic signals were installed.
Question 7 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

Indigenously manufactured cars receive fewer complaints than do cars that are assembled indigenously though with imported spare parts. So for hassle free driving and a superior quality of features, buy indigenously manufactured cars.

The sales executive is basing his argument on which of the following assumptions?

  1. Car buyers are discerning enough to determine which car they wish to buy.
  2. Car buyers weigh the number of complaints received above all else when purchasing a vehicle.
  3. Locally manufactured cars also enjoy other advantages over the assembled cars.
  4. The quality of cars is determined by the number of complaints received.
  5. The energy efficiency of both the indigenously manufactured and the indigenously assembled cars is almost the same.
Question 8 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

The companies that give time concession to the employees for overtime logged by them are better than those that don't. This is a very fair practice and should even be made a legal mandate because it keeps the working hours of an individual constant. Failing to adhere to such policies spells injustice and harassment which should be defined as an offence in a court of law.

The given argument assumes that

  1. the hourly wage given to the employees who work overtime is not more than the regular wage
  2. there are no slow workers who work overtime because of failing to meet the deadlines given to them
  3. there is no existing law that makes it legal to demand a time concession to make up for overtime worked
  4. no employee avails of regular breaks and time-offs during the regular and extra hours of work
Question 9 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

Directions: Analyse the statements given and choose an appropriate answer for the question that follows:

Result of a survey showed that vegetarianism is gaining popularity worldwide at a pace faster than that in the previous decade. In the east, many people have stopped visiting restaurants that specialise in meat dishes. The reduced number of customers and the overall publicity of vegetarianism resulted in huge losses for several restaurants that were forced to close their business. The restaurants in the remaining part of the world may also go out of business pretty soon.

Which of the following is a necessary assumption of the above argument?

  1. Non-vegetarian restaurants do not serve quality vegetarian dishes.
  2. The number of converts to vegetarianism is on the up all over the world, and not just in some regions.
  3. Socio–economic conditions, food preferences and climatic factors are more or less similar in all parts of the world.
  4. Disposable income of many families has been greatly reduced due to the current global recession.
  5. The customer dissatisfaction is not temporary.
Question 10 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

In a research study conducted to assess the efficacy of a Health Sweet (H–sweet), 50 diabetics were studied over a period of 6 months. During this period, each person consumed one helping of sweet instead of sugar. They continued to follow their normal diet and fitness regimen for the rest of the day. At the end of the 6 month period, each person’s sugar level had dropped significantly. This clearly demonstrates that any person who uses H–sweet instead of sugar daily, will have lower sugar levels and will feel healthier and fitter.

Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?

  1. H–sweet is effective provided it is taken for 6 months.
  2. Diabetics are likely to experience higher sugar levels if they discontinue H–sweet.
  3. No other alternative to H–sweet will have the same effect.
  4. The fitness regimen was not responsible for drop in sugar levels.
  5. The calorific value of each sweet helping was less than that of sugar avoided.
Question 11 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

Recently a renowned model won a lawsuit against an advertising company for using a 'double' in a commercial endorsement of a beauty product. Consequently advertising companies will stop using 'look-alikes' or 'doubles'. This is bound to result in an increase in advertising costs, as famous artists charge a much higher fee than do their 'look-alikes'.

The argument above depends upon which of the following assumptions?

  1. Advertisements using renowned models are usually more effective than those using 'doubles' or less well known faces.
  2. Famous models are sometimes not available, or not willing to do 'shoots' for purely cosmetic products.
  3. The advertising industry will rely on renowned models and known faces in their commercials.
  4. The advertising industry will not use fresher and prettier models for their products.
  5. Viewers are usually unable to immediately distinguish between a well-known model and his/ her double.
Question 12 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

Directions: Analyse the statements given and choose an appropriate answer for the question that follows:

Air travel has become cheaper over the last few years. The entry of low-cost carriers in the industry has further boosted the growth significantly. New Delhi airport has experienced a great rush of travellers even during off-peak months. As a result, the government had to develop better amenities on the airport. The ministry should emphasise on increasing flight frequency and facilities in airports across the nation as soon as possible to meet the needs of the passengers.

The argument above depends upon which of the following assumptions?

  1. Gas prices would drop further and would give a boost to the industry and thus, increase the need for better airports across the nation.
  2. The increasing global trend of travelling by air will soon catch up in India.
  3. All the airports across the nation would experience the same increase in the demand for air travel.
  4. The boom in the industry will continue to happen across the country in the coming years too.
  5. The greater number of air travellers will generate competition for quality service, which includes better frequency, selection of meals on board, and a friendly staff.
Question 13 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

Directions: Analyse the statements given and choose an appropriate answer for the question that follows:

Studies show that more and more people are becoming interested in long distance education. A recent survey indicated that students prefer the flexibility long distance education offers. Two local schools that have introduced distance education are making more profits than before. Slade High too should follow their example to increase profits.

Which of the following is a necessary assumption that the argument is making?

  1. Distance education is an urgent need of the students.
  2. Slade High enjoys the same type of infrastructural set up as the other schools.
  3. The higher profits observed are a direct result of the distance learning program.
  4. Slade High offers a range of subjects wider than that of the other local schools.
  5. Like other local schools, Slade High also presently caters largely to students from the immediate neighbourhood.
Question 14 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

Directions: Analyse the statements given and choose an appropriate answer for the question that follows:

In a market study, it was observed that for their homes, people now prefer buying LCD screens to the old school CRT monitors. The drop in the sales of the CRT monitors and TV units is evidence that the future is dark for the CRT market. Last week, the telecom ministry published a tender for more than 500 computer monitors. The CRT wholesalers sending their bids are very pessimistic about getting this order.

What is the inherent, if misplaced, assumption of the CRT wholesalers?

  1. The drop in the sales of CRT monitors is not seasonal.
  2. Computers are the chief source of entertainment in many homes.
  3. The telecom ministry makes its purchases only through tenders.
  4. The preferences of the telecom ministry are similar to personal preferences for homes.
  5. CRT monitors and TV units are losing popularity in the rural market also.
Question 15 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

Directions: Analyse the statements given and choose an appropriate answer for the question that follows:

Test takers who want to reappear in various exams should take training from someone who himself has appeared in the retakes at some point in his life. A trainer who has not failed once cannot impart quality skills to the student who has failed. Therefore, the coaching establishments should make sure they hire a bunch of teachers who have themselves taken retakes of various exams.

The above argument rests on the assumption that

  1. effective communication is a prized skill in trainers
  2. people who reappear in an examination learn from experience
  3. a large number of test takers don’t clear the exam the first time
  4. most people make the same mistakes in a given exam
  5. a trainer can learn by appearing for an exam
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