Assumptions, Inferences and Implications — Practice

Question 1

Passage: The town should install more streetlights, because better-lit streets have less crime.
The argument assumes that:
(a) Better lighting actually causes the lower crime, not merely occurs alongside it (b) The town has a large budget (c) Streetlights are attractive (d) Crime is the town's only problem

Accepted Answer

(a) Better lighting actually causes the lower crime, not merely occurs alongside it.

The argument moves from 'better-lit streets have less crime' to 'install more streetlights' to cut crime. That works only if lighting causes the reduction. Negate (a) — lighting does not cause it — and the argument collapses, so it is the assumption.

Question 2

Passage: Every book on the top shelf is a first edition. The dictionary is on the top shelf.
Which must be true?
(a) The dictionary is the most valuable book (b) The dictionary is a first edition (c) All first editions are on the top shelf (d) The dictionary is rarely used

Accepted Answer

(b) The dictionary is a first edition.

Every book on the top shelf is a first edition, and the dictionary is on the top shelf, so it must be a first edition. Option (c) reverses the statement and is not guaranteed.

Question 3

Passage: In a survey, many students said they preferred online classes to classroom teaching.
Which can safely be inferred?
(a) All students prefer online classes (b) At least some students preferred online classes (c) Online classes are better than classroom teaching (d) No student enjoys the classroom

Accepted Answer

(b) At least some students preferred online classes.

'Many students said they preferred online classes' guarantees that at least some did. Options (a) and (d) are too strong, and (c) is a value judgment the survey does not establish.

Question 4

Passage: The new medicine must be safe for patients, because it passed all the laboratory tests.
Which is an assumption of the argument?
(a) The medicine is inexpensive (b) Passing the laboratory tests is enough to establish that the medicine is safe for patients (c) The medicine was tested on animals (d) Patients will take the medicine correctly

Accepted Answer

(b) Passing the laboratory tests is enough to establish that the medicine is safe for patients.

The conclusion follows only if lab tests actually capture patient safety. Negate (b) — passing the tests does not establish safety — and the argument fails, so (b) is the necessary assumption.

Question 5

Passage: Over the past decade the cost of solar power has fallen by about 80%, making it cheaper than coal power in many regions.
Which can be inferred?
(a) Solar power was more expensive ten years ago than it is today (b) The government should ban coal power plants (c) Coal power will disappear within five years (d) Everyone now uses solar power

Accepted Answer

(a) Solar power was more expensive ten years ago than it is today.

An 80% fall over the decade means solar cost more before — a direct, guaranteed inference. (b) is a policy leap, (c) a prediction, and (d) too strong; all are out of scope or unsupported.

Question 6

Passage: Since the café began playing soft music, customers have stayed longer and spent more. The owner plans to keep the music playing.
The owner's plan assumes that:
(a) The music, rather than some other factor, is what made customers stay longer and spend more (b) Customers dislike silence (c) The café serves excellent coffee (d) The music is inexpensive to play

Accepted Answer

(a) The music, rather than some other factor, is what made customers stay longer and spend more.

Keeping the music will keep the benefit only if the music caused it. Negate (a) — something else caused the change — and the plan no longer follows, so (a) is the assumption.

Question 7

Passage: Only registered members may borrow equipment from the club. Anil borrowed a projector from the club.
Which is implied?
(a) Anil is a registered member (b) Anil has returned the projector (c) The projector belongs to Anil (d) Non-members are not allowed inside the club

Accepted Answer

(a) Anil is a registered member.

'Only registered members may borrow equipment' means borrowing implies membership. Since Anil borrowed a projector, he must be a registered member. The other options are not forced by the statements.

Question 8

Passage: The bakery's new branch is bound to succeed, because its first branch was extremely popular.
Which assumption does the argument depend on?
(a) The first branch is now closed (b) The factors behind the first branch's popularity will also be present at the new branch (c) The bakery sells only bread (d) The owner has run bakeries before

Accepted Answer

(b) The factors behind the first branch's popularity will also be present at the new branch.

Popularity at branch one predicts success at branch two only if the same conditions — location, customers, quality — carry over. Negate (b) and the prediction fails, so it is the assumption the argument leans on.

Practice — Assumptions, Inferences and Implications

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