Statement & Assumption — “If degrees are delinked from jobs, boys will think thrice before joining college.” Which assumptions are implicit? I. Students (in general) pursue college education primarily to improve job prospects. II. A degree has no usefulness for getting a job.

Introduction / Context:
The statement predicts reduced inclination to join college if degrees are delinked from jobs. We must uncover which assumption makes this prediction reasonable.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• College entry decisions are sensitive to linkage between degrees and employment.
• “Think thrice” implies deterrence when job linkage is removed.

Concept / Approach:
Assumption I is necessary: if job prospects were not a primary driver, delinking would not markedly alter the decision calculus. Assumption II (“degree is of no use for getting a job”) is too strong and contradicts the conditional premise; the statement considers a hypothetical delinking, not an absolute uselessness of degrees.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Affirm I: Explains why delinking reduces motivation—college is pursued for jobs.Reject II: The argument works without asserting absolute uselessness; it only posits removal of formal link, not zero value.

Verification / Alternative check:
Education decisions often weigh ROI in employment terms—consistent with I.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
“II only” misreads the conditional; “either” includes an unnecessary overstatement.

Common Pitfalls:
Treating a policy counterfactual (“delinked”) as a universal claim of “no value.”

Final Answer:
if only Assumption I is implicit