Statement: “I will not resign until I am proved guilty,” declares a politician in a speech. Assumptions: I. There are demands or expectations for his resignation. II. Some charges or allegations have been levelled against the politician. Which of the above assumptions are implicit in the statement?

Verbal Reasoning Statement and Assumption Difficulty: Medium
Choose an option
  • A
    Only Assumption I is implicit
  • B
    Only Assumption II is implicit
  • C
    Either Assumption I or II is implicit
  • D
    Neither Assumption I nor II is implicit
  • E
    Both Assumptions I and II are implicit

Answer

Correct Answer: Both Assumptions I and II are implicit

Explanation

Introduction / Context:By publicly tying resignation to being “proved guilty,” the politician signals a defensive stance amid controversy. For such a stance to be relevant, two background conditions must hold: calls for resignation (I) and the existence of accusations (II).

Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Statement condition: resignation only upon proof of guilt.
  • Assumption I: Resignation is being sought or discussed.
  • Assumption II: There are allegations pending that could, in principle, be adjudicated.

Concept / Approach:Without I, the declaration would be unprompted and rhetorically odd. Without II, the conditional clause (“proved guilty”) would have no object, making the statement meaningless. Thus both assumptions are necessary for the speech to have pragmatic force.

Step-by-Step Solution:

1) Public condition-setting implies an active debate over resignation (supports I).2) The mention of guilt presupposes extant charges or investigations (supports II).3) Hence both I and II are implicit.

Verification / Alternative check:

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Only I or only II: Each misses a necessary component of the communication context.• Either / Neither: Fail to account for the explicit conditional structure and public positioning.

Common Pitfalls:Assuming “proved guilty” could refer to abstract morality; in political parlance it refers to concrete charges that can be adjudicated.

Final Answer:Both Assumptions I and II are implicit.

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