Statement: The school authority has decided to award five grace marks in English to all students of Standard IX because overall performance in English was below expectations. Assumptions: I. A majority of Standard IX students may still fail in English even after awarding the grace marks. II. A majority of Standard IX students may now pass English after awarding the grace marks. Choose the option that identifies which assumption(s) is/are implicit.

Introduction / Context:
When an authority grants grace marks to improve results, it implicitly relies on beliefs about the likely effect of those marks. Our task is to uncover which background assumption(s) must hold for the decision to make sense.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Five grace marks will be added in English for all Standard IX students.
• The trigger is underperformance relative to expectations.

Concept / Approach:
Policy decisions typically presuppose that the action will move outcomes in the desired direction. Here, the intended direction is to lift many students above the pass threshold. An assumption is implicit only if the decision would lose its rationale without it.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Assess Assumption I: “A majority may still fail even after grace.” The decision does not require expecting continued failure. Even if some still fail, the decision is rational without presuming that a majority will remain below the line. So I is not necessary.Assess Assumption II: “A majority may now pass after grace.” The purpose of grace marks is to help a substantial number (often many) cross the pass mark. If grace marks were not expected to move many students to passing status, the blanket grant would lack justification. Hence II is necessary.

Verification / Alternative check:
If II were false (grace marks do not help many pass), the action is wasteful or symbolic. If I were false (most pass after grace), the action still makes sense. Therefore only II is required.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
“Only I” ignores the improvement intent. “Either” and “both” incorrectly include I. “Neither” denies II and undercuts the policy’s rationale.

Common Pitfalls:
Confusing what might happen to a few students with what must be assumed about the majority effect to justify the policy.

Final Answer:
if only Assumption II is implicit