Critical reasoning — assumptions (implicit): Statement: Many historians have done more harm than good by distorting truth. Assumptions: I. People believe what is reported by the historians. II. Historians are seldom expected to depict the truth.

Introduction / Context:
This question tests your ability to identify implicit assumptions in a critical reasoning statement. The speaker claims that many historians have caused more harm than good by distorting truth. To evaluate which assumptions are underlying this claim, we must determine what must be true for the speaker's conclusion to make sense, even if left unstated.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Main claim: Distortion of truth by historians causes net harm.
• Assumption I: People believe what historians report.
• Assumption II: Historians are seldom expected to depict the truth.

Concept / Approach:
An implicit assumption is a statement that is not expressed directly but must hold for the argument's logic to work. Here, if historians' distortions are said to harm society, the harm plausibly arises because their distorted accounts influence readers' beliefs or public understanding. Thus, some acceptance of historian reports by people is necessary. In contrast, whether historians are expected to tell the truth is not required for the harm claim; harm can occur regardless of expectations.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Consider the negation test. If people did not believe historians at all, their distortions would have little or no influence, undermining the claim of significant harm. Negating Assumption I collapses the argument, confirming that it is required. Negating Assumption II (historians are expected to depict the truth) does not affect the harm mechanism, showing it is not required.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Only assumption II is implicit: Incorrect; expectation is not essential to the harm claim.
• Either I or II is implicit: Incorrect; the argument needs I specifically.
• Neither I nor II is implicit: Incorrect; I is needed.
• Both I and II are implicit: Overstates; II is not necessary.

Common Pitfalls:
Confusing moral expectations or professional norms with causal prerequisites. The argument concerns the impact of distorted accounts, which depends on audience belief, not on professional expectations.

Final Answer:
Only assumption I is implicit