Introduction / Context:
The statement expresses uncertainty about the duration needed to contain terrorism. Our task is to identify what must be true for such a statement to be meaningful. We must distinguish between “uncertain duration” and “impossibility.”
Given Data / Assumptions:
- Claim: No one can predict how long it will take to contain terrorism.
- Assumption I: Ending terrorism is impossible.
- Assumption II: Containment efforts are underway (or will be undertaken).
Concept / Approach:
Unpredictability of duration presupposes an ongoing or intended attempt; otherwise “how long it would take” is meaningless. But “impossible to end” is stronger than needed; one can be unsure about “how long” without declaring “never.”
Step-by-Step Solution:
If II were false (no efforts at all), the phrase “how long it would take” loses context. Therefore II is implicit.Assumption I says ending is impossible. The statement only says the time is unpredictable—not that success is impossible—therefore I is not implicit.
Verification / Alternative check:
Replace with a different context: “Nobody can predict how long it will take to repair the bridge” implies work is or will be done, not that it is impossible. Same logic here.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Only I (option a) misreads uncertainty as impossibility.Either (option c) and Both (option e) incorrectly include I.Neither (option d) ignores the necessity of ongoing/planned efforts.
Common Pitfalls:
Equating “cannot predict how long” with “cannot be done.” The former is about uncertainty; the latter about impossibility.
Final Answer:
Only assumption II is implicit
Discussion & Comments