Read the following information carefully and answer the question that follows. The municipal authority has made English language one of the compulsory subjects in all primary schools under its control from the current academic year. Based on this decision, identify which of the following can be taken as an assumption behind the move. (An assumption is something that is supposed or taken for granted in the given statement.)

Introduction / Context:
This is an assumptions based critical reasoning question. The statement talks about a new policy decision by a municipal authority: making English a compulsory subject in all primary schools under its control. You are asked to identify which option can be reasonably taken as an assumption behind this decision. An assumption is an unstated idea that the decision maker accepts as true and which supports the action taken.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Statement: The municipal authority has made English language one of the compulsory subjects in all primary schools under its control from the current academic year.
• Option A: Students in municipal primary schools were not taught English so far.
• Option B: Parents of primary school students do not have working knowledge of English.
• Option C: All primary schools outside municipal control already teach English as a compulsory subject.
• Option D: Other subjects can be changed according to the will of the students.
• We must choose the assumption that is necessary or very closely linked to the decision.

Concept / Approach:
In assumption questions, we look for a statement that must be true, or is at least strongly presumed, for the given action to make sense. The assumption should be directly connected to the decision and should help explain why the authority considered the step necessary. Very broad, unrelated, or external claims that are not essential for the decision are usually not assumptions. Also, an assumption should not contradict the statement.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Understand the decision. The municipal authority is changing the curriculum to make English compulsory in its primary schools. This indicates that English had a lesser or optional role earlier, or that the authority feels English education needs strengthening.Step 2: Examine option A. If students were not taught English earlier, then introducing English as a compulsory subject is a natural corrective measure. The authority can be assumed to believe that the absence of English in the curriculum is a problem. So option A provides a strong underlying reason for the decision.Step 3: Examine option B. Parents lacking working knowledge of English might be true, but it is not necessary for changing the school curriculum. The policy is about what students learn in school, not about parents abilities.Step 4: Examine option C. Whether schools outside municipal control teach English compulsorily is external information. The municipal authority can decide its own curriculum without assuming anything about other schools. This option goes beyond what is required.Step 5: Examine option D. The idea that other subjects can be changed according to the will of students is unrelated to making English compulsory. Curriculum design is generally driven by educational priorities, not by students wishes alone. So this option does not connect logically to the decision.

Verification / Alternative check:
Think about what would make the municipal authority feel a need to act. A natural and strong reason is that earlier their schools did not offer English at all, or did not emphasise it sufficiently. If teachers were already systematically teaching English as a compulsory subject, then formally declaring it compulsory would add little. Hence, the authority is likely assuming that English has been missing from or weak in the curriculum so far. Option A closely captures this sense, even if it is a somewhat strong wording. The other options are not required for the decision to make sense.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B focuses on parents, not students, and though it might be interesting, it is not necessary for deciding to change the school curriculum. Option C speculates about all schools outside municipal control, which the authority does not need to assume in order to modify its own schools. Option D introduces a claim about students controlling subject choices, which has no connection to the stated decision. Only option A directly addresses the likely earlier absence of English teaching in municipal primary schools.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates sometimes confuse an assumption with a mere possibility or an effect. They may also be attracted to options containing general or emotional statements, even when those are not linked to the action. Another typical mistake is to pick an option that would be nice to have true, rather than one that is needed for the decision to be meaningful. Always ask yourself: if this option were false, would the decision in the statement still make sense?

Final Answer:
Thus, the most reasonable assumption is that the students in the primary schools run by the municipal authority were not taught English so far, which corresponds to option A.