Statement: “We are taking care of this historic house, putting our lives at risk,” says an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) employee. Assumptions: I. The house is more precious than human lives. II. When people risk their lives to protect or maintain something, they are taking utmost care of it. Which of the above assumptions is implicit in the statement?

Introduction / Context:
The ASI employee emphasizes the degree of effort and danger involved in caring for a historic structure. The reasoning task is to extract the necessary belief underlying this emphasis. Is the speaker ranking the monument above human life, or highlighting the extremity of effort as evidence of carefulness and commitment?

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Claim: They are caring for the house under risky conditions.
• Assumption I: The house outweighs human life in value.
• Assumption II: Incurring personal risk signals utmost care/seriousness toward the object.

Concept / Approach:
The statement aims to convey the intensity of care, not to make a moral hierarchy between monuments and lives. It leverages the idea that taking risks is a strong indicator of dedication, therefore suggesting “utmost care” (II). A value comparison that “the house is more precious than human lives” (I) is not required to make the statement coherent.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Common Pitfalls:
Overinterpreting emotive language as an ethical ranking rather than as emphasis of diligence and hazard.

Final Answer:
Only Assumption II is implicit.