Question 1

Statement: "You are hereby appointed as a programmer with a probation period of one year and your performance will be reviewed at the end of the period for confirmation." - A line in an appointment letter. Assumptions: The performance of an individu…

Accepted Answer

Given data Appointment letter: 'appointed as a programmer with a probation period of one year; performance will be reviewed at the end for confirmation.' Assumption I: The performance of an individual generally is not known at the time of appointment offer. Assumption II: Generally an individual tries to prove his worth in the probation period. Concept/Approach In assumption questions, an assumption is implicit if the statement makes little sense without it. Step-by-step reasoningProbation exists to assess suitability ⇒ It presumes performance is not fully known at offer time (supports I).Stating a review for confirmation implies the individual will make an effort to demonstrate competence during probation (supports II). Verification/Alternative Without (I), a year-long probation/review would be redundant. Without (II), the notion of 'proving worth' during probation would be irrelevant to confirmation. Common pitfalls Confusing assumptions with consequences; here both are preconditions that make the probation clause meaningful. Final AnswerBoth I and II are implicit.

Question 2

Statement: It is desirable to put the child in school at the age of 5 or so. Assumptions: At that age the child reaches appropriate level of development and is ready to learn. The schools do not admit children after six years of age.

Accepted Answer

Given data Statement: It is desirable to put the child in school at the age of 5 or so. Assumption I: At that age the child reaches appropriate development and is ready to learn. Assumption II: Schools do not admit children after six years of age. Concept/ApproachAssumptions are unstated beliefs that must hold true for the statement's recommendation to make sense. Test each assumption by asking: if it were false, would the recommendation lose force? Step-by-step reasoningTesting I: If 5-year-olds were not developmentally ready, recommending school at 5 would not be 'desirable.' Therefore, I underlies the recommendation and is implicit.Testing II: The claim of desirability does not depend on a hard admission cut-off after 6. Even if schools admitted after 6, one could still prefer 5 for readiness or habit formation. So II is not required. Verification/AlternativeThe statement frames a positive reason (readiness), not a fear of missing admission. Hence I fits, II does not. Common pitfalls Confusing a policy constraint (admission cut-off) with a developmental rationale. Assuming 'desirable' must mean 'otherwise impossible later.' Final AnswerOnly assumption I is implicit.

Question 3

Statement: "In order to bring punctuality in our office, we must provide conveyance allowance to our employees." - In charge of a company tells Personnel Manager. Assumptions: Conveyance allowance will not help in bringing punctuality. Discipline an…

Accepted Answer

Given data Statement: 'To bring punctuality, we must provide conveyance allowance.' Assumption I: Conveyance allowance will not help in bringing punctuality. Assumption II: Discipline and reward should always go hand in hand. Concept/ApproachIdentify beliefs necessary for recommending conveyance allowance as a tool for punctuality. Step-by-step reasoningI contradicts the statement (which presumes allowance will help). A contradicting belief cannot be an implicit assumption of the speaker.II is a general maxim not required to justify this specific recommendation; one can recommend an allowance for logistic/punctuality reasons without invoking a universal principle about discipline and rewards. Verification/AlternativeThe minimal necessary assumption is that allowance facilitates punctuality (the opposite of I). No necessity for II. Common pitfalls Accepting a universal moral principle (II) when a narrow practical belief suffices. Final AnswerNeither I nor II is implicit.

Question 4

Statement: Unemployment allowance should be given to all unemployed Indian youth above 18 years of age. Assumptions: There are unemployed youth in India who needs monetary support. The government has sufficient funds to provide allowance to all unem…

Accepted Answer

Given data Statement: Give unemployment allowance to all unemployed Indian youth above 18. Assumption I: There exist unemployed youth who need monetary support. Assumption II: The government has sufficient funds to provide allowance to all unemployed youth. Concept/ApproachA policy proposal assumes existence of the target group and the problem's relevance; funding sufficiency need not be presupposed (it could be arranged or phased). Step-by-step reasoningI: If no unemployed youth needed support, the policy would be pointless. Hence I is necessary and implicit.II: The proposal does not require current sufficiency of funds; the government may raise/allocate funds later. Therefore II is not an essential presupposition. Verification/AlternativePolicy intent can precede budgeting; existence/need of beneficiaries is the core assumption. Common pitfalls Equating feasibility (budget) with assumption; feasibility can be addressed post-decision. Final AnswerOnly assumption I is implicit.

Question 5

Statement: "If you trouble me, I will slap you." - A mother warns her child. Assumptions: With the warning, the child may stop troubling her. All children are basically naughty.

Accepted Answer

Given data Statement: 'If you trouble me, I will slap you.' Assumption I: The warning may deter the child. Assumption II: All children are basically naughty. Concept/ApproachA threat is issued with the belief it can influence behavior; sweeping generalizations about all children are unnecessary. Step-by-step reasoningI: If the warning could not influence the child, issuing it would be pointless. So I is implicit.II: The mother's statement concerns her child, not all children. Hence II is not required. Verification/AlternativeLocal efficacy assumption (I) suffices; no universal claim (II) is needed. Common pitfalls Reading a universal premise into a particular, situational warning. Final AnswerOnly assumption I is implicit.

Question 6

Statement: The State government has decided to appoint four thousand primary school teachers during the next financial year. Assumptions: There are enough schools in the state to accommodate four thousand additional primary school teachers. The elig…

Accepted Answer

Given data Statement: Government will appoint 4000 primary school teachers next year. Assumption I: There are enough schools/positions to absorb 4000 additional teachers (i.e., there is need/space). Assumption II: Eligible candidates may not apply because the government might not actually appoint so many. Concept/ApproachA hiring decision presupposes requirement/utility for the posts; it does not require pessimistic speculation about candidate interest. Step-by-step reasoningI: If there were no positions/need, deciding to appoint would be irrational. Thus I is implicit.II: The decision itself does not rest on candidates' skepticism; that is unrelated and negative in tone. Not implicit. Verification/AlternativeAdministrative hiring plans assume utilization; doubts about applicant behavior are extraneous. Common pitfalls Confusing planning assumptions (need) with conjectures about applicant psychology. Final AnswerOnly assumption I is implicit.

Question 7

Statement: A warning in a train compartment - "To stop train, pull chain. Penalty for improper use Rs. 500." Assumptions: Some people misuse the alarm chain. On certain occasions, people may want to stop a running train.

Accepted Answer

Given data Notice in train: 'To stop train, pull chain. Penalty for improper use Rs. 500.' Assumption I: Some people misuse the chain. Assumption II: Sometimes passengers may need to stop a running train. Concept/ApproachA rule specifying a function and a penalty typically presupposes legitimate use-cases and the risk of misuse. Step-by-step reasoningI: Without possibility or history of misuse, the warning of a penalty would be unnecessary; thus I is implicit.II: The instruction 'To stop train, pull chain' presupposes valid situations where stopping is necessary (medical emergencies, hazards). So II is implicit. Verification/AlternativeBoth a usage purpose and deterrence rationale are embedded in the notice. Common pitfalls Thinking only misuse is assumed; the presence of the function itself assumes legitimate need. Final AnswerBoth I and II are implicit.

Question 8

Statement: If it is easy to become an engineer, I don't want to be an engineer. Assumptions: An individual aspires to be professional. One desires to achieve a thing which is hard earned.

Accepted Answer

Given data Statement: 'If it is easy to become an engineer, I don't want to be an engineer.' Assumption I: An individual aspires to be professional. Assumption II: People prefer achievements that are hard-earned (high difficulty adds value). Concept/ApproachThe speaker's preference is conditioned on difficulty: if easy, the goal loses appeal. This presupposes valuing difficulty itself. Step-by-step reasoningI: A vague truism about aspiring to be a professional is not required; the speaker explicitly rejects a profession if it is easy.II: The entire conditional hinges on the belief that only hard-earned achievements are desirable. Hence II is implicit. Verification/AlternativeNegating II (difficulty doesn't matter) collapses the speaker's reasoning. Negating I does not affect the conditional. Common pitfalls Accepting a generic ambition statement (I) as necessary when the statement actually expresses a conditional aversion. Final AnswerOnly assumption II is implicit.

Question 9

Statement: The concession in rail fares for the journey to hill stations has been cancelled because it is not needed for people who can spend their holidays there. Assumptions: Railways should give concession only to needy persons. Railways should n…

Accepted Answer

Given data Statement: Concession to hill stations cancelled because it is not needed for those who can afford such holidays. Assumption I: Concessions ought to be reserved for needy persons. Assumption II: Railways should not encourage hill-station holidays. Concept/ApproachThe stated reason appeals to 'need' (affordability) as the criterion, not to discouraging tourism. Step-by-step reasoningI: If concessions are for the needy, then people who can afford vacations don't need subsidy. This belief underlies the cancellation → implicit.II: The statement doesn't say vacations are undesirable; it only says subsidies are unnecessary for the well-off. Thus II is not implicit. Verification/AlternativeNegating I (concessions need not be limited to the needy) would undermine the given reason; negating II leaves the reason intact. Common pitfalls Reading a moral stance against holidays into a fiscal rationale about need. Final AnswerOnly assumption I is implicit.

Question 10

Statement: "The bridge was built at the cost of Rs. 128 crores and even civil bus service is not utilizing it, what a pity to see it grossly underutilized." - A citizen's view on a new flyover linking east and west sides of a suburb. Assumptions: Th…

Accepted Answer

Given data Citizen: A Rs. 128-crore bridge is grossly underutilized (even the bus service doesn't use it) — a pity. Assumption I: Building such bridges never serves public objectives. Assumption II: There must be accountability and utility for public expenditure. Concept/ApproachIdentify the belief that must be true to judge underutilization as a 'pity' — a standard of utility/accountability for public spending — not a blanket condemnation of all bridges. Step-by-step reasoningI: The speaker criticizes this bridge's usage, not all bridges. A universal negative about bridges is not required.II: Calling underutilization a 'pity' presupposes public money should be used effectively and with accountability. Hence II is implicit. Verification/AlternativeOne can value bridges generally yet lament poor utilization; thus I need not hold. Common pitfalls Overgeneralizing the critique to all infrastructure projects. Final AnswerOnly assumption II is implicit.

Question 11

Statement: The Government has decided to levy 2 percent on the tax amount payable for funding drought relief programmes. Assumptions: The Government does not have sufficient money to fund drought relief programmes. The amount collected by way of sur…

Accepted Answer

Given data Government levies a 2% surcharge on tax payable to fund drought relief. Assumption I: Existing funds are insufficient for drought relief. Assumption II: The surcharge collections may be adequate (or at least materially sufficient) to fund the programmes. Concept/ApproachA targeted surcharge for a purpose presumes a resource gap and that the levy will meaningfully bridge it. Step-by-step reasoningI: If there were already enough funds, earmarking an extra levy specifically for drought relief would be unnecessary. Hence I is implicit.II: Instituting a surcharge assumes its proceeds will (at minimum) adequately or substantially meet the funding need. Otherwise the policy rationale collapses. Thus II is implicit. Verification/AlternativeNegate I: 'We already have enough.' Then the surcharge lacks justification. Negate II: 'The 2% won't raise enough.' Then the levy wouldn't serve its stated purpose. Both negations undercut the decision. Common pitfalls Interpreting II as 'guaranteed full sufficiency'; policy only requires reasonable adequacy/utility, which is what 'may be adequate' captures. Final AnswerBoth I and II are implicit.

Question 12

Statement: Detergents should be used to clean clothes. Assumptions: Detergents form more lather. Detergents help to dislodge grease and dirt.

Accepted Answer

Given data Statement: Detergents should be used to clean clothes. Assumption I: Detergents form more lather. Assumption II: Detergents help to dislodge grease and dirt. Concept/Approach An assumption is implicit if the statement relies on it to make sense. A recommendation ('should be used') presumes an effective reason. Step-by-step reasoningThe recommendation presumes detergents are effective at cleaning by removing grease/dirt ⇒ Assumption II is necessary.More lather does not necessarily imply better cleaning ⇒ Assumption I is not required. Verification/Alternative Even if a detergent produced little lather, it could still clean well; the advice would still stand. But if it did not dislodge grease/dirt, the advice would fail. Common pitfalls Equating lather quantity with cleaning efficacy. Final AnswerOnly assumption II is implicit.

Question 13

Statement: It will be a substantial achievement in the field of education if one provides one school for every village in our country and enforce attendance. Assumptions: Children in villages do not attend school regularly. Providing school to every…

Accepted Answer

Given data Statement: Substantial achievement if each village has a school and attendance is enforced. Assumption I: Children in villages do not attend school regularly. Assumption II: Providing a school to every village is desirable. Concept/Approach The claim of 'substantial achievement' relies on a need (irregular attendance) and on the desirability of the proposed provision. Step-by-step reasoningEnforcing attendance presumes attendance is currently irregular ⇒ I is assumed.Calling the outcome a 'substantial achievement' presumes that providing a school per village is desirable/beneficial ⇒ II is assumed. Verification/Alternative If attendance were already regular, 'enforce attendance' would be pointless. If a school per village were not desirable, calling it a substantial achievement would be incoherent. Common pitfalls Treating 'achievement' as purely rhetorical without embedded desirability/need. Final AnswerBoth I and II are implicit.

Question 14

Statement: The government has decided to disinvest large chunk of its equity in select public sector undertakings for a better fiscal management. Assumptions: The amount generated out of the disinvestment process may reduce substantially the mountin…

Accepted Answer

Given data Statement: Government will disinvest a large chunk of equity in select PSUs for better fiscal management. Assumption I: Disinvestment proceeds may substantially reduce fiscal deficits. Assumption II: There will be enough market demand for those shares. Concept/Approach A policy decision aimed at 'better fiscal management' assumes both that it raises funds and that the market can absorb the sale. Step-by-step reasoningIf proceeds did not help deficits, the fiscal-management rationale would fail ⇒ I is necessary.If demand were insufficient, the plan could not be executed effectively ⇒ II is necessary. Verification/Alternative Both assumptions are pre-conditions: one financial (impact on deficit) and one operational (market demand). Common pitfalls Assuming only one precondition (funds) without feasibility (demand). Final AnswerBoth I and II are implicit.

Question 15

Statement: Never before such a lucid book was available on the topic. Assumptions: Some other books were available on this topic. You can write lucid books on very few topics.

Accepted Answer

Given data Statement: Never before such a lucid book was available on the topic. Assumption I: Some other books were available on this topic. Assumption II: You can write lucid books on very few topics. Concept/Approach The superlative comparison ('such a lucid') presumes earlier availability for comparison; it does not generalize about other topics. Step-by-step reasoningSaying 'never before such a lucid book' implies there were earlier books (less lucid) on the topic ⇒ I is assumed.Nothing is implied about the possibility of writing lucid books on other topics ⇒ II is not assumed. Verification/Alternative If no prior books existed, the phrasing would more naturally be 'This is the first book on the topic,' not a comparative claim about lucidity. Common pitfalls Reading an unwarranted general rule about lucidity across topics. Final AnswerOnly assumption I is implicit.

Question 16

Statement: Please do not use lift while going down - an instruction on the top floor of a five-storey building. Assumptions: While going down, the lift is unable to carry any load. Provision of lift is a matter of facility and not of right.

Accepted Answer

Given data Instruction: Please do not use lift while going down (posted on top floor). Assumption I: While going down, the lift is unable to carry any load. Assumption II: Provision of lift is a matter of facility and not of right. Concept/Approach An instruction can be motivated by efficiency/safety without presuming inability or legal philosophy about rights. Step-by-step reasoningThe lift may be able to carry load; the request could be to save power/time or reduce wear ⇒ I not necessary.The notice does not hinge on whether lift use is a 'right' or a 'facility' ⇒ II not necessary. Verification/Alternative The message is an advisory restriction; it functions regardless of load capability or legal framing. Common pitfalls Inferring technical incapacity from a behavioral instruction. Importing legal/rights assumptions not referenced by the text. Final AnswerNeither I nor II is implicit.

Question 17

Statement: "I have not received telephone bills for nine months inspite of several complaints" - A telephone customer's letter to the editor of a daily Assumptions: Every customer has a right to get bills regularly from the telephone company. The cu…

Accepted Answer

Given data Letter: No telephone bills for nine months despite several complaints. Assumption I: Every customer has a right to receive bills regularly. Assumption II: Complaints indicate service defects expected to be corrected. Concept/Approach The grievance presumes an entitlement and that complaints should trigger corrective action. Step-by-step reasoningClaiming non-receipt as a problem presumes a right/expectation of regular bills ⇒ I.Making complaints and writing to the editor presumes there is a correctable service defect ⇒ II. Verification/Alternative Without (I), there is no legitimate grievance; without (II), complaining would be pointless. Common pitfalls Viewing the letter as mere information rather than a corrective appeal based on entitlement. Final AnswerBoth I and II are implicit.

Question 18

Statement: "This drink can be had either as it is, or after adding ice to it." - An advertisement. Assumptions: People differ in their preferences. Some people will get attracted to the drink as it can be had as it is.

Accepted Answer

Given data Ad: The drink can be had either as it is, or after adding ice. Assumption I: People differ in their preferences. Assumption II: Some people will be attracted because it can be had as it is. Concept/Approach Offering alternative modes targets varied tastes; it does not commit to which specific mode will attract customers. Step-by-step reasoningGiving two options presumes preference heterogeneity ⇒ I.No specific claim that 'as it is' (vs with ice) will attract people ⇒ II not necessary. Verification/Alternative The ad would still make sense even if the attraction came mainly from the 'with ice' option. Common pitfalls Assuming a particular option is the draw when the ad merely broadens appeal. Final AnswerOnly assumption I is implicit.

Question 19

Statement: Government has permitted unaided colleges to increase their fees. Assumptions: Unaided colleges are in financial difficulties. Aided colleges do not need to increase fees.

Accepted Answer

Given data Statement: Government permits unaided colleges to increase fees. Assumption I: Unaided colleges are in financial difficulties. Assumption II: Aided colleges do not need to increase fees. Concept/Approach The selective permission suggests a recognized financial need among unaided colleges; nothing is asserted about aided colleges. Step-by-step reasoningPermission implies a justification (financial strain) for unaided institutions ⇒ I.No statement contrasts aided colleges’ needs; they may or may not need increases ⇒ II not assumed. Verification/Alternative Policy can address one segment's issue without implying anything about others. Common pitfalls Inferring the opposite condition for aided colleges from a targeted policy. Final AnswerOnly assumption I is implicit.

Question 20

Statement: Be humble even after being victorious. Assumptions: Many people are humble after being victorious. Generally people are not humble.

Accepted Answer

Given data Statement: Be humble even after being victorious. Assumption I: Many people are humble after being victorious. Assumption II: Generally people are not humble. Concept/Approach Advice typically presumes a contrary tendency that needs correction. Step-by-step reasoningThe advice suggests people tend to lose humility after victory ⇒ II is assumed.I states the opposite (many are humble), which the advice does not need ⇒ I is not assumed. Verification/Alternative If people were generally humble after winning, the advice would be redundant. Common pitfalls Reading the advice as a description of common behavior rather than a corrective injunction. Final AnswerOnly assumption II is implicit.

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