Statement: The residents of a locality have written to the municipal corporation requesting the immediate restoration of normal drinking water supply, stating that the present supply is clearly inadequate. Assumptions: I. The corporation may not take any action on the letter. II. The municipality has sufficient water resources and distribution capacity to meet the locality's normal demand. III. In the past, the water supply to this area used to be adequate (i.e., “normal” level existed earlier). Which of the above assumptions are implicit in the statement?

Difficulty: Medium

Correct Answer: Assumptions II and III are implicit

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
“Statement and assumption” questions probe what must be tacitly believed for an action or request to make sense. Here, residents petition the municipal corporation to “restore normal” drinking water supply, explicitly stating that current supply is inadequate. We must identify which background beliefs are taken for granted for this request to be meaningful and actionable.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Action: Residents write to the corporation seeking restoration of normal water supply.
  • Claimed issue: Present supply is not adequate.
  • Assumption I: The corporation may not act on the letter.
  • Assumption II: The municipality has the capacity/resources to meet normal demand if it chooses to do so.
  • Assumption III: A previously adequate (“normal”) supply existed to which service can be restored.


Concept / Approach:
For a request to “restore normal supply” to be rational, the petitioners must believe there exists a feasible standard level (past baseline) and that the service provider has the ability to deliver it (capacity). A belief that the corporation may ignore the letter is not required to justify making the request; petitions are written in expectation of redress, not in expectation of inaction.


Step-by-Step Solution:

1) “Restore normal” presupposes a historically adequate level (validates III).2) Requesting restoration assumes feasibility and capacity on the authority’s side (validates II).3) Whether the corporation may ignore the letter (I) is speculative and not necessary for the residents’ action.


Verification / Alternative check:
If there had never been an adequate baseline or if capacity simply did not exist, “restoration” would be incoherent or futile. The petition implies both past adequacy and practical attainability now.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Including I: Inaction is not a prerequisite belief for making a request.• Only II or only III: Each alone is insufficient; both baseline and feasibility are presupposed.• “Neither…”: Contradicts the logic of “restore.”


Common Pitfalls:
Confusing doubts about response (I) with assumptions that underpin the request’s meaning (II, III). The question asks what must be taken for granted—not what might also be true.


Final Answer:
Assumptions II and III are implicit.

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