Critical Reasoning — Implicit Assumptions Safety announcement in a ropeway trolley: “For your own interest, please fasten your seat belts while seated.” Assumptions to evaluate: I. People are always careful about their own safety. II. Unless advised, passengers might not use the seat belts.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Only assumption II is implicit

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
Transport operators issue safety instructions to reduce risk. We test which background beliefs are necessary for the announcement to be purposeful.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Passengers are advised to fasten seat belts.
  • Assumption I: people are always safety-conscious.
  • Assumption II: without advice, some passengers might not fasten belts.


Concept / Approach:
A safety announcement presupposes that compliance is not automatic and that guidance can increase safe behavior. It does not require the belief that people are always safety-focused; in fact, the instruction exists precisely because some are not.


Step-by-Step Solution:

1) The operator anticipates that, absent reminders, some will forget or ignore belts. Hence II is necessary.2) I claims people are always careful, which contradicts the need for reminders. It is not necessary; if it were true, no announcement would be needed.


Verification / Alternative check:
Negate II: passengers will use belts anyway—the announcement becomes redundant. Negate I: people are not always careful—the announcement still makes sense. Therefore only II is implicit.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • Only I / Either / Neither / Both: These ignore the practical rationale for safety reminders and misstate the necessity.


Common Pitfalls:
Reading “in their own interest” as proof that people are always careful. It is persuasive wording, not a logical claim about universal behavior.


Final Answer:
Only assumption II is implicit

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