Introduction / Context:
This statement makes a sweeping generalization about preferences: “Everybody loves reading adventure stories.” We must test which assumptions are necessary for this claim.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- I. Adventure stories are the only reading material.
- II. Nobody loves reading any other material.
- III. All are literate.
Concept / Approach:
An assumption is required if, when removed, the original claim becomes unreasonable or meaningless. We evaluate each proposed assumption for necessity rather than truth.
Step-by-Step Solution:
1) I is clearly not necessary. Even if other genres exist, people could still love adventure stories.2) II is not necessary either. The statement does not deny love for other materials; it only asserts love for adventure stories.3) III (all are literate) might look tempting, but even this is not strictly necessary to make the statement meaningful as a claim about preference; colloquially, people can “love” a category even if they currently cannot access it directly (e.g., through being read to, watching adaptations, or aspiring to read). Logical test items often avoid assuming additional facts about literacy unless explicitly mentioned. Hence, the safest evaluation is that none of the provided assumptions is logically required.
Verification / Alternative check:
Negate I or II and the claim can still stand. Negate III (not all are literate): the statement may be false in reality but does not collapse logically—it remains a bold (possibly wrong) generalization without needing literacy as a prerequisite assumption.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- I and II / All / II and III: add constraints not demanded by the statement.
- None is implicit: close, but the correct choice must reflect that none of the listed combinations fits; since “only III” is not offered, we must choose “None of these.”
Common Pitfalls:
Confusing factual truth with logical necessity. An assumption must be indispensable, not merely plausible.
Final Answer:
None of these
Discussion & Comments