Critical Reasoning — Assumptions Statement: “Most people who stop smoking gain weight.” Assumptions under test: I. If one stops smoking, one will gain weight. II. If one does not stop smoking, one will not gain weight.

Introduction / Context:The statement uses the quantifier “most,” which means “a majority but not all.” Assumption questions often test whether you mistakenly convert a probabilistic or majority claim into an absolute rule. Here we examine two absolute statements to see if the original sentence depends on either of them being true.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Statement: “Most people who stop smoking gain weight.”
• Assumption I: If anyone stops smoking, they will gain weight (universal claim).
• Assumption II: If one does not stop smoking, one will not gain weight (converse negative claim).

Concept / Approach:

• “Most” does not equal “all,” and it does not imply the converse for the complementary set.
• To be implicit, an assumption must be necessary for the statement to hold.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Common Pitfalls:

Final Answer: