Critical Reasoning — Assumptions Statement: “Neither fascism nor communism has any chance of succeeding in America.” Which assumptions are implicit in this statement?

Introduction / Context:
The speaker rules out success of fascism and communism in America. We must identify the underlying belief that makes this claim reasonable.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• I: American people are strongly in favour of preserving the rights of the individual.
• II: Americans have so far not suffered any pangs of poverty or deprivation.

Concept / Approach:
Evaluate what must be true for both authoritarian (fascism) and collectivist (communism) ideologies to fail in the American context. Use the negation test to check necessity.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1) The rejection of both systems aligns with an assumption of entrenched individual rights and liberal democratic values—this is exactly I.2) Poverty or deprivation (II) might influence political choices, but their absence is not required to predict failure of those ideologies. Even with economic hardship, individual-rights culture could still resist them.3) Negate I: If Americans did not value individual rights, authoritarian or collectivist models might gain traction, weakening the claim. Negate II: Even if poverty exists, the ideological resistance based on rights can still block success.

Verification / Alternative check:
Historical emphasis on constitutional liberties and checks balances supports I as the crucial premise for the prediction.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Only II / Both / Either: II is not necessary; combining it with I adds an inessential condition.
• Neither: Undercuts the ideological basis the claim relies upon.

Common Pitfalls:
Avoid assuming that economic conditions alone determine ideological outcomes; cultural-political values are central here.

Final Answer:
Only assumption I is implicit