Critical Reasoning — Implicit Assumptions Statement: “Read this book to get detailed and most comprehensive information on this issue.” Assumptions: I. The person seeking this information can read. II. There are other books available on this issue.
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AOnly assumption I is implicit
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BOnly assumption II is implicit
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CEither I or II is implicit
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DNeither I nor II is implicit
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EBoth I and II are implicit
Answer
Correct Answer: Only assumption I is implicit
Explanation
Introduction / Context:The recommendation is to read a specific book for comprehensive information. What must be taken for granted for this advice to be meaningful?
Given Data / Assumptions:
- Advice: “Read this book.”
- Assumption I: the target can read.
- Assumption II: other books on the topic exist.
Concept / Approach:Advice about reading presupposes literacy/ability to read. Whether other books exist is irrelevant to the validity of recommending a particular best source.
Step-by-Step Solution:
1) If the person cannot read, the advice is inapplicable. Thus I is implicit.2) The statement compares quality (“detailed and most comprehensive”) but does not require the existence of other books; “most comprehensive” can be understood as a claim of thoroughness without enumerating alternatives. Hence II is not necessary.Verification / Alternative check:Negate I: the person cannot read — the instruction fails. Negate II: there are no other books — the advice still stands; the recommended book may be the sole comprehensive source. Therefore only I is implicit.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- Only II, Either, Neither, Both: Misstate necessity by importing competition between sources that the statement does not require.
Common Pitfalls:Over-interpreting “most” as an absolute comparative requiring multiple items. In everyday persuasive language, it often signals “very comprehensive,” and the advice remains sensible regardless.
Final Answer:Only assumption I is implicit