Critical Reasoning — Assumptions Statement: “The programme will start at 6:00 p.m., but you can arrive up to 7:00 p.m. or so and there is still no problem.” Which assumptions are implicit in this scheduling guidance?

Introduction / Context:
Someone provides arrival guidance relative to the program start time. We must identify what must be true for this guidance to be sensible.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• I: The programme will continue even after 7:00 p.m.
• II: The programme may not even start by that time.

Concept / Approach:
If late arrival is acceptable, the event must be ongoing past that time. However, this does not imply that the start will be delayed.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1) For guests to arrive “up to 7:00 p.m.” without problem, the programme must still be in progress at or after 7:00 p.m. Hence I is necessary.2) II suggests the event may not even start by 7:00 p.m., which is not required. The original sentence clearly states the start time (6:00 p.m.). Accepting late arrivals does not imply a delayed start.

Verification / Alternative check:
Many events have a punctual start and a long duration; late attendance is permitted without changing the official start time.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Only II / Both / Either: These presume a start-time uncertainty that contradicts the explicit “will start at 6 p.m.”
• Neither: Fails to recognize the obvious duration implication.

Common Pitfalls:
Do not confuse “arrive by 7” with “starts at 7.” The former concerns tolerance, not scheduling.

Final Answer:
Only assumption I is implicit