Statement and Assumption Questions

• Critical Reasoning – Identify the Implicit Assumption(s) Statement: “These apples are too cheap to be good.” Assumptions: I. When the apple crop is abundant, prices go down. II. The lower the selling price, the worse is the quality of the commodity. III. Very cheap apples are also good.
• Critical Reasoning – Identify the Implicit Assumption(s) Statement: “All are cordially invited to attend the entertainment programme. It is free.” (Newspaper announcement) Assumptions: I. People generally do not go to entertainment programmes that are free. II. Some people, though interested, cannot afford tickets and may come if it is free. III. A free entertainment programme is generally of good quality.
• Critical Reasoning – Identify the Implicit Assumption(s) Scenario: Ravi plans to leave office at 4:00 p.m. to catch a flight to Bangalore departing at 6:00 p.m. Assumptions: I. The flight to Bangalore may be delayed. II. He may be able to reach the airport well before 6:00 p.m. III. He may get adequate time to search for a vehicle to go to the airport.
• Critical Reasoning – Identify the Implicit Assumption(s) Statement: “Put a notice on the board that all employees should come to the office on time,” an officer tells his assistant. Assumptions: I. All employees come late. II. Employees read such notices on the board. III. Employees will follow the instructions.
• Critical Reasoning – Identify the Implicit Assumption(s) Statement: The professor announced in class that the next periodical examination will be held on the 15th of the next month. Assumptions: I. All students may appear in the examination. II. The college will remain open on the 15th of the next month. III. Students can study until the 15th to pass the examination.
• Critical Reasoning – Identify the Implicit Assumption(s) Statement: “The situation in this area continues to be tense and out of control. People are requested to remain in their homes.” Assumptions: I. There had been some serious incidents. II. People will not go to the office. III. Normalcy will be restored shortly.
• Critical Reasoning – Identify the Implicit Assumption(s) Advertisement Slogan: “Television X – the neighbour’s envy, the owner’s pride.” Assumptions: I. Catchy slogans appeal to people. II. People are envious of neighbours’ superior possessions. III. People want to be envied by their neighbours.
• Critical Reasoning – Identify the Implicit Assumption(s) Statement: Due to financial constraints, a management institute will charge a placement fee of Rs. 25,000 from the organisation where each student is placed (to be collected at the time of employment). Assumptions: I. This will increase the demand for the institute’s students. II. The amount collected in this way will serve a useful purpose. III. Organisations may select fewer students in the future.
• Critical Reasoning – Identify the Implicit Assumption(s) Advertisement: “Z-TV, the only TV that lets viewers watch two programmes simultaneously.” Assumptions: I. Sales of Z-TV will increase because of the advertisement. II. Some people may be influenced by the advertisement and buy Z-TV. III. Sales of Z-TV may be on a downward trend.
• Critical reasoning — identify implicit assumptions Statement: “As our business is expanding, we need to appoint more staff,” the owner of a company informs existing employees. Assumptions to evaluate: I. The present staff is not competent. II. Hiring more staff will itself further expand the business. III. Suitable people for the new posts will be available to recruit.
• Critical reasoning — identify implicit assumptions Statement (Principal’s address): “Dear students, if you want a healthy mind, listen to music.” Assumptions to evaluate: I. Students normally like to follow good advice. II. It is desirable to develop a healthy mind. III. It is the Principal’s duty to advise students.
• Critical reasoning — identify implicit assumptions Statement: The national air carrier has decided to start a weekly air service from town A to town B. Assumptions to evaluate: I. There will be enough passengers to make the route economically viable. II. Other carriers may not start such a service. III. Residents around these towns can afford the cost of air travel.
• Critical reasoning — identify implicit assumptions Statement (advertisement for a luxury project): “Move into the upper echelons without paying a steep price — book a luxurious flat with us.” Assumptions to evaluate: I. One can join the ranks of the rich purely by hard work. II. Enjoying luxury at a low price is the defining criterion of the upper crust. III. Booking a luxurious flat is very easy now.
• Critical reasoning — identify implicit assumptions Statement: The school authority decided to open a summer school on the campus this year for students aged 7 to 14 years. Assumptions to evaluate: I. All students will attend the summer school. II. All parents will prefer to remain in the city to enable their children to attend. III. Families that cannot afford travel out of town will send their children to the summer school.
• Critical reasoning — identify implicit assumptions Statement: The University authority decided to decentralize the conduct of terminal examinations, giving each college responsibility for its own students to avoid delays in declaring results. Assumptions to evaluate: I. Colleges are equipped to handle examination conduct and evaluation. II. There may not be uniform evaluation standards across colleges. III. Students may welcome this development.
• Critical reasoning — identify implicit assumptions Statement: Ten candidates, who were on the waiting list, could finally be admitted to the course. Assumptions to evaluate: I. Wait-listed candidates ordinarily do not get admission. II. A large number of candidates were on the waiting list. III. The number of regular seats available for admission is small.
• Critical reasoning — identify implicit assumptions Statement: “The successful man has the ability to judge himself correctly.” Assumptions to evaluate: I. Inability to judge oneself correctly causes failure. II. Judging others is of no use to a successful person. III. A successful person cannot make a wrong judgement.
• Critical reasoning — identify implicit assumptions Statement: A State Government suspended two Additional District Judges. Assumptions to evaluate: I. They were negligent in discharging their duties. II. There was a charge of misconduct against them. III. Government officials were biased against them.
• Critical reasoning — identify implicit assumptions Statement: “Bill Clinton is the second Democrat to be re-elected as President of the United States, the other being the legendary Franklin D. Roosevelt.” Assumptions to evaluate: I. Clinton has the same qualities as Roosevelt. II. A majority of Americans have faith in Clinton. III. The election campaign of Clinton’s rivals was not impressive.
• Critical Reasoning — Assumptions Statement: "If you are a mechanical engineer, we want you as our supervisor." — an advertisement by Company X. Which assumptions are implicit in this message?