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Statement-Assumption - Intermediate Level: unstated beliefs INTERMEDIATE

Comprehensive weakness targeting worksheet covering 20 intermediate-level statement-assumption problems. Worksheet 18 of 30 emphasizes unstated beliefs. Master presupposed facts, implied conditions, underlying assumptions through detailed explanations. Difficulty: moderate complexity with mixed patterns. Tailored for mid-level preparation.

📝 Worksheet 18 of 30 • 20 questions • ⏱️ Estimated time: 20 minutes • 🎯 Intermediate level

What you'll learn in this worksheet:
Your progress through Statement-Assumption
Worksheet 18 of 30 (60% complete)

Question 1

Statement: The city should ban private vehicles during weekdays and promote electric buses to reduce air pollution and improve public health. Which assumption is most fundamental to this argument?
While the statement makes multiple assumptions, 'Private vehicles are major pollution sources' is the most fundamental because without it, the entire premise of the solution becomes questionable.
assumption, multiple, complex

Question 2

Statement: The government should increase minimum wage to help reduce poverty. Which of the following is an assumption made in the statement?
The statement assumes that government has authority to set minimum wage, which is necessary for the argument to be valid.
assumption, identification, basic

Question 3

Argument: We should hire Maria as our lead developer because she has 10 years of experience in our industry. Consider the assumption: 'Industry experience is relevant to job performance' If we negate this assumption (assume the opposite), does it break the argument?
Yes — If experience isn't relevant, then her 10 years don't justify hiring her

Negation test: If 'Industry experience is NOT relevant to job performance' then the argument 'fails'.
assumption, negation, test, validity

Question 4

Argument: This new medicine should be approved because clinical trials show it's effective for 85% of patients. Consider the assumption: '85% effectiveness is clinically meaningful' If we negate this assumption (assume the opposite), does it break the argument?
Yes — If the effect size is trivial, approval isn't justified

Negation test: If '85% effectiveness is NOT clinically meaningful' then the argument 'fails'.
assumption, negation, test, validity

Question 5

Statement: The new drug should be approved for public use since clinical trials showed 95% effectiveness. What is the primary assumption underlying this statement?
The statement implicitly assumes that clinical trials represent real-world conditions, which is crucial for the conclusion to be valid.
assumption, implicit, analysis

Question 6

Statement: Private companies provide better customer service than government organizations. Which of the following is an assumption made in the statement?
The statement assumes that competition drives better service, which is necessary for the argument to be valid.
assumption, identification, basic

Question 7

Argument: This new medicine should be approved because clinical trials show it's effective for 85% of patients. Consider the assumption: 'The medicine is affordable' If we negate this assumption (assume the opposite), does it break the argument?
No — Approval doesn't depend on affordability; that's a separate issue

Negation test: If 'The medicine is NOT affordable' then the argument 'still could hold'.
assumption, negation, test, validity

Question 8

Argument: If you want to lose weight, you should exercise regularly. However, exercise alone isn't enough; you also need a healthy diet. Assumption: 'A healthy diet is necessary for weight loss' Is this assumption necessary, sufficient, both, or neither for the argument's conclusion?
Necessary: Explicitly stated as required alongside exercise
assumption, necessary, sufficient, logic

Question 9

Statement: To solve unemployment, the government should provide free technical training programs and guarantee job placement for all participants. Which assumption is most fundamental to this argument?
While the statement makes multiple assumptions, 'Unemployment is primarily due to skill gaps' is the most fundamental because without it, the entire premise of the solution becomes questionable.
assumption, multiple, complex

Question 10

Argument: We should hire Maria as our lead developer because she has 10 years of experience in our industry. Consider the assumption: 'No other candidate has more relevant experience' If we negate this assumption (assume the opposite), does it break the argument?
Yes — If others have more experience, she may not be the best choice

Negation test: If 'Other candidates have more relevant experience' then the argument 'fails'.
assumption, negation, test, validity

Question 11

Statement: Nuclear energy is safer than coal power, therefore we should build more nuclear plants. What hidden premise must be true for this argument to be valid?
The argument implicitly assumes that safety is the primary criterion for energy policy decisions, which may not always be true.
assumption, premise, hidden

Question 12

Statement: Crime rates decreased after installing more street lights, proving that better lighting reduces crime. Which assumption is most problematic in this causal argument?
The assumption 'Correlation implies causation' is problematic because it establishes causation without ruling out alternative explanations or confounding variables.
assumption, causality, logic

Question 13

Statement: Private companies provide better customer service than government organizations. Which of the following is an assumption made in the statement?
The statement assumes that private companies are profit-motivated, which is necessary for the argument to be valid.
assumption, identification, basic

Question 14

Argument: To get an A in this course, you must complete all assignments and score above 90% on the final exam. Assumption: 'Scoring above 90% guarantees an A' Is this assumption necessary, sufficient, both, or neither for the argument's conclusion?
Not necessarily true: You also need assignments - exam alone is insufficient
assumption, necessary, sufficient, logic

Question 15

Statement: Social media platforms should verify all user accounts to prevent fake news. Which of the following is an assumption made in the statement?
The statement assumes that fake news is a significant problem, which is necessary for the argument to be valid.
assumption, identification, basic

Question 16

Statement: Students perform better when class sizes are reduced from 30 to 15 students. What is the primary assumption underlying this statement?
The statement implicitly assumes that teacher attention improves with fewer students, which is crucial for the conclusion to be valid.
assumption, implicit, analysis

Question 17

Statement: The stock market rose today, indicating economic recovery is underway. What hidden premise must be true for this argument to be valid?
The argument implicitly assumes that stock market performance reflects overall economic health, which may not always be true.
assumption, premise, hidden

Question 18

Statement: The government should increase minimum wage to help reduce poverty. Which of the following is an assumption made in the statement?
The statement assumes that businesses can afford higher wages, which is necessary for the argument to be valid.
assumption, identification, basic

Question 19

Argument: We should hire Maria as our lead developer because she has 10 years of experience in our industry. Consider the assumption: 'The salary budget can accommodate her' If we negate this assumption (assume the opposite), does it break the argument?
Yes — If we can't afford her, the recommendation fails

Negation test: If 'The salary budget cannot accommodate her' then the argument 'fails'.
assumption, negation, test, validity

Question 20

Statement: Students' test scores improved after the new teaching method was introduced, confirming its effectiveness. Which assumption is most problematic in this causal argument?
The assumption 'The teaching method caused the improvement' is problematic because it establishes causation without ruling out alternative explanations or confounding variables.
assumption, causality, logic
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