(: Super Fun Assumption Quiz :)

Political scientist:  Quality public education at the high school level leads to a citizenry more attuned to the problems of the community and of the society at large.  But quality public education at the high school level does not necessarily lead to a citizenry capable of discerning which politicians are best equipped to address those problems, since campaign money can distort how arguments for change are presented.  Consequently, rapid but foolhardy change may occur in a society that quickly improves its public education system at the high school level but does not address the problem of money in politics.

 

Which one of the following is an assumption on which the political scientist's argument depends?

• Unbridled campaign contributions to candidates affect the ability of citizens to differentiate which politicians are better equipped to address community and social problems.

• All societes that fail to control the flow of money in politics will be undermined by the poor decisionmaking of the citizenry.

• Campaign reforms designed to control the flow of money in politics will likely lead to a pace of social change that is appropriate to the society.

• Without a quality public school system at the high school level, there can be no genuine social reform.

• A politician who receives large campaign contributions ought not to be supported by the citizenry.

Nutritionist: Water is often called the “universal elixir” because of its importance to the body in recovering from illnesses as well as maintaining general good health.  But water, in and of itself, has little nutritional value.  Furthermore, we often have a difficult time getting young people to consume water; they tend to prefer soda or juice because of water’s bland taste.  Indeed, over 60% of the liquids consumed on high school campuses are found in soda machines.  The solution is found in mineral waters, which contain all the benefits of water, plus nutrients and a distinct taste.  Nutrition among our youth would significantly improve if we replaced soda machines in schools with machines containing various types of mineral water.  

Which one of the following is an assumption on which the nutritionist’s argument depends?

• Most of the liquids consumed on high school campuses, other than those found in soda machines, are liquids other than water.

• The nutrients in mineral waters provide a significant source of nutrition comparable to the nutrition found in various foods.

• Most high school students are not allowed to bring drinks onto campus that they obtained outside of campus.

• A significant portion of students who consume liquids from soda machines would, in their absence, consume liquids from mineral water machines.

• Mineral waters taste as good as or better than most types of soda.

City officials care a great deal about maintaining man-made structures so as to avoid liability.  For instance, officials act quickly when bridges deteriorate to the point of causing concrete to fall on roadways.  There can be no doubt that the officials' only concern is liability, because they rarely respond with similar urgency to address branches falling from rotting trees. 

Which of the following assumptions is necessary for the conclusion to be properly drawn?

• City officials only act quickly to address deteriorating bridges when concrete begins falling on roadways

• Branches fall from rotting trees as frequently as concrete falls from deteriorating bridges

• City officials are liable for harm from man-made structures that are not maintained but not for branches falling from rotting trees

• Deteriorating bridges are one of the most common types of roadway hazards

• Bridges are not the only type of man-made structure that requires maintenance

Student: Obtaining student loans will be more beneficial to my future than working full-time while in school.  If I obtain student loans for my remaining years in college, I will be in significant debt after I graduate from college.  If I do not obtain student loans, and instead secure a full-time job while in school, I will avoid such debt.  However, I cannot obtain a job in my chosen field after graduation without good grades, and my grades will suffer greatly if I am working full-time while attending school.  

Which one of the following is an assumption required by the student’s argument?

• Avoidance of significant debt is the most important factor in determining what is beneficial to the student’s future.

• Employers in the student’s chosen field consider only good grades when deciding whether to hire new graduates.

• The amount of debt incurred by the student as a result of student loans will be lower than the amount of net income attained by working full-time while in school.

• A full-time job obtained during school will not pay a higher salary than a job obtained after graduation.

• Obtaining a job in the student’s chosen field after graduation is more beneficial to the student’s future than avoiding significant debt.

The campaign for increased care of the environment is doomed to fail.  At this point, nothing can be done to prevent the melting of polar ice caps.  The melting would continue even if all conduct harmful to the environment ended today.  It is simply too late to stop the inevitable melting.

Which of the following must be assumed in order for the conclusion to be properly drawn?

• The campaign for increased care of the environment will not cause people to care for the environment

• The campaign for increased care of the environment will not decrease conduct harmful to the environment

• Melting of ice caps will cause harm to the environment

• The campaign for increased care of the environment will fail unless it prevents the melting of ice caps

• Melting of ice caps is caused by a failure to care for the environment

At a particular bakery, sales have increased in each of the last six months. The top-selling item at the bakery is the peanut butter cookie. Due to concerns over nut allergies, the bakery has temporarily taken the peanut butter cookie off the menu and replaced it with the all-new snickerdoodle cookie. It is fair to say that the bakery's sales will not increase for a seventh consecutive month.

Which of the following assumptions does the author's argument rely upon?

• The snickerdoodle cookie will not be as popular as the peanut butter cookie was.

• The snickerdoodle cookie will not be the top-selling cookie.

• The peanut butter cookie was so significant to overall sales that its replacement will halt sales growth.

• Aside from the peanut butter cookie, the rest of the menu at the bakery remains unchanged.

• The bakery has been in business for only six months.

Every winter, a species of North American bird flies south. Every year, the migration begins during the first week of November. For the last fifty years, if the average temperature is less than 40 degrees Fahrenheit during the final week of October, the birds fly southwest. If the average temperature during that time is more than 40 degrees Fahrenheit, the birds fly southeast.  his year, the average temperature during the final week of October is going to be 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, the birds will fly in the southeast direction.

Which most correctly describes the necessary assumption(s) that the author makes?

• The author assumes the forecast for the final week of October will be correct.

• The author assumes that the birds will continue to travel during the winter.

• The author assumes that the birds are familiar with what day it is.

• The author assumes there is a causal relationship between the average temperature in the final week of October and the direction in which the birds fly.

• All of the above

Politician: Building up the military is a necessary part of keeping the nation safe. Other nations will invade our territory if they sense weakness, and having a strong national defense will make other nations think twice before they threaten our borders. Only an impressive military will allow us to make the world safe.

Which of the following is a necessary assumption in the argument made above?

• A nation will always invade another nation that it views as weak militarily.

• The proper size of the nation's military is a divisive political argument.

• The way to show military strength is to invade other nations with weaker militaries.

• The nation's military is not currently strong enough to invade other nations.

• The nation's military should always be as strong as the government can possibly make it.

Scientist: Much of the marine life has been dying along the coastline for decades. The introduction of foreign fish began thirty years ago, with a small aquaculture development in the southern part of the region. Returning the marine environment to the way it was a century ago will allow a more diverse amount of species to flourish in these waters.

Which of the following is a necessary assumption of the scientist’s argument?

• Foreign fish species are easily eradicated from the coastline’s marine environment.

• Native fish species are far superior to the foreign fish species found in this particular coastline.

• The native fish species should have been able to handle the foreign fish species much better.

• The introduction of foreign fish was done to intentionally harm local fish species.

• The foreign fish species have been harming a number of native, local marine species.

Each year, fewer students study the humanities. While there might still be interest in the subjects of literature, art history, and philosophy, the financial rewards of studying business, science, and engineering have proven too enticing for most students.

Which of the following is a necessary assumption of the passage?

• Students are most likely to choose the major with the most lucrative career path.

• Students prefer the intellectual pursuits of business, science, and engineering.

• Students choose college majors with little regard for post-college plans.

• Students do not make the best career choices when choosing college majors.

• Students find literature, art history, and philosophy boring as subjects of inquiry.