Statement and Assumption

This section is designed to test your logical reasoning and analytical skills. You will be presented with a 'Statement' which is a declaration or a fact. Following this statement, you will find several 'Assumptions'. An assumption is something that is presupposed or taken for granted. Your task is to identify which of the given assumptions are implicit in the statement. In other words, you need to figure out what the author of the statement must have believed or taken for granted to make that statement.

The key to solving these questions is to understand the difference between an assumption and an inference. An inference is a conclusion drawn from the statement, while an assumption is a hidden premise that supports the statement. The assumption must be directly related to the statement and must be necessary for the statement to be true or meaningful.

Understanding the Core Concepts

What is a Statement?

A statement is a piece of information presented as a fact. It can be an observation, a policy, a decision, a situation, or an opinion. The statement is the basis upon which you will evaluate the assumptions. You should assume the statement to be true for the purpose of the question, regardless of whether it aligns with your personal beliefs or general knowledge.

What is an Assumption?

An assumption is an unstated belief or idea that the speaker or writer holds true. It is a prerequisite for the statement to be made. If the assumption is false, the statement might not hold water or might not have been made in the first place. Assumptions are often implied rather than explicitly stated.

Types of Assumptions to Look For

When analyzing the assumptions, consider the following:

• Underlying Beliefs: What core beliefs or values does the statement reflect?
• Cause and Effect: If the statement implies a cause and effect, what is the assumed cause or effect?
• Purpose or Goal: What is the intended outcome or objective behind the statement?
• Target Audience: Who is the statement directed towards, and what do they likely know or believe?
• Necessity: Would the statement still make sense if the assumption were false? If not, the assumption is likely valid.

How to Approach Statement and Assumption Questions

Here’s a step-by-step method to effectively tackle these questions:

1. Read the Statement Carefully: Understand the exact meaning of the statement. Identify the core message, the context, and any implied actions or beliefs.
2. Understand the Assumptions: Read each assumption individually. Try to rephrase it in your own words to ensure you grasp its meaning.
3. Connect Assumption to Statement: For each assumption, ask yourself: "Is this assumption necessary for the statement to be true or to be made?" Imagine the statement being made. What must the speaker be thinking or believing?
4. The "Personally True" Test (with caution): Ask yourself if the assumption would be true in the real world. However, be careful with this test. The assumption might be true in reality, but it might not be *implied* by the statement. The assumption must be *necessary for the statement*, not just generally true.
5. The "Negation" Test: This is a powerful technique. Take an assumption and negate it (make it false). Then, see if the original statement still holds true. If negating the assumption makes the statement invalid or nonsensical, then the assumption is likely implicit in the statement.
6. Eliminate Invalid Assumptions: Discard assumptions that are:
   • Not related to the statement.
   • Too broad or too narrow.
   • Contradictory to the statement.
   • General truths that are not specifically required by the statement.
   • Inferences or conclusions rather than underlying beliefs.
7. Select the Correct Option: Based on your analysis, choose the option that lists all the valid assumptions.

Examples to Illustrate the Process

Example 1

Statement: "The government has decided to increase the minimum wages for all unskilled laborers in the state."

Assumptions: I. Unskilled laborers in the state are currently earning less than the proposed minimum wage. II. The government has the authority to set minimum wages. III. An increase in minimum wages will improve the living standards of unskilled laborers.

Analysis:

• Assumption I: If unskilled laborers were already earning more than the proposed minimum wage, there would be no need to increase it. This assumption is necessary for the statement. (Negation Test: If laborers were earning *more* than the proposed minimum wage, the statement about increasing it would be pointless or incorrect).
• Assumption II: The government making a *decision* to increase wages implies it has the power to do so. This is a necessary prerequisite for the action. (Negation Test: If the government *did not* have the authority, it couldn't make such a decision).
• Assumption III: This is a possible *consequence* or an inference, not a necessary assumption for the statement itself. The government might increase wages for other reasons, or the increase might not actually improve living standards due to other economic factors. The statement is about the *decision*, not its guaranteed outcome. (Negation Test: If living standards *don't* improve, the government could still have made the decision to increase wages).

Conclusion: Assumptions I and II are implicit.

Example 2

Statement: "To improve the quality of education, the university has decided to hire more experienced professors."

Assumptions: I. Experienced professors are capable of improving the quality of education. II. The university has sufficient funds to hire more professors. III. The current professors are not experienced enough.

Analysis:

• Assumption I: The very reason for hiring experienced professors to improve quality implies a belief that they *can* improve quality. This is a core assumption. (Negation Test: If experienced professors *cannot* improve quality, the stated reason for hiring them is invalid).
• Assumption II: While it's a practical consideration, the statement focuses on the *reason* for hiring, not the *means*. The university might be making this decision hoping to find funds or reallocate them. It's not strictly *necessary* for the statement about the *decision* and its *purpose*. However, in many competitive exams, this practical necessity is considered an implicit assumption. Let's re-evaluate. If they *don't* have funds, the decision can't be implemented. So, the *intention* to implement implies the belief that it's possible, which often includes having the resources. Let's consider this a potential implicit assumption depending on exam patterns. For now, let's focus on stronger ones.
• Assumption III: The statement says "to improve the quality," not "because the current professors are bad." The focus is on adding value, not necessarily replacing or condemning existing faculty. While it might be true that current professors lack experience, the statement doesn't *require* this to be true. The goal is improvement, which can be achieved by adding experienced individuals, regardless of the current staff's experience level. (Negation Test: If current professors *are* experienced, the university could still hire *more* experienced professors to further enhance quality).

Refined Analysis for Assumption II: In the context of making a decision that involves hiring, the ability to implement that decision (which implies resources) is often considered an implicit assumption. Without the belief that hiring is feasible, the decision itself might not be made. Let's assume for exam purposes that feasibility is implied.

Conclusion: Assumptions I and II are generally considered implicit. Assumption III is not necessarily implied.

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

1. Confusing Assumption with Inference

An assumption is something taken for granted *before* the statement is made. An inference is a conclusion drawn *from* the statement.

Statement: "The company launched a new advertising campaign to boost sales."

Assumption: The company believes advertising can boost sales. (Valid)

Inference: Sales increased after the campaign. (This is a possible outcome, not a prerequisite for making the statement).

2. Overly Broad or General Statements

Assumptions should be specific to the statement. Avoid assumptions that are universally true but not required by the statement.

Statement: "Please close the door quietly."

Assumption: Noise can be disturbing. (Too general)

Valid Assumption: The speaker wants to avoid noise. (Specific to the request)

3. Assuming the Opposite is False

The negation test is key here. If negating the assumption makes the statement invalid, it's likely a valid assumption. Don't just assume because something is stated, its opposite isn't true.

4. Considering Real-World Possibilities vs. Logical Necessity

The assumption must be logically necessary for the statement. Just because something *could* be true in the real world doesn't make it an assumption of the statement.

Advanced Tips and Tricks

Practice Questions

Let's try a few more to solidify your understanding.

Practice Question 1

Statement: "The company has decided to offer a 10% discount on all its products for the next month to boost sales."

Assumptions: I. Customers are attracted to discounts. II. The company expects to increase its sales volume by offering a discount. III. All products of the company are currently selling well.

Analysis:

• I. The decision to offer a discount *to boost sales* implies a belief that discounts influence purchasing decisions. So, customers are attracted to discounts. (Valid)
• II. The statement explicitly links the discount to the goal of boosting sales. This assumption is directly stated as the purpose. (Valid)
• III. The statement is about boosting sales, not about the current state of sales for individual products. Sales could be poor, average, or good; the company might still want to increase them further. (Invalid)

Answer: Assumptions I and II are implicit.

Practice Question 2

Statement: "The health ministry has issued an advisory asking people to avoid consuming street food during the monsoon season."

Assumptions: I. Street food is unhygienic during the monsoon season. II. People generally follow the advisories issued by the health ministry. III. Consuming street food during monsoon can lead to health problems.

Analysis:

• I. The advisory is issued *because* there's a perceived risk. The risk is related to hygiene, especially during monsoon (which can worsen conditions). (Valid)
• II. Issuing an advisory implies a belief that it will have some effect. This usually means assuming people will heed the advice. If the ministry believed people wouldn't follow, why issue it? This is a common implicit assumption in such advisories. (Valid)
• III. This is a direct consequence or reason behind the advisory. If consuming street food *didn't* lead to health problems, there would be no need for the advisory. (Valid)

Answer: Assumptions I, II, and III are implicit.

Practice Question 3

Statement: "To reduce traffic congestion in the city, the authorities have decided to impose a hefty fine on those who park their vehicles in no-parking zones."

Assumptions: I. Parking in no-parking zones causes traffic congestion. II. People are aware of the existing no-parking zones. III. A hefty fine will deter people from parking in no-parking zones.

Analysis:

• I. The statement directly links reducing congestion to penalizing parking in no-parking zones. This implies the belief that such parking contributes to congestion. (Valid)
• II. While awareness is helpful, the statement's focus is on the deterrent effect of the *fine*. People might park illegally even if they know it's a no-parking zone. The *fine* is the deterrent proposed. Awareness isn't the primary assumption for the *effectiveness of the fine*. Let's reconsider. If people are *unaware*, the fine might seem arbitrary. However, the statement focuses on the *consequence* of parking there (congestion) and the *solution* (fine). The primary assumption is about the fine's effectiveness. Let's mark this as potentially invalid or less critical.
• III. The decision to impose a *hefty fine* is a measure taken to stop an action. This implies a belief that the fine will be significant enough to discourage the behavior. (Valid)

Revisiting II: The statement says "impose a hefty fine on those who park their vehicles in no-parking zones." This implies that such people *exist* and the fine is targeted at them. Whether they are aware or not, the fine is meant to stop them. The core assumption is about the *deterrent effect of the fine*. Let's stick to I and III as the stronger, more direct assumptions.

Answer: Assumptions I and III are implicit.