Assumptions | Decision Making for UCAT PDF Download

Introduction

• The statements and assumptions question are the crucial part of reasoning section for CLAT examination. The questions from statements and assumptions feature regularly in exams. They are variant of verbal reasoning questions asked to check the efficiency of decision making skill of aspirants.
• In this questions statement is given in the question and it is followed by two or more assumptions. For the correct answer, the student needs to access the given statement and decide which of the given assumption is implicit to the statement in the question above. To solve the questions you need to follow a pattern and thus it becomes essential to know what statement and assumptions stand for.
• We use statements daily in the form of communication. It is a very integral part of our speech whenever we speak with others. But in term of communication, most of the ideas are  conveyed in the speech and thus remain unuttered. So to find a way to utter these ideas we use implications. These implications are indirectly used in our statements.
• An assumption is something that can be supposed by the implied meaning of the given statement. Imply means “to suggest or Express indirectly”. Often people do not speak what is in their mind or what they think in in totality, but we can infer  or assume what must have been in their Mind from the statement made by them. For example when somebody says an honest officer has come to the city, and so crime will be checked then the assumption you make is that if officer is honest, he could put a check on crime.
• Thus, when we say something we do not Express everything, every aspect of our ideas into words. We tend to leave many things are Idea and said, which may be defined as an assumption. If it is that part of an argument on the basis of which we say something. Now, we can say that there is a option is the part of an argument which is not expressed or said explicitly as it is assumed or understood intrinsically.

Argument

A number of propositions which leads towards the conclusion. For the t to be valid the propositions on the basis of which the conclusion is arrived at must be true. In logic, we check the validity of the argument on the basis of the rationale on which the conclusion is arrived at.

Reasoning is concerned with the formation of right conclusion based on the propositions (information). Therefore if the propositions are false, the conclusions cannot be correct.

An assumption is something that is assumed, supposed and taken for granted. When somebody says something he does not put every thing, every aspect of his idea into words. There is a lot which he leaves unsaid. That which he leaves unsaid, that which he takes for granted, may be defined as an assumption.

• Assumptions is the missing link of the logical structure of an argument. It is left unsaid and therefore, assumed.
• There are some standard categories of statements that have standard ways of assuming some things.
• In judging the validity of a given assumption, special case should be taken of some keywords. 

Some Tips for Quick Answers

(i) No either

• An argument may have more than one assumption. But they are almost never exclusive of each other. It implies that if both assumptions look true to you, choose the choice “both are implicit” and not “either of them is implicit.” The answer-choice “either of them is implicit” is very rarely correct for assumption question. You can take this as a thumb-rule.

(ii) Eliminate with the help of the certain

• Usually we are unsure of only one or two of the assumptions and we are sure of some other assumptions. We can with the help of these sure ones to eliminate some choices. For examples, suppose that a question has three assumptions – I, II and III. When you read these suggested assumptions you may find that you are certain that I is an assumption and that III is not an assumption, but you are not sure about II. So you can look for those choices that include I and exclude III. This will reduce your number of answer choices from 5 to 2 or maybe 1.

(iii) Remember some examples

• Many of the questions form a usual standard pattern. In such cases it helps to keep a similar example at the back of your mind.

Example

Ex.1. Should governments regulate social media platforms to prevent the spread of misinformation?
Select the strongest argument from the statements below.
(a) Yes, misinformation can have serious consequences for public health and safety.
(b) Yes, regulating social media platforms can help ensure the accuracy of information being shared.
(c) No, regulating social media platforms could infringe on freedom of speech.
(d) No, social media users should be responsible for verifying the information they consume.

Correct Answer is Option (a)
A is correct because it addresses a specific and widely recognized issue with misinformation on social media.
B is incorrect because it does not explain why ensuring the accuracy of information is inherently beneficial.
C is incorrect because it does not address the potential benefits of regulating social media platforms.
D is incorrect because it does not consider the potential benefits of regulation in preventing the spread of misinformation.

Ex.2. Should companies be required to offer paid parental leave?
Select the strongest argument from the statements below.
(a) Yes, paid parental leave promotes a healthy work-life balance.
(b) Yes, paid parental leave can lead to increased employee satisfaction and retention.
(c) No, offering paid parental leave is too expensive for small businesses.
(d) No, employees should not be paid for time they are not working.

Correct Answer is Option (b)
A is incorrect because it only states a general principle and does not address specific benefits or drawbacks.
B is correct because it explains a specific benefit of paid parental leave that impacts both employees and companies.
C is incorrect because it does not address the potential overall benefits of paid parental leave.
D is incorrect because it does not consider the potential benefits of paid parental leave for employees and companies.

Ex.3. Should governments implement a universal basic income (UBI) program?
Select the strongest argument from the statements below.
(a) Yes, UBI can help reduce poverty and income inequality.
(b) Yes, UBI can provide a safety net for people facing job loss due to automation.
(c) No, UBI would discourage people from working and contribute to a decline in productivity.
(d) No, UBI is too expensive and would result in increased taxes.

Correct Answer is Option (a)
A is correct because it addresses two specific and widely recognized benefits of UBI.
B is incorrect because it only addresses one potential benefit of UBI in a specific context.
C is incorrect because it does not provide evidence for the claim that UBI would discourage people from working.
D is incorrect because it does not consider the potential long-term benefits of UBI that could offset increased taxes.

Ex.4. Should governments regulate social media platforms to prevent the spread of misinformation?
Select the strongest argument from the statements below.
(a) Yes, misinformation can have serious consequences for public health and safety.
(b) Yes, regulating social media platforms can help ensure the accuracy of information being shared.
(c) No, regulating social media platforms could infringe on freedom of speech.
(d) No, social media users should be responsible for verifying the information they consume.

Correct Answer is Option (a)
A is correct because it addresses a specific and widely recognized issue with misinformation on social media.
B is incorrect because it does not explain why ensuring the accuracy of information is inherently beneficial.
C is incorrect because it does not address the potential benefits of regulating social media platforms.
D is incorrect because it does not consider the potential benefits of regulation in preventing the spread of misinformation.

Ex.5. Should college tuition fees be abolished to increase accessibility to higher education?
Select the strongest argument from the statements below.
(a) Yes, high tuition fees create barriers for students from low-income backgrounds.
(b) Yes, free college education will lead to a more educated and skilled workforce.
(c) No, students should bear the cost of their education to value it more.
(d) No, abolishing tuition fees will result in overcrowding of universities and compromised quality of education.

Correct answer is b.
A is correct because it identifies a barrier to accessibility for students from low-income backgrounds.
B is the strongest argument because it highlights the potential benefits of a more educated and skilled workforce.
C is incorrect because it does not address the issue of accessibility.
D is incorrect because it does not provide a strong counterargument against abolishing tuition fees for increased accessibility.