Tips and Tricks: Statements and Assumptions | General Intelligence and Reasoning for SSC CGL PDF Download

In reasoning tests involving statements and assumptions, a statement is a given declarative sentence or passage. An assumption is an unstated premise that the author or speaker must accept for the statement to make sense or have the intended effect. Assumptions are not direct facts from general knowledge; they are inferred from the statement alone. Distinguish between implicit assumptions (logically or reasonably follows from the statement) and explicit or false assumptions (stated or unreasonable to infer).

General rules and quick shortcuts

• Assumptions are invariably unstated and supportive in character. They provide the unstated basis for the statement.
• If an assumption uses absolute words such as each, only, any, all, every, definitely, or certainly, it tends to be explicit or false (do not infer broad absolutes unless clearly supported).
• If an assumption contains words like many, some, much, or to a large extent, it is usually implicit or reasonably true.
• When the statement is a notice, advertisement or an appeal, any assumption that the notice will have some effect or is placed because the situation exists is generally implicit.
• Assumptions related to social well-being or government policy are usually taken to be implicit, since such statements presuppose concern or action.
• Assumptions tied strictly to past or future specific events are generally false or explicit and should not be inferred unless directly supported.
• If an assumption looks like a recommendation, instruction, or request, it is usually implicit because that is the intended effect of the statement.
• Repetition of the statement or content is not an implicit assumption; repeating a fact does not create a new unstated premise.

Tip 1 - Read only what is given: do not bring outside real-life experience into judgement

 Statement: If Shilpa is an engineer, we have an interesting job for her.
 Assumptions:
(I) We need an engineer.
(II) Shilpa is an engineer.
(a) Only assumption I is implicit
 (b) Only assumption II is implicit
 (c) Either I or II is implicit
 (d) Neither I nor II is implicit

Ans: (a)
Explanation: The advertisement (or statement) indicates that an engineer is required; therefore assumption (I) is implicit. Assumption (II) states Shilpa is an engineer; the statement is conditional ("If Shilpa is an engineer..."), so (II) is not given and cannot be treated as implicit.

Tip 2 - Do not over-generalise beyond the statement

 Statement: Everybody loves reading spiritual books.
 Assumptions: 
 (I) Spiritual books are the only reading material.
 (II) Not a single person loves reading any other material.
 (a) Only assumption I is implicit
 (b) Only assumption II is implicit
 (c) Either I or II is implicit
 (d) Neither I nor II is implicit

Ans: (d)

Explanation: The statement says everyone loves reading spiritual books, but it does not exclude other reading materials nor imply exclusivity. Neither assumption (I) nor (II) logically follows from the given sentence.

Tip 3 - Notices or advertisements: assume the situation exists and the notice will have some effect

Statement: Do not do cheating in the Board Examinations - A notice.
 Assumptions:
 (I) It is possible to do cheating in the board exams.
 (II) Such warning will have some effect.
 (a) Only assumption I is implicit
 (b) Only assumption II is implicit
 (c) Either I or II is implicit
 (d) Both I and II are implicit

Ans: (d)

Explanation: If cheating were impossible there would be no need to issue the notice, so (I) is implicit. If the notice were expected to have no effect, issuing it would be pointless; therefore (II) is also implicit.

Examples

Example 1: Statement: Besides entertainment, television also has educational value that cannot be overlooked.
 Assumptions:
I. People primarily view television as a form of entertainment.
 II. The true educational potential of television is not being fully realized.
 (a) Only I is Implict
 (b) Only II is Implicit
 (c) Both are Implicit
 (d) Either I or II is Implicit

Ans: (c)

Explanation: The phrase "besides entertainment" implies that television is commonly viewed for entertainment (supporting I). The phrase "also has educational value that cannot be overlooked" implies some regret or an emphasis on unfulfilled potential, which supports II. Both assumptions reasonably follow.

Example 2: Statement: A mother threatens to slap her child if they continue to bother her.
 Assumptions:
I. All children tend to misbehave at times.
 II. The child may stop bothering the mother after being warned.
 (a) Only I is Implict
 (b) Only II is Implicit
 (c) Both are Implicit
 (d) Either I or II is Implicit

Ans: (b)

Explanation: The mother's threat presumes her warning will have some effect, hence II is implicit. I is a broad generalisation about all children and is not required to make the mother's statement meaningful.

Example 3: Statement: All dogs can swim.
 Assumptions:
I. Dogs are capable of swimming.
 II. All dogs are vulnerable to water bodies.
 (a) Statement I is correct
 (b) Statement II is correct
 (c) Both Statement are correct
 (d) Neither of them are good

Ans: (a)

Explanation: The statement asserts that dogs can swim, so the assumption that dogs are capable of swimming follows. The claim "vulnerable to water bodies" is unrelated and not a required unstated premise.

Example 4: Statement: Working from home is more productive than working in an office.
 Assumptions:
I. Working from home allows for fewer distractions and interruptions.
 II. Employees are equally productive in any work environment.
 (a) Assumption I is correct.
 (b) Assumption II is correct.
 (c) Both are correct
 (d) Neither of them is correct.

Ans: (a)

Explanation: The assertion that working from home is more productive presupposes some advantage such as fewer distractions (I). II contradicts the statement because if employees were equally productive anywhere, the statement would be false; II is therefore not implicit.

Example 5: Statement: Teachers have a greater influence on children nowadays.
 Assumptions:
I. Children consider their teachers as role models.
 II. Children spend a significant amount of their time at school.
 (a) Only I is Implict
 (b) Only II is Implicit
 (c) Either I or II is Implicit
 (d) None of them are implicit.

Ans: (a)

Explanation: For teachers to exert influence, children must regard them as role models (I). The statement does not assert how much time children spend at school; that is not necessary to infer influence and so II is not implicit.