Identify Assumptions - Verbal Reasoning

1. Identify the assumption: "Company A has lower prices than B; therefore A offers better value."

   Quality and other costs are comparable between A and B. Value comparisons assume equivalence in non-price factors to isolate the pricing advantage.

2. If negating a statement does not damage the argument, what is that statement?

   Not a necessary assumption. If the argument remains intact after negation, the statement is not required for the conclusion to hold.

3. Which type of answer choice is most likely to be a wrong assumption: too strong or minimal?

   Too strong. Overly strong choices exceed what's needed, making them incorrect as they aren't minimally required.

4. What is the definition of an assumption in a GRE argument?

   An unstated claim that must be true for the conclusion to follow. This captures the essential role of assumptions as implicit links ensuring the argument's logical validity.

5. If negating a statement makes the conclusion no longer follow, what is it?

   A necessary assumption. Negation causing the argument to fail confirms the statement's role as a vital unspoken support.

6. Identify the assumption: "Policy X reduced accidents; therefore X should be adopted everywhere."

   Other places are sufficiently similar that X will also reduce accidents there. This assumes comparability across contexts, a common requirement in generalization arguments.

7. What common wrong-answer pattern merely repeats the conclusion in different words?

   A restated conclusion. Restating the conclusion circularly avoids providing the missing link that assumptions must supply.

8. What is the most common logical gap assumptions must bridge in GRE arguments?

   A gap between evidence and conclusion (missing link). Assumptions typically connect premises to conclusions by filling unstated logical voids in the reasoning.

9. What is the key difference between an assumption and a conclusion?

   A conclusion is the claim argued for; an assumption enables that claim. Conclusions represent the argument's main point, while assumptions are unspoken supports making that point viable.

10. Identify the assumption: "This supplement improved memory in a study; it will improve my memory."

    You are similar to the study subjects in relevant ways. Personal application from studies requires assuming representativeness in key characteristics.

11. What common wrong-answer pattern restates a premise instead of filling a gap?

    A paraphrase of evidence. Paraphrasing evidence repeats stated information without bridging the necessary gap to the conclusion.

12. What does the negation test require you to do to a candidate assumption?

    Negate it and see whether the argument collapses. Negating a potential assumption tests its necessity by observing if the argument's logic fails without it.

13. What is the key difference between an assumption and a premise?

    A premise is stated support; an assumption is unstated required support. Premises provide explicit evidence, whereas assumptions are unspoken necessities bridging gaps in reasoning.

14. What is a necessary assumption in GRE argument analysis?

    A claim that must be true for the argument to work. Necessary assumptions are indispensable for the conclusion to logically follow from the given premises.

15. What is the key difference between an assumption and background information?

    Background adds context; an assumption is necessary for the reasoning. Background information offers supplementary context, unlike assumptions which are critical for the argument's logic.

16. Identify the assumption: "All trained pilots pass the test; Lina is trained; so Lina will pass."

    Lina will take the same test under normal conditions. Universal claims imply assumptions about consistent conditions for all cases in the category.

17. What common wrong-answer pattern adds a new topic not discussed in the argument?

    An out-of-scope statement. Out-of-scope statements introduce irrelevant elements, failing to address the argument's specific logical gaps.

18. What is the key difference between an assumption and an inference?

    An inference can be drawn; an assumption must hold for the argument. Inferences are logical derivations from premises, but assumptions are required truths for the argument's coherence.

19. Which option is the necessary assumption: "If a town builds a park, crime will fall; so build a park."

    Building the park will not increase other factors that raise crime. Policy recommendations assume no offsetting effects that could negate the intended benefits.

20. Which test is most reliable for identifying a necessary assumption?

    The negation test. The negation test evaluates whether a statement is essential by checking if its denial undermines the argument.

21. Identify the assumption: "The new hire has a degree, so she will be an effective manager."

    Having a degree is a reliable indicator of managerial effectiveness. Indicator assumptions link observable traits to inferred qualities in evaluative arguments.

22. Identify the assumption: "This painting is valuable because it is old."

    Age is positively associated with value for paintings of this type. Value attributions based on attributes assume a correlative relationship in the relevant domain.

23. What is a sufficient assumption in GRE argument analysis?

    A claim that, if true, guarantees the conclusion. Sufficient assumptions, when added, make the argument airtight by ensuring the conclusion is inescapable.

24. Identify the assumption: "Sales rose after the ad campaign; the campaign caused the increase."

    No other major factor caused the sales increase. Causal claims assume no confounding variables explain the observed correlation.

25. Identify the assumption: "The app is popular among teens; therefore it will be profitable."

    Popularity among teens will generate sufficient revenue (ads, fees, or sales). Profitability from popularity assumes effective monetization mechanisms are in place.

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