Identifying Assumptions
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GMAT Verbal › Identifying Assumptions
Our collective obsession with celebrities and entertainment news is ruining this country. As a nation, we face daunting political, economic, social and environmental problems that threaten our existence. Instead of dealing with these problems, we instead focus on the minute details of even the most minor celebrities. How can we prepare for the challenges of the future when we’re so obsessed with trivia of the present?
The argument depends on which of the following assumptions?
It is impossible for our society to simultaneously address serious problems and fixate on celebrity gossip.
Political, economic, social and environmental problems are just as important as celebrity news.
Current fears about political, economic, social and environmental problems are unfounded.
All news about celebrities and entertainment is trivial.
The economic impact of the entertainment industry is minimal.
Explanation
The argument assumes that spending too much time following celebrity/entertainment news is not just pointless, but dangerous. Claiming that serious, national problems and celebrity news are equally important is therefore incorrect since the author considers these problems to be more important. Similarly, the author clearly believes that these problems have some basis in fact, so the fears are not groundless. And while the author may agree that all news about celebrities and entertainment is trivial, this does not go far enough in addressing the danger about which the author warns. Finally, the economic impact of the entertainment industry is irrelevant to the issue of whether it distracts people from dealing with serious problems. Only the correct answer makes the connection between the prevalence of celebrity obsession and the danger it poses in the form of distraction.
Landline telephone sales are declining and will no longer exist in a few decades. This is because almost everyone has cellular service or is able to rely on computer systems for their personal needs. Even in workplaces, landlines are becoming obsolete.
The argument depends on which of the following?
Landlines will no longer be necessary for any reason aside from personal or business communication.
Workplaces are the only realm in which landlines are used.
Personal landlines no longer exist.
Pre-installed landlines will be eliminated.
Landline sales have been declining for several years now.
Explanation
The argument is based on the premise that landlines are either used for personal or business uses, and that no third use exists for them. Therefore, in order for the argument to hold water, there is an assumption that:Landlines will no longer be necessary for any reason aside from personal or business communication.
The business model of internet cafes is no longer capable of success in the United States. This is because the availability of internet has skyrocketed over the past several years. Free wifi is offered in most major coffee shops and stores. Additionally, Americans have mobile devices with plans that provide them with internet access. For those without devices, public libraries also provide computers offering internet access, free of charge.
The argument depends on which of the following assumptions?
Internet cafes do not offer any other services, aside from online access, that would enable them to be profitable.
Internet cafes can still be profitable in other countries, just not the United States.
Internet cafes were profitable five years ago.
Major coffee shops are in direct competition with internet cafes.
Public libraries are the only accessible locations where anyone can use the internet.
Explanation
The correct answer is:
Internet cafes do not offer any other services, aside from online access, that would enable them to be profitable.
The crux of the argument is that internet cafes are not successful because the service that they offer -- online access -- is now made available for free by other outlets. However, this argument depends on the assumption that internet cafes do NOT offer any other services that would make them profitable -- such as a community base that would attract clients, or food and beverages that consumers would be interested in buying.
The per capita violent crime rate in Jackson City is over 
Which of the following statements, if true, would most weaken the conclusion above?
The per capita crime rate in Trentdale was substantially higher than it was in Jackson City six years ago.
The population density of Trentdale has not increased as much over the past six years as it did in Jackson City.
Trentdale’s population increased much more quickly over the past six years than did Jackson City’s.
The ratio of violent to non-violent crimes did not rise equally in each city.
Over the last six years, Trentdale invested substantially in crime prevention, but so, too, did Jackson City.
Explanation
We don’t know exactly how high the crime rates in the two cities were before the increase, but if Trentdale already had a huge crime rate, increasing that rate by 10% could mean it’s still higher than Jackson City’s, if Jackson City’s were lower to start. (An example: If Trentdale’s crime rate six years ago was 90% (90 out of 100 residents affected by crime) and it went up 10%, it’d be 99%--nearly everybody affected. If Jackson City’s crime rate six years ago was 8%, and it went up 75%, it’d now be only 10%.)
Cities should stop subsidizing the construction of sports stadiums. These subsidies, in the form of tax breaks or municipal funding, take money directly from city residents. Sports teams are owned by wealthy people who don’t need help. On the other hand, every dollar spent subsidizing a stadium is one less dollar available for schools or city services.
The argument depends on which of the following assumptions?
The cost of lost revenue to cities cannot be offset by the benefits of hosting a professional sports team in a new stadium.
It is immoral to give taxpayer money to people who are already wealthy.
Stadiums and sports teams create jobs, which benefits the local economy.
Wealthy individuals know how to manipulate the system for their own benefit.
Schools and city services are too important to cut.
Explanation
The argument assumes that it is impossible for sports teams and taxpayers to equally benefit from the municipal funding of stadiums. In the author’s view, one side will win and the other will lose. In light of this, the correct answer clearly reflects this assumption. Issues of morality and manipulation of the system are separate from the cost-benefit analysis implied by the author’s basic assumption. The answer stating the importance of schools and city services does imply such an analysis, but does not relate to the specific issue of stadium funding. Finally, the answer mentioning the economic benefits of subsidizing stadium construction directly contradicts the author’s contention that this is a bad idea.
Even though she is allergic to chocolate, Sandra found a box of chocolates in her mailbox, apparently a gift from an anonymous party. If the gift had been sent by someone who knew her well, they would have known that Sandra is allergic to chocolate and would not be happy to receive it. Someone who only knew Sandra in passing would surely have included some note indicating who the gift was from, but there was no such note. So it must be that the unknown person intended to give Sandra some other candy, or an identifying note was lost in the mail, or the chocolates were accidentally put in her mailbox.
The reasoning above is questionable because it fails to exclude the possibility that ___________.
someone might send a gift without desiring to please the recipient
chocolates are the candy most often given as a gift
Sandra’s mailman is exceptionally competent
someone who does not know Sandra would not send her a gift
some people who know Sandra well would still have included a note
Explanation
This argument makes an assumption so slight that you might have missed it, that only people with nice intentions would ever give a gift to someone. Sure, Sandra's acquaintances might know she hates chocolate. And they might be angry at Sandra and want to annoy her by putting chocolates she doesn't want in her mailbox. Or maybe they're just really bad at giving gifts. The correct answer points out that there could be other reasons someone might give a gift.
Scientists are close to developing a satellite detection system that will accurately predict the path of hurricanes and other catastrophic weather events. It will soon be possible for meteorologists to provide warnings to communities that will be affected by such disasters as early as one week in advance. The costs of developing and maintaining such a system are immense, but the potential cost-savings in terms of both human life and property make this a very viable project.
The author assumes what about current detection systems for catastrophic weather events?
They often do not provide enough accurate information in time to prevent loss of life and property damage
They rely on more primitive forms of satellite technology than the one being proposed
They leave too much room for human error in interpreting their data
They are fragmented among both states and local communities
They are more cost-effective than the system being proposed
Explanation
The writer mentions that the proposed system can provide "accurate" information as much as "one week in advance," thus implying that the new system is more accurate and can provide information much earlier than the current system.
Despite its appearance as an exhibition sport at the 2012 Games, the so-called “sport” of parkour should not be added to the permanent roster of Olympic events. Though parkour’s varied physical challenges—or, to use its practitioners favored term, its ‘moves’— certainly require a great deal of physical skill and even, at times, grace, thus far even its most ardent supporters have been unable to suggest a plausible system of scoring under which participants might be ranked.
Which of the following is an assumption that supports drawing the conclusion above from the reasons given for that conclusion?
A sport should only be added to the roster of permanent Olympic events if a plausible system of scoring can be suggested for it.
None of the sports on the roster of permanent Olympic events had trouble initially devising a scoring system.
All sports that have a plausible system of scoring are entitled to be added to the permanent roster of Olympic events.
Many parkour practitioners are more concerned than others with creating a plausible system of scoring for the sport.
Many of the most expert practitioners agree upon a basic classification system of parkour’s ‘moves’.
Explanation
Though the stem contains one of the wordier ways of asking an assumption question, the argument is straightforward: the author evaluates the sport of parkour against a standard that is not explicitly connected to the situation. The assumption is that the standard is in fact determinative.
The correct answer names the author’s assumption, that the standard he indicates that the sport fails to live up to (having a plausible scoring system) is indeed required for all sports that would be included in the Olympics.
The way we treat the most vulnerable members of our society reflects on our own level of moral development. The poor, the homeless, orphans, the mentally ill, prisoners and those afflicted with disease usually lack the political power to advocate on their own behalf. When we address their concerns and make them our own, that is when we show true nobility of spirit.
The argument depends on which of the following assumptions?
Helping others equates to morality.
Money and political power are inextricably linked.
People in difficult situations must learn to endure.
Some people are more deserving of help than others.
Society will always be divided between the “haves” and the “have-nots.”
Explanation
The argument assumes that there is a correlation between morality and helping the vulnerable since this is what the author is recommending to promote moral development. Although political and economic power are related, this observation lacks the essential component of morality. Likewise, the assertion that people undergoing hardship must learn to endure is true, but it also omits any reference to morality. Similarly, the answer noting the existence of “haves” and “have-nots” addresses the reason there are vulnerable members of society, but says nothing about the moral imperative of helping them. Finally, the author neither advocates nor implies that any criteria be applied to determine which members of society are most worthy of help.
Unions still have a vital role to play in society despite their declining membership. Issues like the minimum wage, health care, pension insolvency and outsourcing still affect millions of workers. While “union bosses” make easy targets for some politicians, it doesn’t change the fact that unions are the only institution run by and for workers. For this reason, if for no other, they will survive.
The argument depends on which of the following assumptions?
The close connection between unions and their members makes them irreplaceable advocates for workers.
Declining membership has weakened unions to the point of irrelevance.
Corruption by union bosses has tarnished the image of labor beyond repair.
There are still many problems in the workplace that unions need to address.
Labor unrest has largely subsided.
Explanation
The argument assumes that there are no credible alternatives to unions that can better represent the interests of workers. Although the author states that workplace problems still affect millions, the paragraph emphasizes the composition and organization of unions. Thus, the focus is on the close union-member relationship rather than need. The issues of corruption, along with declining membership and labor unrest are similarly unrelated to this focus.