CARS Assumptions and Underlying Premises 2

Question 1

An author argues that economic growth always benefits society as a whole. What value assumption underlies this claim?

Accepted Answer

Economic metrics such as GDP are the most meaningful indicators of societal well-being

Answer

All members of society benefit equally from any economic expansion

Answer

Governments are the primary drivers of economic growth

Answer

Social programs are inherently less effective than market-based solutions

Question 2

A CARS passage claims that modern medicine has extended human lifespan, then concludes that modern medicine has improved quality of life. Which assumption bridges these two claims?

Accepted Answer

A longer life generally corresponds to or enables a better quality of life

Answer

All medical advancements are equally effective across all populations

Answer

Quality of life is determined purely by lifespan rather than by health conditions

Answer

Medical technology has eliminated all age-related diseases

Question 3

Which of the following best describes a 'scope assumption' in an argument?

Accepted Answer

An unstated belief about how broadly or narrowly a generalization applies

Answer

An assumption about the chronological order in which events occurred

Answer

A premise regarding the reliability of a particular source of evidence

Answer

An implicit claim about the motives of individuals cited in the argument

Question 4

An author concludes that video games cause aggressive behavior because children who play more video games exhibit more aggression. What causal assumption is being made?

Accepted Answer

The correlation between video game use and aggression reflects a directional causal relationship rather than reverse causation or a third variable

Answer

All children who play video games inevitably become aggressive adults

Answer

Aggression is always harmful and never serves an adaptive function

Answer

Video game content is uniformly violent regardless of game genre or rating

Question 5

In circular reasoning, the main logical problem is that the argument:

Accepted Answer

Uses the conclusion as one of its own premises, providing no independent support for the claim

Answer

Relies on an emotional appeal rather than objective logical evidence

Answer

Contains premises that directly contradict each other and cannot both be true

Answer

Makes a claim that is impossible to evaluate or test through any means

Question 6

An author assumes that readers share the view that individual freedom is a paramount value. This is best described as a:

Accepted Answer

Value assumption about shared ethical or ideological commitments

Answer

Factual assumption about the documented beliefs of the intended audience

Answer

Logical assumption about the formal structure of the argument

Answer

Definitional assumption about the meaning of a contested key term

Question 7

A passage argues that since a new policy worked in City A, it will work in City B. What assumption must be true for this analogical argument to succeed?

Accepted Answer

City A and City B are sufficiently similar in the relevant respects that the policy's effectiveness would transfer

Answer

City B has already tried every alternative policy and failed at each one

Answer

City A and City B are identical in every measurable demographic characteristic

Answer

Policy effectiveness never depends on local context, history, or conditions