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

The argument assumes that conventional economic metrics correspond to genuine improvements in human welfare, which is an unstated value judgment about what constitutes societal benefit.

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

The author must assume that living longer tends to correlate with living better; without this bridge, the jump from lifespan to quality of life does not follow logically.

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

Scope assumptions define the boundaries to which a claim applies—for example, assuming that a finding from one group extends to all groups.

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

The argument assumes the correlation runs causally from games to aggression, ignoring the possibility that aggressive children may simply choose to play more video games.

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

Circular reasoning assumes what it sets out to prove, embedding the conclusion within the premises so no genuine logical progress from evidence to conclusion is made.

(CARS) Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills Practice Test

(CARS) Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills Practice Test

CARS Assumptions and Underlying Premises 2