ISAT Identifying Assumptions in Arguments 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Argument: 'Since sales of electric vehicles have increased, air pollution in cities must be decreasing.' What assumption does this argument make?
- Electric vehicles produce no emissions during manufacturing
- Electric vehicles are primarily replacing fossil-fuel vehicles rather than being added alongside them (Correct answer)
- City populations have remained constant over the same period
- Government subsidies for electric vehicles are increasing
Correct answer: Electric vehicles are primarily replacing fossil-fuel vehicles rather than being added alongside them
The argument assumes EVs are substituting for polluting vehicles; if they're being added to existing fleets, total emissions could still rise.
Question 2: Argument: 'Our new drug reduces tumor size in lab mice, so it should be effective in treating human cancer.' Which assumption is this argument most dependent on?
- Mice and humans share identical immune systems
- The drug has no side effects in either mice or humans
- Biological mechanisms relevant to tumor reduction are sufficiently similar between mice and humans (Correct answer)
- Human cancer is always more severe than cancer in mice
Correct answer: Biological mechanisms relevant to tumor reduction are sufficiently similar between mice and humans
The argument bridges animal and human results by assuming the underlying biology is comparable enough to predict similar outcomes.
Question 3: Argument: 'Attendance at the library has dropped since the internet became widely available; therefore, the internet is making people less interested in reading.' What assumption underlies this reasoning?
- Libraries offer fewer services than they did before the internet
- Library attendance is a reliable measure of interest in reading (Correct answer)
- Most internet users spend their time watching videos rather than reading
- Physical books are superior to digital content for learning
Correct answer: Library attendance is a reliable measure of interest in reading
The argument assumes that library visits accurately represent reading interest, ignoring that people may read more using digital sources.
Question 4: Argument: 'All top-ranked universities require calculus; Maria attends a top-ranked university, so Maria has studied calculus.' What hidden assumption is present?
- Maria is a mathematics major
- The requirement to study calculus means students actually complete that study (Correct answer)
- Top-ranked universities have more rigorous standards than other universities
- Maria excels in mathematics
Correct answer: The requirement to study calculus means students actually complete that study
The argument assumes that a university requirement translates into students having actually fulfilled it.
Question 5: Argument: 'Organic food sales have tripled; clearly, consumers are becoming more health-conscious.' Which assumption does this rely on?
- Organic food is always more expensive than conventional food
- Health consciousness is the primary driver of organic food purchases (Correct answer)
- Organic food is nutritionally superior to conventionally grown food
- The organic food industry has increased its marketing budget
Correct answer: Health consciousness is the primary driver of organic food purchases
The argument assumes that purchasing organic food is motivated by health concerns rather than environmental, taste, or social factors.
Question 6: Argument: 'Students who sleep eight hours perform better on standardized tests; we should therefore mandate an 8 p.m. bedtime for all high school students.' What assumption does this make?
- Standardized tests are the best measure of student ability
- All students require exactly eight hours of sleep to function optimally
- A mandated bedtime will result in students actually sleeping for eight hours (Correct answer)
- High school students currently sleep fewer than six hours per night
Correct answer: A mandated bedtime will result in students actually sleeping for eight hours
The argument assumes that setting a bedtime policy will produce the desired sleep duration, ignoring compliance and individual variation.
Question 7: Argument: 'This neighborhood's crime rate fell after the new community center opened, proving that community centers reduce crime.' What assumption is being made?
- The community center offers youth programs specifically targeting at-risk individuals
- The crime reduction was caused by the community center rather than other simultaneous changes (Correct answer)
- Community centers are more cost-effective than additional police patrols
- Residents of the neighborhood actively use the community center
Correct answer: The crime reduction was caused by the community center rather than other simultaneous changes
The argument assumes a causal link between the community center and crime reduction, ignoring other possible explanations for the timing.
ISAT Identifying Assumptions in Arguments 2
Argument: 'Since sales of electric vehicles have increased, air pollution in cities must be decreasing.' What assumption does this argument make?