LNAT Assumption Identification

Question 1

An argument states: 'Students who study abroad perform better in their careers.' What underlying assumption does this argument make?

Accepted Answer

International experience provides skills and qualities that employers value

Answer

Studying abroad is prohibitively expensive for most students

Answer

Career success is solely determined by academic grades

Answer

Students who study abroad are inherently more intelligent

Question 2

Consider the argument: 'All citizens should pay taxes because government services benefit everyone.' What core assumption underlies this reasoning?

Accepted Answer

Those who benefit from public services have an obligation to contribute to their cost

Answer

Government services are always delivered efficiently

Answer

Tax rates are designed to be fair and proportional to income

Answer

All government expenditure is necessary and justified

Question 3

The argument states: 'Since crime rates fell after the new policing policy was introduced, the policy must be working.' What assumption does this make?

Accepted Answer

The new policing policy caused the reduction in crime rather than other factors

Answer

Crime statistics recorded by police are always accurate

Answer

The policy was implemented consistently across all areas

Answer

All police officers support and enforce the new policy

Question 4

'The university's ranking has improved, so its quality of education must have improved.' What is the underlying assumption?

Accepted Answer

Higher rankings accurately and reliably reflect genuine educational quality

Answer

University rankings are published and updated every year

Answer

Students consistently prefer to attend higher-ranked universities

Answer

The university raised its tuition fees to fund improvements

Question 5

'We should ban violent video games because they cause children to behave violently.' What assumption is being made?

Accepted Answer

There is a proven causal link between playing violent games and engaging in violent behavior

Answer

Children currently spend too much time playing video games

Answer

All commercially available video games contain violent content

Answer

Parents are unable to control what games their children play at home

Question 6

'The new medicine reduced symptoms in clinical trials, so doctors should prescribe it to all patients with this condition.' What assumption does this make?

Accepted Answer

The trial results will generalise to all patients, not just those in the trial

Answer

The medicine produces no significant side effects in any patient

Answer

Doctors are legally authorised to prescribe newly approved medicines

Answer

The condition is common enough to justify developing a new treatment

Question 7

'This law has been in place for 100 years, so it must be a good law.' What assumption underlies this reasoning?

Accepted Answer

Laws that have existed for a long time must have proven their value and effectiveness

Answer

Old laws are never reviewed, amended, or repealed by legislators

Answer

Lawmakers in the past possessed greater knowledge and wisdom than current lawmakers

Answer

Society has not changed significantly enough in 100 years to require new laws