LNAT Assumption Identification 2

Question 1

'The candidate's speech was passionate, so voters will be persuaded by it.' What assumption is made in this argument?

Accepted Answer

Voters are persuaded primarily by passionate delivery rather than by content alone

Answer

Passion in public speaking is widely regarded as a sign of honesty

Answer

Passionate speeches have historically always won elections

Answer

The candidate has delivered many speeches and is highly experienced

Question 2

'Since this country has low unemployment, its economy must be doing well.' What is the underlying assumption?

Accepted Answer

Low unemployment is a comprehensive and sufficient indicator of overall economic health

Answer

Unemployment statistics gathered by the government are always accurate

Answer

Economic growth always leads to a reduction in the unemployment rate

Answer

The government has direct control over the national unemployment rate

Question 3

'Since the defendant cannot explain where he was that night, he must be guilty.' What assumption does this argument make?

Accepted Answer

Innocent people are always able to account fully for their whereabouts

Answer

The defendant has been convicted of similar offences in the past

Answer

The police investigation into the matter was sufficiently thorough

Answer

Being unable to explain one's location at night constitutes a separate criminal offence

Question 4

'More people are attending university today than 30 years ago, so educational standards must have risen.' What assumption is made?

Accepted Answer

Increased attendance necessarily indicates that educational standards have improved

Answer

University education has become more financially affordable over the past 30 years

Answer

Universities have built new facilities to accommodate the greater number of students

Answer

More jobs in today's economy require candidates to hold university degrees

Question 5

'The company's profits have doubled, so employees should receive bonuses.' What assumption underlies this argument?

Accepted Answer

Employees contributed directly and meaningfully to the profit increase

Answer

The company has a history of distributing bonuses to employees annually

Answer

The company's profits will continue to increase in future financial periods

Answer

Employees have been receiving below-market compensation prior to this point

Question 6

'As temperatures rise globally, we are seeing more extreme weather events. Therefore, we must reduce carbon emissions immediately.' What key assumption is being made?

Accepted Answer

Carbon emissions are the primary cause of rising global temperatures

Answer

Extreme weather events are fundamentally unpredictable in their timing and severity

Answer

Governments around the world have the practical ability to control carbon emissions

Answer

Any reduction in carbon emissions will only occur very gradually over decades

Question 7

'The newspaper has published false information before, so nothing it publishes can be trusted.' What assumption underlies this argument?

Accepted Answer

A source that has been inaccurate on one occasion can never be considered reliable

Answer

Newspapers are the most important and primary source of information for the public

Answer

Other newspapers and media outlets publish more accurate and reliable information

Answer

The newspaper intentionally and knowingly publishes false information