Statements: Assumptions and Conclusions Exit
Logical reasoning

Statements: Assumptions and Conclusions

An assumption is something the speaker must take for granted; a conclusion is something that must follow from the statement. Neither may add outside facts.

Start with this

'Buy our soap for glowing skin.' The advertiser assumes people want glowing skin. An assumption is what the speaker must believe for the statement to make sense.

These questions test careful reading, not maths. The rules are strict: an assumption is unstated and necessary; a conclusion follows from the statement alone.

Assumptions

An assumption is something the speaker takes for granted without saying it. Test: if the assumption were false, would the statement still make sense? If not, it is assumed.

Reject anything that is merely possible, or too extreme ('only', 'always', 'all').

Worked example

Statement: 'Please send your CV by email.' Assumption I: the reader has access to email. Assumption II: CVs sent by post will be rejected.

  1. If the reader had no email, the request would make no sense, so I is assumed.
    Why: Negation test.
  2. Nothing says post is rejected; II goes beyond the statement.
  3. Only I is implicit.

Answer: Only I

Conclusions

A conclusion must follow from the statement alone, without outside knowledge. Stay inside the facts given.

Watch definite words: 'all', 'never', 'must'. A conclusion using them needs statement support for them.

Worked example

Statement: 'Most students of this college got placed this year.' Conclusion I: some students were not placed. Conclusion II: the college has good teachers.

  1. 'Most' means not all, so some were not placed.
    Why: I follows from the words.
  2. Nothing is said about teachers.
    Why: II needs outside knowledge.
  3. Only I follows.

Answer: Only I

Shortcut: Negation test

Use it when: Deciding if an assumption is implicit.

  1. Negate it and re-read the statement.

Negation test: try it

'Use Brand X soap for soft skin.' Assumption: people want soft skin.

  1. If nobody wanted soft skin the ad is pointless.
  2. So it is implicit.

Answer: Implicit

Your turn medium

Statement: 'The government has increased the fee for driving licences.' Conclusion: fewer people will now drive.

  1. A fee change does not force driving behaviour.

Answer: Does not follow

Recap

Now practise

3 questions with full solutions.

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