Assumption

Question 1

HOW TO APPROACH EVERY CR PASSAGE

Answer 1

For each sentence;

1. Read words carefully & take note of modifiers, indicators, language.
2. Summarize the main gist
   “What is the simple story here?”
3. Determine scope. Ask:
   “What are they saying vs not saying?”
4. Opinion vs fact
   “Is this an Opinion or fact?”
5. Determine the purpose. Ask:
   “Why is the author telling me this?” (eg. to illustrate an example, to provide background context)
6. Make the inferencial connection with previous sentences: Ask:
   “How does this info connect to the previous sentence?” “What inference can I draw from combining the previous sentences with this?”
7. Determine the logical flow; Ask:
   “Does this support the previous sentence or does the previous sentence support this?”
8. Determine the main point/main conclusion and note the scope of what it actually says.
   “What is the main point/conclusion here & what is the scope of elements in this?”

For Each passage

9. Identify presence/absence or an argument
   “Is there a conclusion?”
10. If no conclusion , identify the heart of the passage
    `
    A set of facts → inference/must be true/find the conclusion
    Paradox → resolve the paradox
    `
11. If yes conclusion, Map the logical link in a flow chart: [Premise → assumption → logical gap → Conclusion]
    * Identify the premise that directly supports the conclusion & its scope
    * Determine the Core Assumption:
    `
    “What new elements are there”
    “How did the author make this jump from premise to conclusion”
    “What must I assume to me true for me to believe this conclusion”
    `
    * If the assumption is not so clear, use the Falsification condition. Ask:
    “Under What circumstances , given the [Facts] in the argument, will the [conclusion] not hold”
    * Identify the logical gap
    “Am i fully convinced by this argument i.e is the argument weak or strong?” “What extra evidence is missing here that i need to be fully convinced?”

For each question stem:

13. Carefully read and identify the question stem.
    “What is this question stem asking of me?”
14. After reading the question stem, take a moment to mentally recap details you just gathered and define what you are looking for
15. Rephrase the question into a yes/No format will enable you to eliminate and choose the right answer with precision.
16. Always read each of the five answer choices completely. Ask yourself…
    `
    “What is this option simply saying”
    “Does it answer …rephrased question..?”
    `
17. Eliminate any answer choice that doesn’t answer your question

Question 2

T/F ?

Assumptions are necessary conditions
for the conclusion to be valid

Answer 2

True

Conclusion (Valid) –> Assumption True

assumptions are described as what must be true in order for the conclusion to be true

Question 3

What is the major difference in the question stem or Assumption vs Justify the conclusion?

Answer 3

Assumption will always use necessary condition indicators - required, must, necessary. It will never contain a sufficient word -e.g if

While,

Justify the assumption (though you wil see words like assume, presuppose) contains sufficient condition markers - if.

Question 4

is this an Assumption or Justify the conclusion question stem?

“Which one of the following is an assumption required by the argument above”

Answer 4

Assumption

Question 5

is this an Assumption or Justify the conclusion question stem?

“The position taken above presupposes which one of the following?”

Answer 5

Assumption

Question 6

Assumption or Justify?

The conclusion in the passage above relies on which one of the following assumptions?

Answer 6

Assumption

Question 7

is this an Assumption or Justify the conclusion question stem?

“The conclusion cited does not follow unless”

Answer 7

ASSUMPTION

Question 8

Negate the conditional statement

“To be rich, you must be smart”

Answer 8

To be rich, you do not necessarily have to be smart

To negate a conditional statement you must show that the necessary condition is not in fact necessary.

Question 9

Quirks of Assumption Question Answer Choices

Answer 9

1. Watch out for answers strarting with the phrase “at least one” or “at least
   some.”- they are usually Correct
2. Avoid answers that claim an idea was the most important consideration for the author.
3. Watch for the use of “not” or negatives in assumption answer choices.
4. If conditional statements are linked together in the argument, the correct
   answer choice for an Assumption question will typically supply a missing link in the chain
5. If you see a conditional conclusion (where no conditional chains are present) and then are asked an Assumption question, immediately look for an answer that confirms that the necessary condition is truly necessary or that eliminates possible alternatives to the necessary condition (a defender)

Question 10

5 common types of correct assumption answer choices

Answer 10

1. Argument: Proposes a plan
   Assumption: The plan will work/desired outcome will occur and there is no factor that will make the plan not to work
2. Argument: X causes Y
   Assumption: There is no alternative explanation for the observed event that can render the current claim invalid
3. Argument: A plan will not work/outcome will not occur
   Assumption: There is no alternative factor that can make the plan work/outcome occur
4. Argument: Because an event happened in the past, it will occur in the future
   Assumption: a change will not occur overtime that will render the conclusion invalid
5. Argument: X is likely true therefore X is true (without evidence)
   Assumption: Likely true = actually true

Question 11

T/F?

An assumption answer choice that weakens the argument is correct

Answer 11

False

Any answer choice that weakens the conclusion act as a malicious variable and can never be correct.

An assumption in its un-negated state should actually strengthen the argument. Its when negated that it then hurts the argument shich signifies that it must be true for the argument to be valid.

Question 12

T/F?

An assumption answer choice that confirms a premise can be correct

Answer 12

False

Premise is already fact. We do not need an extra bridge to strengthen a fact.

Question 13

The Supporter/Defender Assumption Model™️

Answer 13

On the LSAT, assumptions play one of two roles—the Supporter or the Defender.

1. The Supporter role is the traditional linking role, where an assumption connects the pieces of the argument.
   Because Supporters often connect “new” or “rogue” pieces of information in the argument, the Supporter role generally appears similar to the Justify the conclusion answers

2.The Defender role is entirely different, and Defender assumptions protect the
argument by eliminating ideas that could weaken the argument.- Find an answer choice that takes the conclusion and put the word “NOT” into it or takes it out of the conclusion sentence.

when you see gap/new element , think –> supporter

When gap/new element not obvious , think –> defender

Question 14

Logocal oposite/negation of

All

Answer 14

Not all

Question 15

Logocal oposite/negation of

Some

Answer 15

None

Question 16

Logocal oposite/negation of

Always

Answer 16

Not always

Question 17

Logocal oposite/negation of

Never

Answer 17

Sometimes

Question 18

Logocal oposite/negation of

Not everywhere

Answer 18

Everywhere

Question 19

Logocal oposite/negation of

Somewhere

Answer 19

Nowhere

Question 20

Logocal oposite/negation of

Will

Answer 20

Will Not
Might not

Question 21

Logocal oposite/negation of

Exactly one

Answer 21

Not exactly one
or
More than one
or
none

Question 22

What does these question stems tell me to do?

“The conclusion above follows logically if which one of the following
is assumed?”

“Which one of the following, if assumed, would allow the conclusion to
be properly drawn?”

Answer 22

To justify the conclusion

To solve this type of question, apply the Justify Formula:

Premises + [Answer choice] = Conclusion.

Justify questions are perfect strengthening questions ie they MUST strengthen 100%: the correct answer will strengthen the argument so well that the conclusion MUST follow from the combination of the premises and the correct answer choice.

Tip to get tough questions right: the correct answers usually link new elements that occur in the premises or conclusion and ignore elements common to both.

Question 23

Whan an author makes a proposal that “something should be done”

What does this assume

Answer 23

He assumes that he has considered all factors and that there are no malicious factors that will suggest that the proposal “should not” be done

Question 24

how to find the assumption and logical gaps in any argument

Answer 24

1. Locate the conclusion, identify the scope and simplify
2. Locate the premise(s) most directly supporting the conclusion , identify the scope & simplify
3. Identify presence/absence or “new elements” to suspect supporter/defender role
4. Place yourself in the argument like youre the judge and Ask:
   “Why should i beleive this claim & how do the premises force me to believe the conclusion?”
"What does the author assume beleive must be true for this conclusion to be correct"
   If assumption is still not clear, use falsification method;
   "What circumstances, given the facts, will make the conclusion not hold"
5. Identify the logical gaps by asking:
   "Is this conclusion weak or strong ie am I fully conviced given the evidence?"

"What other evidence do i need to me completely conviced about the authors claim"

Question 25

In Wareland last year, 16 percent of licensed drivers under 21 and 11 percent of drivers ages 21-24 were in serious accidents. By contrast, only 3 percent of licensed drivers 65 and older were involved in serious accidents. These figures clearly show that the greater experience and developed habits of caution possessed by drivers in the 65-and-older group make them far safer behind the wheel than the younger drivers are. | Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends? ## Footnote A) Drivers 65 and older do not, on average, drive very many fewer miles per year than drivers 24 and younger. (B) Drivers 65 and older do not constitute a significantly larger percentage of licensed drivers in Wareland than drivers ages 18-24 do. (C) Drivers 65 and older are less likely than are drivers 24 and younger to drive during weather conditions that greatly increase the risk of accidents. (D) The difference between the accident rate of drivers under 21 and of those ages 21-24 is attributable to the greater driving experience of those in the older group. (E) There is no age bracket for which the accident rate is lower than it is for licensed drivers 65 and older.

Answer 25

A ## Footnote B to E is wrong.