English Proficiency

22UC1202
 UNIT – 4
CO4 - SESSION 19
Underlying assumptions
& Finding the conclusions
 AIM

The aim of this session is to teach students about statement, assumption & conclusion

INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES

After completing the session, you should be able to

- Analyze statements
- Comprehend and identify different types of assumptions

LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the session students are expected to:

- possess the verbal knowledge & increase one’s clarity towards answering verbal reasoning
questions
- Solve related questions in competitive exams
OVERVIEW: Underlying assumptions, Finding
the conclusions

➢What is a Premise

➢What is an Assumption

➢What is a Conclusion
Why learn statements, assumptions, and
conclusions?
Learning statements, assumptions, and
conclusions topic helps us:
• Improve our analytical skills
•Logical thinking.
Introduction
• Statements, assumptions, and Conclusions topic is
crucial in aptitude preparation. Various exams ask
many questions that revolve around statements,
assumptions, and conclusions topic.
Statement & Assumption – Concept

• In a statement and assumption question, a

statement is given in the question followed by a
few assumptions made on the basis of them.
• Candidates need to pick the assumption which
most appropriately and logically is correct.
 Given below is a list of tips to solve the
statement and assumption questions:
• Read the statement with an approach that the assumptions would be true
with regard to the statement
• Do not go too logical with the statements. Analyse the information given and
the assumption must only be made based on the information in the
statement. Do not overcomplicate it
• Common assumptions can always be followed but other than that do not
align the statement with General Knowledge or other facts
• Use the elimination method if you are unable to apprehend the answer. Read
the statement and then the assumptions given in the options, you shall notice
that a few of them will most definitely not follow. Eliminate them and then
choosing from lesser options may prove to be more convenient
• One thing to make a note of is that the assumption is something which the
Author believes to be true so while choosing the correct option, keep this
thought in mind as well. If any option contradicts the statement, then that
assumption will not follow
Types of Assumptions and Statement
1. Existence/Non- existence of the statement: In this type of
statement and assumption reasoning, the assumptions are
normal ans simple in nature. Here the assumptions are usually
existing or non existing.
2. Cause Effect: Here cause and effect relation is presented. In
this type words like therefore, hence, thus etc. are used. And it
would be an assumption to say this cause leads to this effect.
3. Course of action: they present a fact, report, observation or
study will give the following suggested course of action
Premise, Assumption and Conclusion,
• A premise is a stated reason or evidence that supports the
conclusion
• An assumption is an unstated premise that supports the
conclusion
• A conclusion is the claim, the main point of the argument

• Thus, the conclusion is drawn based on the stated premise

and the unstated assumptions, in other words,
Premises+Assumptions= Conclusion.
Identify
After reading the argument,
• the first step is to identify the conclusion.
• It is not necessary for conclusion to come at the end of the
argument, it may even precede the premise.
For instance,
• ‘Amazon.com is the largest online bookstore with over 3,00,000
titles available.
• Hence, you will be able to find the book you want,’ can be
written as, ‘You will find the book you want at Amazon.com.
Types of questions
• Critical reasoning questions can be of the following types:
-Identify the assumption
-Strengthen/Weaken the argument/conclusion
-Conclusion/Inference
-Paradox
-Complete the argument

• To tackle all these type of questions, the student must know

what is a premise, assumption and conclusion because it is
these three components that make up an argument.
 Example
• Let’s look at the following:
• Statement- Virat has been elected as captain of the Indian cricket team, so he
must be a cricketer of caliber.
Assumptions-
• i. Only cricketers of caliber can be members of the Indian cricket team
• ii. Only cricketers of caliber can be captain of the Indian cricket team
• iii. Only members of the Indian cricket team can be cricketers of caliber

In the above question, identify the assumption of the given argument. Mark the
best answer out of the choices:
• a. i only, b. ii only, c. iii only, d. i and iii only, e. i, ii and iii
• In this question, since the prerequisite of becoming captain of the Indian
cricket team is to be a cricketer of caliber, so only ii is the right choice. Hence,
the answer is b.
Question Types

Mainly there are two types of questions that can

be formed from this topic:

1.Statements and Assumptions

2.Statements and Conclusions
Statements and Assumptions
A statement is given in a statement and
assumption question, followed by a few
assumptions made based on them.
Candidates need to pick the assumption
which is most appropriate and logical.
How to solve the statements and
assumption problems?
• Below are the steps that one should keep in mind to solve statement
and assumption questions:
• Firstly, Keep in mind that the assumptions regarding the statement
would be true; then read the statement.
• Do not get very logical with the statements. The student should make
assumptions based on the information given in the statement. Do
not make things complicated. Simply analyze the given information.
• Students can always use basic assumptions, but apart from that, do
not link the statement with current affairs or other facts.
 How to solve the statements and
assumption problems?
• The student should use the elimination method if the student
cannot apprehend the answer. Understand the statement and
read through the assumptions given in options; most of them
will be eliminated by common sense. Eliminating them and
then choosing from lesser options may prove to be more
convenient.
• One thing to note is that the author believes the assumption is
valid, so keep this thought in mind while choosing the correct
option. If there is an option that contradicts or opposes the
statement then, that assumption will not be considered.
Example Questions
• Example 1:
• Statement: Food poisoning in rural areas is due to the widespread
consumption of alcohol.
• Assumption I: There are more illegal and unauthorized shops selling
alcohol in villages and rural areas
• Assumption II: The ratio of people drinking alcohol in villages is much more
than that in towns
1.Both assumptions I and II follow
2.Neither assumption I nor II follows
3.Only assumption I follows
4.Assumptions II follows, but assumption I do not follow
5.Either assumption I or assumption II follows
How to get to the answer
• Answer: Only assumption I follows
• Solution:
The statement talks about food poisoning due to liquor,
so the number of people consuming alcohol in towns
or villages is not the primary concern here. This is why
the only assumption I follow.
Example 2:
• Statement: In an election conducted in Village A, only 25% of the
total number of women came to vote in the election.
• Assumption I: The number of women in the town is less than the
number of men in village A.
• Assumption II: Women could not come to vote as they had to cook
food.
1.Both assumptions I and II follow
2.Neither assumption I nor II follows
3.The only assumption I follow
4.Only assumption II follows
5.Either assumption I or assumption II follows
How to get to the answer
• Answer: Neither assumption I nor II follows
• Solution:
The statement given in the question indicates that out
of the total number of women in the town, only 25% of
them came to vote, so the ratio of the number of men
to women is not applicable here, and the second
assumption given is not valid as well.