ISAT - International Student Admissions Identifying Assumptions in Arguments 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A school board argues: 'By reducing class sizes from 30 to 20 students, we will significantly improve student performance.' What unstated assumption is most critical?
- That the school has enough classrooms
- That student performance is primarily limited by individual teacher attention, which smaller classes would increase (Correct answer)
- That parents support smaller classes
- That teachers prefer smaller classes
Correct answer: That student performance is primarily limited by individual teacher attention, which smaller classes would increase
The argument assumes teacher attention is the bottleneck for performance, and more attention will directly translate to better results.
The critical assumption is that individual teacher attention is the primary limiting factor. If performance depends more on home environment, motivation, or curriculum quality, then class size reduction would not produce expected improvement.
Question 2: 'Online learning is just as effective as in-person learning because students can access the same materials digitally.' What does this assume?
- That all students prefer online learning
- That access to materials is the primary determinant of learning effectiveness, and in-person elements add no significant value (Correct answer)
- That online platforms are easy to use
- That internet access is universal
Correct answer: That access to materials is the primary determinant of learning effectiveness, and in-person elements add no significant value
The argument reduces effectiveness to material access, ignoring interaction, peer collaboration, and social learning.
This reductive assumption ignores: real-time interaction, peer discussion, physical lab work, social motivation, non-verbal communication, and structured learning environments.
Question 3: A mayor claims: 'Building a new sports stadium will revitalize the downtown economy.' What is the most critical hidden assumption?
- That the city has the budget
- That the stadium will generate net new economic activity rather than merely redistributing existing spending from other local businesses (Correct answer)
- That residents enjoy sports
- That the stadium will be attractive
Correct answer: That the stadium will generate net new economic activity rather than merely redistributing existing spending from other local businesses
Research often shows stadiums redistribute spending rather than create new economic growth.
The 'substitution effect' means stadium attendees often reduce spending at nearby businesses. The mayor assumes net new economic activity, but most attendees may be locals who would have spent that money elsewhere.
Question 4: 'Raising the legal driving age to 18 will reduce traffic accidents because younger drivers are statistically more likely to be involved in crashes.' What assumption is required?
- That public transportation is available for those under 18
- That the higher accident rate is due to age-related factors rather than inexperience, and delaying driving won't simply shift the problem to 18-year-olds (Correct answer)
- That most accidents involve drivers under 18
- That 18-year-olds are more responsible
Correct answer: That the higher accident rate is due to age-related factors rather than inexperience, and delaying driving won't simply shift the problem to 18-year-olds
If the real factor is inexperience rather than age, 18-year-old new drivers would face the same elevated risk.
The assumption is crucial: if accidents result from inexperience rather than neurological immaturity, then 18-year-old beginners would face the same risk as current 16-year-old beginners.
Question 5: 'Companies with wellness programs see 25% fewer sick days. All companies should implement wellness programs.' What assumption links evidence to recommendation?
- That employees want wellness programs
- That the companies studied are representative and the programs caused the reduction rather than being correlated with other health-promoting factors (Correct answer)
- That 25% is significant
- That programs are affordable
Correct answer: That the companies studied are representative and the programs caused the reduction rather than being correlated with other health-promoting factors
Companies proactively investing in wellness may already have healthier cultures, making programs a symptom rather than cause.
Two assumptions: representativeness (wellness-investing companies may differ systematically) and causation (the programs may correlate with, rather than cause, better health outcomes).
Question 6: 'The discovery of water on Mars means we are closer to establishing human colonies there.' What fundamental assumption bridges this gap?
- That humans want to live on Mars
- That water availability is a primary limiting factor for colonization, and the discovered water is accessible and sufficient (Correct answer)
- That space agencies have the budget
- That rockets can reach Mars
Correct answer: That water availability is a primary limiting factor for colonization, and the discovered water is accessible and sufficient
If other challenges like radiation, temperature, and distance are more prohibitive, water discovery doesn't meaningfully advance colonization.
The argument assumes water is among the most critical obstacles, and that the discovered water is physically accessible in sufficient quantities. If radiation, life support, or transportation costs are more prohibitive, water discovery has limited practical significance.
ISAT - International Student Admissions Identifying Assumptions in Arguments 2
A school board argues: 'By reducing class sizes from 30 to 20 students, we will significantly improve student performance.' What unstated assumption is most critical?