Recognizing Unstated Assumptions Questions and Answers Flashcards
6 cards from real Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
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Argument: 'The unemployment rate fell last month, which shows that the government's economic stimulus package is working.' What is the key unstated assumption?
Answer: The stimulus package is the primary reason for the fall in unemployment rather than other economic factors.
The argument assumes the stimulus is what caused unemployment to fall, ignoring seasonal factors, industry-specific hiring cycles, or global economic trends that may have independently reduced unemployment.
Argument: 'We should hire the candidate who has the most years of experience for this management role.' What unstated assumption does this argument make?
Answer: Years of experience is the best or most important predictor of management performance.
The argument treats years of experience as the decisive hiring criterion, assuming it best predicts management success — ignoring leadership aptitude, interpersonal skills, and cultural fit.
Argument: 'This book was reviewed positively in a prestigious literary journal, so it will be enjoyable to read.' What unstated assumption is made?
Answer: Positive critical reviews reliably predict personal reading enjoyment for individual readers.
Critical acclaim and personal reading enjoyment are often independent — a book praised for literary innovation may be challenging and not pleasurable for many readers.
Argument: 'Because violent crime has fallen in cities that implemented community policing, we should implement community policing in all cities to reduce violent crime.' What is the key unstated assumption?
Answer: The cities that implemented community policing and those that haven't are sufficiently similar for the comparison to be valid.
The recommendation assumes the experience of the cities where community policing was implemented generalizes to all cities — differences in crime drivers, demographics, or existing police culture may limit transferability.
Argument: 'The student scored in the top 5% on the entrance exam, so she will perform well academically at this university.' What unstated assumption is made?
Answer: Entrance exam performance is a reliable predictor of academic success in university-level coursework.
The argument assumes entrance exam scores predict academic performance — but exams test specific skills under specific conditions, while university success depends on many additional factors.
Argument: 'We should invest in upgrading the company's IT infrastructure because our competitors have all recently done so.' What is the key unstated assumption?
Answer: What improves competitiveness for rivals will improve competitiveness for this company too, and the investments are comparable in nature and benefit.
The argument assumes competitors' upgrades are relevant and beneficial for this company — but the same investment may not produce comparable returns if the company's needs, scale, or competitive position differ.