Supply the assumption

Last updated: 13 Oct 2008

The fourth and final type of critical reasoning question we will look at in this tutorial is supply the assumption.

For most people, these questions are the real difficult ones! Very tough, and unfortunately, supply the assumption problems are the type of question most open to interpretation.

Identifying supply the assumption questions

You will be able to spot a supply the assumption question because it will usually mention the word 'assumption' in the question, for example:

Which of the following is an assumption...

The argument above is based upon which of the following assumptions?

...relies on which of the following assumptions?

Strategy for supply the assumption questions

1. Identify the premises of the argument.
2. Identify the conclusion. Remember, that's usually in the first or last sentence of the text.
3. Identify the gap in the logic of the argument. What's missing or needed to make this argument convincing?
4. What's the new element or factor in the conclusion? The assumption will probably introduce it.
5. Go through each answer choice. Does it strengthen the conclusion? If not, then eliminate it. Also eliminate silly or nonsensical answer choices.
6. Choose! Don't waste time!

Sound complicated? Well, give it a go with an example question and see how you get on.

Next page: Supply the assumption example