Critical Reasoning: Assumption Questions
The rate of unemployment in Country X is higher than is the rate of unemployment in Country Y. Therefore, the number of unemployed people in Country X is greater than the number of unemployed people in Country Y is.
Which of the following is an assumption underlying the above conclusion?
Correct!
[[snippet]]Only if the population in both countries is the same or if the population number is greater in Country X can the rates be translated to actual number of people out of work. Otherwise, if Country X was much smaller than Country Y, it could have had a higher unemployment rate but less unemployed people. To reach the conclusion, the author had to assume both countries have the same population or that the population in X is greater.
Incorrect.
[[snippet]]If the rate of unemployment in Country X was 30% or 95% - would that affect the conclusion? Unfortunately, it wouldn't. The exact unemployment rate of Country X is irrelevant to this question, because it fails to explain what the author assumed by reaching the conclusion.
Incorrect.
[[snippet]]This answer choice presents a new premise about the skill level of the population in both countries. It is irrelevant whether this new data supports the conclusion; what you are looking for is the assumption, which should explain how the author drew the conclusion based on the existing premises.
Incorrect.
[[snippet]]The countries' size or area (as opposed to the size of the countries' population) does not directly influence unemployment, and therefore cannot explain how the author reached the conclusion.
Incorrect.
[[snippet]]This answer choice presents a new premise about the rate of men and women in the population in both countries. As gender is outside the scope of this argument, it cannot explain what the author assumed in order to reach the conclusion.
