Critical Reasoning: Assumption Questions

In a public park of the Beegappel metropolitan where biodegradable bags were provided at strategic points, the amount of exposed dog excrement per square foot on average was lower than the average of the same ratio of the metropolitan's parks that did not supply the bags, by almost 7 times. In light of this result, the Beegappel municipality decided to install the same system of provided bags in another three parks in the neighborhood. Residents used the bags and the results were the same as with the experiment in the first park. It is clear that if the bags were supplied in parks in all neighborhoods of the metropolitan, then all the parks would enjoy lower amounts of dog excrement per square foot.

The author's conclusion relies on which of the following assumptions?

Incorrect. [[snippet]] This answer choice presents a new premise about the importance of cleanliness. 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 premise.

Incorrect.

[[snippet]]

This answer choice presents a new premise about the municipality's intentions. 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 premise.

Incorrect.

[[snippet]]

Since the conclusion deals with the amount of excrement per square foot, all other forms of garbage are irrelevant, and do not explain how the author got to this conclusion.

Incorrect.

[[snippet]]

This answer choice repeats and elaborates on the third premise of the argument: Residents used the bags and the results were the same as with the experiment in the first park, i.e., 7 times lower than the average.

Remember, what you are looking for is the assumption, which should explain how the author drew the conclusion based on the existing premises.

Excellent!

[[snippet]]

In order to reach the conclusion that the system will work in all parks based on the fact that it worked in four parks so far, the author must assume that the people everywhere will use the doggy bags with the same care and dedication as the examples so far: if, for example, we install the doggy bags in a neighborhood where the people don't care about cleanliness, the system will not work there, and the conclusion that all the parks would enjoy lower amounts of dog excrement will be weakened. Thus, E is indeed a necessary assumption to reach the conclusion.

The cleanliness of public parks is important in terms of hygiene and the prevention of illnesses.

The Beegappel municipality is determined to reduce the amount of exposed excrement in its parks.

The amount of other forms of garbage dispersed is the same in all the parks of Beegappel.

In the three parks that had the same system installed, the amount of dog excrement was also reduced to 7 times lower than the average.

The cleanliness of public parks is equally important to the residents of differing neighborhoods.