Critical Reasoning: Argument Structure - Identifying Conclusions Using Non-Conjunctions
{color:red}**(1)** During the Crimean War, about 128,000 Russian civilians died in Russia, and about the same number of Russian soldiers died in battle.{/color} {color:dark-blue}**(2)** On the basis of these figures, it can be hypothesized that it was just as dangerous to be a Russian civilian as a Russian soldier.{/color}
Which of the following is the argument's {color:light-blue}**conclusion**{/color}?
Correct!
The words *it can be hypothesized that* characterize a {color:light-blue}**conclusion**{/color}, so Sentence 2 is the argument's {color:light-blue}**conclusion**{/color}. And since every argument must include a {color:light-green}**premise**{/color}, Sentence 1 must be a {color:light-green}**premise**{/color}.
Sentence 1 is also a historical fact, which makes it easier to identify it as a {color:light-green}**premise**{/color}.
That's not right.
Sentence 1 is a historical fact, which makes it a {color:light-green}**premise**{/color}.
Sorry, no. Do the words *it can be hypothesized that* characterize a {color:light-green}**premise**{/color} or a {color:light-blue}**conclusion**{/color}?
You're right.
The words *it can be hypothesized that* characterize a {color:light-blue}**conclusion**{/color}, so Sentence 2 is the argument's {color:light-blue}**conclusion**{/color}. And since every argument must include a {color:light-green}**premise**{/color}, Sentence 1 must be a {color:light-green}**premise**{/color}.
That's not it.
The words *it can be hypothesized that* characterize a {color:light-blue}**conclusion**{/color}. The word *hypothesis* indicates an idea, theory, or {color:light-blue}**conclusion**{/color} based on a {color:light-green}**premise**{/color}.
Sentence 1
Sentence 2
Neither; this argument consists of premises only.
A premise
A conclusion
