Critical Reasoning: Assumption Questions

Power Records, a music chain store, discovered that playing rock music in its stores increases sales of rock albums and that playing classical music leads to an increase in sales of classical music albums. Therefore, in order to increase sales of pop singer Frenchie Pear's new CD, her latest single Dazed and Confused should be constantly played in all Power Records stores.  

The above argument relies on which of the following assumptions?

Incorrect.

This answer choice presents a new premise about Power Records. 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.

This answer choice presents a new premise about the reviews Frenchie Pear's song received. 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.

This answer choice presents a new premise about the sales of Frenchie Pear's previous songs after they were played in stores. 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.

While this answer choice is the strongest distractor, which makes it second best, it is too general. This would explain a conclusion such as 'playing pop music in store will increase pop music sales', but it does not explain the author's conclusion about Frenchie Pear's music.

Correct!

The argument provides data about the relation between playing and selling musical genres. The conclusion deals with a specific song within a certain genre (Frenchie Pear makes pop music). The conclusion draws an analogy between the two. Thus, the assumption is that what works for musical genres will also work for specific songs.