Statement and Assumptions: Types, Methods and Examples
Statement and assumptions is a critical reasoning topic in which a statement is followed by one or more assumptions, and the candidate has to decide whether each assumption is implicit in the statement. An assumption is an unstated idea that the speaker takes for granted while making the statement. If that idea were false, the statement would not make sense, and this exactly is the test of an implicit assumption.
The special feature of this topic is that the answer is not written in the statement but is hidden behind it. The candidate must think like the person who made the statement and ask what he must have believed to be true. This article gives a complete deep-study revision of statement and assumptions. It explains the basic terms, the methods of testing an assumption, the types of statements that are commonly used, the common mistakes and a practical preparation plan so that the topic becomes a reliable source of marks in APSC, ADRE, Assam Police, SSC and Railway examinations.
Basic Terms
- Statement: the sentence spoken or written by a person.
- Assumption: an unstated idea that the speaker takes for granted.
- Implicit: understood from the statement though not expressed in words.
- Explicit: clearly stated in the statement itself.
- Restatement: the same idea repeated in other words, which is not an assumption.
- Inference: a conclusion drawn from the given facts.
- Premise: the base fact on which the statement depends.
- Valid assumption: an idea that is directly connected with the statement and is necessary for it.
- Far-fetched idea: an idea that is only loosely or indirectly connected and is never assumed.
- Negation test: the method of denying an assumption to see whether the statement still stands.
Core Concepts and Shortcuts
- An assumption is implicit if the statement cannot stand when the assumption is denied.
- An assumption must be directly related to the statement and not far-fetched.
- A restatement of the statement itself is never an assumption.
- Words such as all, only, never and always make an assumption doubtful, because they are too extreme.
- In an advertisement, the assumption is usually that the public will read it and that the claims are true.
- In a notice or an appeal, the assumption is usually that people will respond and that the need is real.
- An assumption is a belief of the speaker, and it is tested by logic, not by personal opinion.
- Use the negation test on every doubtful assumption, because it removes the confusion between a possible idea and a necessary idea.
Types of Statement and Assumption Questions
The first and most common type is a general statement followed by two assumptions, of which the candidate must decide which are implicit. The second type uses an advertisement or a publicity statement. The third type uses a notice, an appeal or a request. The fourth type uses a warning or an advice. In every type the method is the same: find the main point of the statement, identify what the speaker must have believed, and use the negation test to decide whether the belief is necessary. A statement may have one, two or more implicit assumptions, and sometimes none at all.
Steps to Solve a Statement and Assumption Question
First, read the statement carefully and note its main point and the action or advice it contains. Second, ask what the speaker must have taken for granted for the statement to be meaningful. Third, test each assumption with the negation test: deny it and see whether the statement breaks down. Fourth, reject any restatement of the statement and any far-fetched or extreme idea. Fifth, select those assumptions that are directly connected and necessary. Finally, check the wording of the option to be sure that it is an assumption and not an inference or a conclusion.
Examination Trends
In competitive examinations statement and assumptions is a regular topic and usually carries two to four marks. The two-assumption format is the most frequent, and advertisement-based statements appear often. The topic is quick to attempt once the negation test is practised, but it requires careful reading because the wrong options are made attractive by relating them loosely to the statement.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Do not treat an inference or a conclusion as an assumption.
- Do not accept a restatement of the statement as an assumption.
- Do not accept a far-fetched idea merely because it could be true.
- Do not be misled by extreme words such as all, only and never.
- Do not use your own opinion in place of the speaker's belief.
- Do not reject a valid assumption only because it is not written in the statement.
How to Prepare This Topic
Begin by understanding clearly what an assumption is, and practise the negation test on simple statements until it becomes a habit. Then solve advertisement and notice-based statements, because they follow a fixed pattern. After that, attempt questions with two or three assumptions and note down the options that you wrongly accepted. Keep a small list of the extreme words and the far-fetched ideas that trap candidates. Since this topic needs logical thinking more than calculation, daily practice with careful explanation reading for two or three weeks makes it a dependable scorer.
A useful final method is to rephrase the statement in your own words and then ask what the speaker has silently accepted as true. This rephrasing brings out the hidden belief clearly. Remember also that an assumption must be a belief necessary for the statement, not merely a fact that happens to be true in the world. In the examination, statement and assumptions can be solved quickly once the negation test is automatic, so attempt it after the calculation-heavy topics. With steady practice, it becomes one of the most dependable and least time-consuming topics in the critical reasoning section.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an assumption?
An assumption is an unstated idea that the speaker takes for granted while making the statement. If the assumption is false, the statement loses its meaning.
What is the negation test?
In the negation test you deny the assumption and see whether the statement still makes sense. If the statement breaks down, the assumption is implicit.
How is an assumption different from an inference?
An assumption is the belief that comes before the statement and supports it, while an inference is the conclusion that follows from the statement.
Are extreme words a clue?
Yes. Words such as all, only, never and always usually make an assumption doubtful, because a speaker rarely assumes such extreme claims.
Can a statement have no implicit assumption?
Yes. If none of the given assumptions is necessary for the statement, the correct answer may be that none of them is implicit.