{"id":34981,"date":"2016-11-08T09:49:10","date_gmt":"2016-11-08T16:49:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/2016\/11\/land-your-score-assumptions-in-critical-reasoning\/"},"modified":"2016-11-08T09:49:10","modified_gmt":"2016-11-08T16:49:10","slug":"land-your-score-assumptions-in-critical-reasoning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/land-your-score-assumptions-in-critical-reasoning\/","title":{"rendered":"Land Your Score: Assumptions in Critical Reasoning"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Follow<\/a><\/p>\n

Assumption questions ask for unstated evidence supporting the argument.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

In past posts I\u2019ve discussed ways to break down Critical Reasoning (CR) passages on the GMAT. Here I will focus on a specific subset of question types that make up the majority of CR questions and can be tackled in the same manner, every time. These are the assumption-based questions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Components of a Critical Reasoning argument<\/b><\/h2>\n

To quickly review, any GMAT argument can be broken down into its <\/span>conclusion<\/b> and its <\/span>evidence<\/b>, which are stated in the passage. The third component, which is perhaps the most important part, is the <\/span>central assumption<\/b>. This is the unstated evidence that <\/span>must be true<\/span><\/i> in order for the argument to make sense. Here is an example:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn recent years, many advertisements have won awards for their artistic quality. But since advertising must serve as a marketing tool, advertising executives must exercise their craft with an eye to the effectiveness of their advertisement. For this reason, advertising is not art.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Here, the evidence is found in the first two sentences and the conclusion is in the third. The assumption at the heart of this argument is what links the second and third sentences; the author assumes that something you have to judge based on its effectiveness cannot be art.<\/span><\/p>\n

The GMAT employs this same argument structure repeatedly in Critical Reasoning passages, and it is often paired with one of five standard question types. For each of these question types, which make up more than 60% of CR questions, you break the argument down the same way. Let\u2019s use this sample argument with five potential questions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Assumption questions<\/b><\/h2>\n

Not surprisingly, assumption questions simply ask you to identify the central assumption in the argument. These questions may include language such as, \u201cThe author assumes that\u2026\u201d or \u201cThe argument above depends on which of the following assumptions?\u201d Once you have identified the assumption connecting the evidence to the conclusion, you have a prediction for the answer. An appropriate answer for this example would be, \u201cSomething is not \u2018art\u2019 if its creator must be concerned with its practical effect.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Strengthen questions<\/b><\/p>\n

Strengthen questions in Critical Reasoning use this type of language:<\/span><\/p>\n