For India, managing its trade relations with its neighbors is not purely an economic issue. Because of its large size relative to the neighbours, India is quite often perceived as having greater bargaining power.
Which of the following is an assumption made by the author?The argument says India’s trade relations with neighboring countries are not purely economic because India is much larger and is therefore perceived as having greater bargaining power.
The missing link is that size-based bargaining power can create pressure or dominance beyond ordinary
economic exchange.
Conclusion: Managing India’s trade relations with neighbors is not purely economic.
Premise: India is larger than its neighbors and is often perceived as having greater bargaining power.
Logic:
India is larger than neighboring countries.
So India is perceived as having greater bargaining power.
Therefore, trade relations involve power concerns, not only economics.
(A) countries large in size do more business than those smaller in size
This is not required. The argument is not about how much business large countries do.
(B) Countries larger in size have a tendency to bully the smaller countries.
This is the closest answer. “Bully” is stronger than ideal, but it connects larger size with pressure over smaller countries. That supports the idea that India’s trade relations with neighbors involve power dynamics, not just economics.
(C) Countries large in size import more than they export.
This is irrelevant. The argument does not discuss import-export balance.
(D) Countries larger in size export more than they import.
This is also irrelevant. Export volume is not the issue.
(E) Countries large in size are expected to help neighbouring smaller countries in time of crisis.
This is not relevant to the trade argument. The passage is about bargaining power, not crisis assistance.
Answer: (B)