V06-08

Official Solution:


Even though there has been significant scientific debate for a long time on the misuse of fossil fuels, most scientists now agree that human activity is causing a rapid depletion of these resources. Though predictions vary, many fossil fuel experts believe that all the Earth’s fossil fuels will be consumed by the next century. Such an event would cause a global shut down of all the industries and equipments that use fossil fuels, disturbing habitat and resources for survival for billions of people.

Which of the following is an assumption in support of the argument’s conclusion?


A. New technological developments in the next century will not create a substitute for fossil fuels.
B. Individuals will not become more aware of the steps they can take to reduce the use of fossil fuels.
C. Global shutdown of industries and equipments that use fossil fuels will similarly affect all parts of the Earth.
D. Some fossil fuel experts predict that the fossil fuels will be completely depleted even earlier than during the next century.
E. Human activity is the sole cause of depleting fossil fuels.


The argument concludes that depletion of fossil fuels caused by human activity will shut down of all the industries and equipments that use fossil fuels, disturbing habitat and resources for survival for billions. Any assumption in support of this conclusion would have to corroborate that these events will definitively take place..

A. CORRECT. If new technological developments in the next century allow people to come up with an alternative for fossil fuels, then industries and equipments that use fossil fuels will not shut down. Thus, a necessary assumption is that these technologies will not be developed.

B. A simple awareness of the steps to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels in no way undermines the argument’s conclusion, as this answer choice does not describe any action being taken by individuals.

C. The argument never suggests that all parts of the Earth will be similarly affected; this choice is too extreme and overreaching for the argument’s conclusion.

D. This might be true, but it is not an assumption on which the conclusion rests. Instead, this answer choice is simply an inference that might be drawn from the premises. This a good example of a choice which can be true based on the stimulus but not actually a valid assumption.

E. The idea that human activity is the sole cause of fossil fuel depletion is neither suggested nor assumed by the argument. In addition, the wording "sole cause" is too extreme.


Answer: A