Journalist: The new mayor is undeniably bold. His assertions are made

Question

Journalist: The new mayor is undeniably bold. His assertions are made with utter certainty and confidence. While these kinds of assertions may make him popular with the public, they also demonstrate that he is not an introspective person.

Which one of the following is an assumption required by the journalist's argument?

(A) Introspective people do not make assertions with utter certainty and confidence.

(B) Politicians who make assertions with utter certainty and confidence are popular with the public.

(C) People who are bold make public assertions with utter certainty and confidence.

(D) People whose assertions are uncertain and lack confidence are introspective.

(E) Politicians who are not bold are unpopular with the public.

Sangeeta2018 · Accepted Answer

This questions tests us on 'Sufficient and Necessary Condition' technique of CR.

Technique says: if A-> B holds true then also it holds true Not B -> Not A. This technique is named as CONTRAPOSITIVE as per POWERSCORE CR BIBLE.

A:Correct.
Creativity and Confidence -> Not Introspective
Therefore, Introspective -> Not Creative and Confident.

B: Wrong.
Repeats the Premise.

C: Wrong.
Doesnt justify the conclusion of Not Introspective politicians

D:Wrong.

Technique also says, if A ->B holds true,doesnt mean Not A-> Not B holds true. This technique is named as MISTAKEN NEGATION as per POWERSCORE CR BIBLE.

Creativity and Confidence -> Not Introspective
Doesnt mean, Not Creative and Confident -> Not Creative and Confident.

E.Wrong.
Doesnt touch the Conclusion--Not Introspective Politicians

agnishsandeep · Answer

Negating A would weaken the conclusion, so A is the logical choice.

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Jeeva1989 · Answer

The question premise says "While these kinds of assertions may make him popular with the public, they also demonstrate that he is not an introspective person." and the question stem asks for the assumption in the argument presented in the question premise.

Answer Choice (A) "Introspective people do not make assertions with utter certainty and confidence" fits perfectly and hence is the answer.

Answer Choice (A) "Introspective people do not make assertions with utter certainty and confidence" fits perfectly and hence is the answer.

Jeeva1989 · Answer

The question premise says "While these kinds of assertions may make him popular with the public, they also demonstrate that he is not an introspective person." and the question stem asks for the assumption in the argument presented in the question premise.

Answer Choice (A) "Introspective people do not make assertions with utter certainty and confidence" fits perfectly and hence is the answer.

Answer Choice  (A) "Introspective people do not make assertions with utter certainty and confidence"  fits perfectly and hence is the answer.

rocky620 · Answer

Hi Sangeeta2018,

A & D  are same just written differently.

A,  says - Introspective people do not make assertions with utter certainty and confidence,(or in other way it can be said that Introspective people have these qualities).

D,  says - People whose assertions are uncertain and lack confidence are introspective,(in other way is highlighting some qualities which makes a person introspective, or leads to introspection).

Then D is also considerable.

Please clarify.

David nguyen · Answer

(D) is actually stating the opposite or a mistaken negation. 
Here is the condition: Utter Certainty & Confidence -> Not Introspective
Contra positive: Introspective -> Utter certainty & confidence

(D) states: Not utter certainty & confidence -> Introspective. 
This negates the original statement. It's not the right way to do it in formal logic.

A->B
not B -> not A
Incorrect: Not A -> not B

David nguyen · Answer

I disagree with your thought on (B). (B) did not repeat the premise. Its error lies on the ground that the argument demonstrate a "may be" situation, while (B) makes it certain.

TarPhi · Answer

Correct Answer is A
Certain and Confident = Not Introspective

agarwal1993 · Answer

Conclusion- Mayor is not an introspective person.
Premise- Mayor is bold.
Premise- Asser with utter certainty and confidence.

The gap in the conclusion and the premise is the link between an introspective person and a bold man. Therefore, the gap is the assumption here is that an introspective person can not be bold (and hence can not make assertions with utter certainty and confidence). Clearly mentioned in option A.

VerbalBot · Answer

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Journalist: The new mayor is undeniably bold. His assertions are made

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Journalist: The new mayor is undeniably bold. His assertions are made

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