Trouble finding the assumption (example provided)

Question

Hi,

I have trouble finding the ’subtle gap’ or ’shift in language’ from the premise and conclusion of the questions in order to find the ’assumption’. Can you please tell me what the ’subtle gap’ is so I can build a system to answer every CR question with ease. Also can you please give me an explanation how you would reach an answer for this question. The more detailed answer the better for me so I can practice using a strategy rather than attacking the questions just by reading skills alone.

Many office building designed to prevent outside air from entering have been shown to have elevated levels of various toxic substances circulating through the air inside, a phenomenon known as sick building syndrome. Yet the air in other buildings does not have elevated levels of these substances, even though those buildings are the same age as the "sick" buildings and have similar designs and ventilation.

bb · Answer

Hi! when I read CR's I am thinking about explanations, traps, and just unusual things. So here the assumption is immediately jumping out at me that there must be a connection between elevated levels of toxic things and outside air. This is a very baby basic assumption so I can see how you could have totally overlooked it since it is almost a fact but it is an assumption and GMAT does not take many steps - only one in fact from facts to assumption, so you have to stick very close to what you have read if this makes sense. My suggestion would be to practice reading CR prompts and identifying assumptions of all kinds (dumb, especially dumb and real ones). Here, in this passage, another assumption is there is no geographic difference in these building locations or there is no outside air difference (these are valid but not as immediate as the first one and therefore a bit of a stretch of the scope. These would only come out in the harder questions and I would not really worry about them but they are assumptions) Anyway, the most likely answer would have something to do with the trapping air inside. (Or reading the answer choices, with something that emits these toxic substances and then is not able to escape). Hope this helps. Take a look at the discussion too: https://gmatclub.com/forum/many-office- ... 04043.html

stephenkong · Answer

Hi BB or anyone else,

I am trying to figure it out by using Socrate's logic. 
All men are mortal. Socrates is a man. therefore Socrates is mortal.
I was wondering how to interprete the question by using this method on the 2nd line.
If you can show me that would hugely benefit me for understanding CR question.

Thank you so much again!

bb · Answer

I think you would say buildings that don’t let outside air have toxic substances. Buildings that allow air circulation, do not have toxic particles. Therefore toxic particles must be coming from the inside.

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chetan2u · Answer

Hi,

Adding on to what  bb  has said.

This may be a wrong example to pick if you are talking of ‘assumptions’. Here, we just have two facts/premises given. 
=> similar conditions in a certain group of bldgs. Out of these, one particular type of bldg has a certain problem that is otherwise not there in others.

What you can be asked above is to find the reason for the discrepancy observed and may not be assumption.

Now, the same question can be converted into an assumption question by slight modification.  
We could make a perfect assumption question too, but I will not change the wordings of the para.

Many office  building A designed to prevent outside air from entering have been shown to have elevated levels of various toxic substances circulating through the air inside, a phenomenon known as sick building syndrome. Yet the air in  other  building B does not have elevated levels of these substances, even though  those buildings are  B is the same age as  the "sick" buildings  A and has similar design and ventilation.  Therefore, A should be demolished.

Now, here we can talk of assumption, weakening, strengthening etc. 
The assumption is that ‘the reasons for toxic air cannot be removed from bldg A.’

Strengthen: Similar to Assumption. 
Material/sand used to construct A has been taken from a landfill close to a factory.

Weaken: The furniture used in A are made of wood that is known to release toxic air.

Understanding the passage and looking out for critical words would help you in all these type of questions in CR. Practice more and more number of them.

bb · Answer

Thanks Chetan for a more retailed explanation that’s much more detailed than my spartan approach 😊

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chetan2u · Answer

BB, the way you are involved in the forum, it is difficult to imagine a response that is more than one to two lines, but generally everyone gets a detailed analysis from you. Shows your commitment

Trouble finding the assumption (example provided)

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