Statement & Assumption- Concepts

Logical Reasoning(Master ) Statement - Assumptions

INTRODUCTION

Statement and assumptions deal with the process of judging a given statement and assume the most practical sentence among the given set of conclusions. Generally two conclusions are given. One or more conclusions may become practical depending upon the given statement. Therefore; careful reading and correct logical interpretation of a given statement is required.

In this section, we have tried to explain problems from various angles with proper explanation so that you will get a clear understanding of the subject.

For Example

Statement − After doing this operation, condition of the patient will improve.

Assumptions −

I. Under the current condition, operation of the patient can be done.

II. Operation cannot be done under the condition through which the patient is going through now.

A - Only assumption I is practical.

B - Only assumption II is practical.

C - Either assumption I or II is practical.

D - Neither assumption I nor II is practical.

E - Both the assumption are practical.

Answer − Option A

Explanation − By reading the statement it can be understood that improvement of the health condition will be there after the operation, which means that there is a possibility of doing operation on patient’s body under the current situation.

Types of Assumptions

Generally we can face two types of assumptions mostly. They can be categorised as −

Direct assumptions
Indirect assumptions

Direct Assumptions

In this case, from the statement itself, we can assume the assumptions very easily. Just a careful reading of the statement is enough to solve your problem. Let’s take an example to understand it better.

Statement − An apple a day, keeps a doctor away.

Assumptions −

I. Apple is good for health.

II. Apple is not good for health.

A - Only assumption I is practical.

B - Only assumption II is practical.

C - Either assumption I or II is practical.

D - Neither assumption I nor II is practical.

E - Both the assumptions are practical.

Answer − Option A

Explanation − If consuming an apple everyday will eradicate the need of doctor, then off course we can assume that it is good for health. Hence; assumption I is practical but II is not.

Indirect Assumptions

Indirect assumptions can only be traced out by properly understanding the meaning of the given statement. This is because wrong interpretation can lead to choice of possibly wrong option. Let’s take an example.

Statement − The only possible way of getting success is to treat everything that comes on your way positively.

Assumptions −

I. If you score low marks in any exam, instead of cursing yourself, you should find the faults and just work upon them hard.

II. Whatever will happen to you, all depends upon your luck. You have no role to play in it.

Answer − Option A

Explanation − If you will redirect all your results towards you luck, then your action will not be hard, which is not an example of leading optimistic life. Instead working upon your weak points, so that, not to repeat them in the next exam is a perfect way of dealing your life positively.

ALSO,

Statement: At the simplest level, a statement is a formal account of certain facts, views, problems or situations expressed in words.

Assumption: An idea which is thought to be true, or certain to happen, but is not explicitly proved or supported by facts.

Implicit: Something that is suggested or is to be understood, though it is not plainly expresses.

Keywords: Words like ‘all’, ‘only’, ‘every’, etc. are definitive in nature, whereas words like ‘some’, 'a few', 'many', etc, are not.
Therefore, one should differentiate between statements like “use entire time for studies” and “use some time for studies”.

Example:

1. Statement: Anger is energy, in a more proactive way and how to channellise it is in itself a skill.
Assumptions: I. Anger need to be channelized.
II. Only skilful people can channellise anger to energy.

(1) If only assumption I is implicit.

(2) If only assumption II is implicit.

(3) if either I or II is implicit.

(4) if neither I or II is implicit.

(5) if both I and II are implicit.

Answer with explanation:
In this the author is not clearly stated whether there is a need to channellise anger into energy or not. So, I is irrelevant. In the statement II it is given that channelizing anger to energy is a skill. Here the assumption of the author is that only those people who has the skill can channelize anger to energy. Only II is implicit.