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- Thu May 05, 2016 12:39 pm
#23951
Complete Question Explanation
Assumption-CE. The correct answer choice is (E)
Sally’s argument is as follows:
Answer Choice (A): Sally’s argument does not rely on this assumption—in fact, no mention is made of the portion of universities that have fraternities.
Answer Choice (B): Sally doesn’t assume that nothing will be done about the alcohol problem—she says that if nothing is done she’ll have to transfer. If we apply the assumption negation technique (“something will be done about the alcohol problem…”), we can see that it does nothing to weaken Sally’s argument.
Answer Choice (C): This is another incorrect answer: Sally’s argument does not deal with this issue.
Answer Choice (D): Another answer outside the scope of the argument—we know nothing about the age of the drinking fraternity members.
Answer Choice (E): This is the correct answer choice. Since Sally can’t study where there are alcohol problems, she offers only two solutions: either her university can deal with its alcohol problems, or she can transfer to a school without fraternities. Both of these solutions presuppose the possibility of a university without alcohol problems. To verify we can apply the assumption negation technique: If there could never be a university without alcohol problems, Sally’s argument is not logically valid.
Assumption-CE. The correct answer choice is (E)
Sally’s argument is as follows:
- Premise:
she can’t study at a university with an alcohol problem.
Conclusion: unless her current university does something about its alcohol problem, she’ll have to transfer to a school with no fraternities.
Answer Choice (A): Sally’s argument does not rely on this assumption—in fact, no mention is made of the portion of universities that have fraternities.
Answer Choice (B): Sally doesn’t assume that nothing will be done about the alcohol problem—she says that if nothing is done she’ll have to transfer. If we apply the assumption negation technique (“something will be done about the alcohol problem…”), we can see that it does nothing to weaken Sally’s argument.
Answer Choice (C): This is another incorrect answer: Sally’s argument does not deal with this issue.
Answer Choice (D): Another answer outside the scope of the argument—we know nothing about the age of the drinking fraternity members.
Answer Choice (E): This is the correct answer choice. Since Sally can’t study where there are alcohol problems, she offers only two solutions: either her university can deal with its alcohol problems, or she can transfer to a school without fraternities. Both of these solutions presuppose the possibility of a university without alcohol problems. To verify we can apply the assumption negation technique: If there could never be a university without alcohol problems, Sally’s argument is not logically valid.