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Question

Difficulty: MediumIdentifying Unstated Assumptions

Read the four short argument excerpts regarding historic preservation policies below. Match each argument excerpt on the left with the core unstated assumption on which its conclusion fundamentally relies on the right.

  • Excerpt 1: Restoring historic urban theater buildings revitalizes surrounding commercial districts, so municipal governments should prioritize funding theater restoration over constructing new sports arenas.The economic and social benefits of commercial revitalization outweigh the community benefits provided by sports facilities.
  • Excerpt 2: Implementing strict historical architectural guidelines in old neighborhoods limits real estate speculation, which will ensure housing remains affordable for current low-income residents.Strict architectural preservation rules will not inadvertently increase property values and accelerate gentrification.
  • Excerpt 3: High-resolution digital archiving of ancient manuscripts allows universal online access, making the costly physical conservation of original paper documents unnecessary for historical research.Digital reproductions preserve all scholarly relevant evidence and artifacts contained within original physical documents.
  • Excerpt 4: Adding modern glass-and-steel expansions onto 19th-century civic buildings highlights historical evolution, thereby deepening public appreciation of both architectural eras.Visual contrast between modern additions and historical structures fosters appreciation rather than aesthetic conflict or distraction.

Answer

Each argument excerpt matches its implicit premise: Excerpt 1 relies on the premise concerning economic benefits of theater restoration versus sports arenas; Excerpt 2 relies on the assumption regarding preservation rules not accelerating gentrification; Excerpt 3 relies on the premise that digital copies preserve all scholarly relevant physical details; and Excerpt 4 relies on the assumption that visual contrast fosters aesthetic appreciation.
Each argument excerpt rests on an unmentioned bridge belief without which the argument's conclusion fails logically. Matching each excerpt to its implicit premise reveals the foundational assumption required to justify each specific conclusion.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the conclusion and explicit evidence of Excerpt 1.
Excerpt 1 concludes municipal funds should prioritize theaters over sports facilities because theaters revitalize commercial districts.
Connecting commercial revitalization to a funding decision requires assuming commercial revitalization is more valuable than sports arena benefits.
2
Identify the logical gap in Excerpt 2.
Excerpt 2 claims architectural guidelines keep housing affordable by stopping speculation.
If preservation guidelines actually increase neighborhood desirability and raise prices (gentrification), the claim fails; thus, it assumes gentrification will not occur.
3
Evaluate the requirement for physical artifacts in Excerpt 3.
Excerpt 3 claims digital access makes physical paper conservation unnecessary.
This is only true if digital copies contain 100% of the information researchers need from physical manuscripts.
4
Examine the aesthetic claim in Excerpt 4.
Excerpt 4 asserts modern additions deepen public appreciation for historic structures.
This assumes the stark visual contrast is interpreted positively by the public rather than viewed as clashes in style.

Key Concept

Identifying Unstated Assumptions in Arguments
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Topics

Identifying Unstated Assumptions

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