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Question

Difficulty: EasyIdentifying Underlying Assumptions

A municipal library system plans to replace half of its physical reference desk staff with automated digital catalog kiosks, reasoning that this change will allow the library to reduce operating expenses without decreasing the total number of patrons served daily. Which of the following is an assumption upon which the library system's plan depends?

  1. The transition to automated digital catalog kiosks will not cause a significant number of patrons who require human assistance to stop visiting the library.Answer
  2. B
    Automated digital catalog kiosks are significantly cheaper to maintain than traditional desktop computer terminals.
  3. C
    Replacing reference desk staff with automated kiosks will completely eliminate all operating expenses for the library system.
  4. D
    Patrons who use the automated kiosks will complete their reference queries faster than patrons who consult with human staff.
  5. E
    Prior reductions in library staffing at neighboring municipal branches led directly to lower overall patron attendance.

Answer

The transition to automated digital catalog kiosks will not cause a significant number of patrons who require human assistance to stop visiting the library.
The conclusion asserts that replacing human reference staff with kiosks will cut operating costs without reducing daily patron attendance. For this argument to hold, it must be true that patrons who rely on staff assistance will not be driven away by the change. Applying the Negation Test confirms that if these patrons stop visiting, total attendance will drop, directly disproving the library's claim.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the conclusion and premises of the argument
Premise: Replacing half of the reference staff with kiosks lowers expenses. Conclusion: The library can lower expenses without decreasing total daily patron attendance.
Understanding the gap between premise and conclusion highlights what unstated assumption is needed.
2
Apply the Negation Test to candidate statements
Negating the statement gives: 'The transition WILL cause a significant number of patrons who require human assistance to stop visiting.'
If negating a statement causes the conclusion ('without decreasing patron attendance') to fall apart, that statement is a necessary assumption.
3
Confirm logical necessity
If assistance-seeking patrons stop coming, overall attendance decreases, invalidating the argument's conclusion.
The argument requires that replacing staff with kiosks will not reduce overall patron attendance.

Key Concept

Identifying Necessary Assumptions via the Negation Test
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Topics

Identifying Underlying Assumptions

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