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Difficulty: MediumStatement and Assumptions

Consider the following statement and the two assumptions that follow it.

Statement:
"The National Meteorological Authority has issued an official advisory urging coastal farmers to delay the sowing of their Kharif crops by two weeks due to a predicted delay in the arrival of the southwest monsoon."

Assumptions:
I. Coastal farmers generally rely on the rainfall from the southwest monsoon for the successful cultivation of their Kharif crops.
II. Delaying the sowing of crops by two weeks will inevitably result in a lower agricultural yield for the upcoming harvest season.

Based on the statement provided, which of the following is correct?

  1. Only assumption I is implicitAnswer
  2. B
    Only assumption II is implicit
  3. C
    Either assumption I or assumption II is implicit
  4. D
    Neither assumption I nor assumption II is implicit
  5. E
    Both assumption I and assumption II are implicit

Answer

The correct answer is that only the first assumption is implicit.
The first assumption provides the necessary logical link between the monsoon's delay and the need to delay crop sowing. Without this unstated dependence, the meteorological advisory has no logical basis. The second assumption is a speculation about future outcomes (an inference), not an underlying premise.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the main statement to understand the author's primary directive and motivation.
The authority is advising farmers to delay planting specifically because the monsoon is delayed.
Identifying the cause-and-effect relationship in the statement is necessary to find what is taken for granted.
2
Evaluate the first candidate assumption against the statement.
Assumption I is implicit. If farmers did not rely on the monsoon, a delay in its arrival would not necessitate a delay in sowing.
An assumption is a premise that must be true for the argument or directive to logically stand.
3
Evaluate the second candidate assumption against the statement.
Assumption II is not implicit. A potential drop in yield is a speculated future consequence (an inference), not an assumption that prompted the advisory. In fact, the advisory is likely designed to protect the yield.
Assumptions must be distinguished from inferences; an assumption is an unstated foundation, while an inference is a conclusion drawn from the action.

Key Concept

Distinguishing between implicit premises (assumptions) and direct logical consequences (inferences) in administrative directives.
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Topics

Statement and Assumptions

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