Examkin

Question

Difficulty: EasyPassage Assumptions and Underlying Premises

Read the following passage carefully:

"To bridge the persistent gap in healthcare access across remote rural districts, several state health departments have mandated the deployment of digital telemedicine kiosks equipped with satellite internet and diagnostic sensors. Proponents argue that introducing these automated consultation booths will drastically reduce the patient load on overburdened tertiary referral hospitals in urban centers, as rural residents will no longer need to travel long distances for basic clinical consultations and diagnostic screening. Consequently, state budgets have reallocated substantial capital from upgrading physical primary health center infrastructure toward scaling up tele-diagnostic technology contracts with private vendors."

Which one of the following is the most crucial underlying assumption on which the argument presented in the passage depends?

  1. Rural residents in remote districts will accept and utilize digital telemedicine kiosks for their primary healthcare needs.Answer
  2. B
    Reallocating funds away from primary health center infrastructure will weaken the overall physical public health framework.
  3. C
    Private technology vendors consistently deliver superior medical diagnostic services compared to state-run public health centers.
  4. D
    Tertiary referral hospitals in urban centers are completely incapable of functioning without immediate digital interventions.

Answer

The correct underlying assumption is that rural residents in remote districts will accept and utilize digital telemedicine kiosks for their primary healthcare needs.
The argument relies on a direct link between deploying digital kiosks and reducing urban hospital patient loads. For this link to function, target beneficiaries must actually adopt and use the kiosks. Negating this claim breaks the logical connection completely.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the main conclusion of the passage.
The main argument asserts that installing digital telemedicine kiosks in rural areas will reduce patient overcrowding at urban tertiary referral hospitals by resolving clinical needs locally.
Understanding the core argument is necessary to determine what unstated premise holds the logic together.
2
Apply the negation test to the candidate assumption.
If we negate the statement—assuming rural residents will NOT accept or use digital kiosks—the kiosks will sit unused, patients will continue traveling to urban hospitals, and the central conclusion fails completely.
A valid assumption must cause the author's argument to collapse when negated.

Key Concept

Identifying Unstated Necessary Premises in Passage Arguments
Rate this question

Topics

Passage Assumptions and Underlying Premises

More questions from this topic