Necessary AssumptionDiff: Medium
Logic Breakdown
Passage Summary: Even though it costs more, we should build a cable bridge because it looks better, and that aesthetic value is worth the extra money.
Conclusion: The city should opt for a more expensive cable bridge over a cheaper concrete skyway to replace the old Black River bridge.
Reasoning: The cable bridge is more beautiful, and the goal of maintaining the beauty of the river crossing justifies the higher price tag.
Analysis: This argument relies on a value judgment that beauty is worth a premium price. A necessary assumption here is that the cable bridge actually possesses the aesthetic superiority claimed; if it weren't more beautiful than the concrete skyway, the entire justification for the extra cost collapses. We should also look for an assumption that there aren't other factors, like safety or environmental impact, that would make the cable bridge an unacceptable choice regardless of its beauty.
Conclusion: The city should opt for a more expensive cable bridge over a cheaper concrete skyway to replace the old Black River bridge.
Reasoning: The cable bridge is more beautiful, and the goal of maintaining the beauty of the river crossing justifies the higher price tag.
Analysis: This argument relies on a value judgment that beauty is worth a premium price. A necessary assumption here is that the cable bridge actually possesses the aesthetic superiority claimed; if it weren't more beautiful than the concrete skyway, the entire justification for the extra cost collapses. We should also look for an assumption that there aren't other factors, like safety or environmental impact, that would make the cable bridge an unacceptable choice regardless of its beauty.
Passage Stimulus
Passage Redacted
Unlock Full Passage6.Which one of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?
Correct Answer
E
E says a cable bridge would be more aesthetically pleasing than a concrete skyway. This is the missing link: without it, the “extra cost” would not be “justified” by beauty. Negation test: If building a cable bridge would not produce a more aesthetically pleasing result than a concrete skyway, then choosing the costlier cable bridge is not justified by the stated goal of maintaining beauty, and the argument collapses.
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