Necessary AssumptionDiff: Easy
Logic Breakdown
Passage Summary: Some club members are annoyed the president booked a speaker without asking them, but the author says it's fine because a past president did something similar with an accountant.
Conclusion: The current club president's decision to invite Dr. Hines without consulting the membership was an appropriate action.
Reasoning: A previous president once hired a tax accountant without consulting the members, and that action serves as a precedent for the current situation.
Analysis: The argument relies on a classic 'precedent' logic, which is only as strong as the comparison being made. To function, the argument must assume that the previous president's action was actually acceptable, rather than just another mistake. It also assumes that hiring an accountant and inviting a banquet speaker are similar enough that the same rules of consultation apply. Look for an answer that validates the previous president's behavior as a proper standard of conduct.
Conclusion: The current club president's decision to invite Dr. Hines without consulting the membership was an appropriate action.
Reasoning: A previous president once hired a tax accountant without consulting the members, and that action serves as a precedent for the current situation.
Analysis: The argument relies on a classic 'precedent' logic, which is only as strong as the comparison being made. To function, the argument must assume that the previous president's action was actually acceptable, rather than just another mistake. It also assumes that hiring an accountant and inviting a banquet speaker are similar enough that the same rules of consultation apply. Look for an answer that validates the previous president's behavior as a proper standard of conduct.
Passage Stimulus
Passage Redacted
Unlock Full Passage3.Which one of the following is an assumption on which the argument relies?
Correct Answer
E
Correct. The argument relies on the precedent being appropriate. Negation test: If the previous president did not act appropriately when hiring the accountant without consulting, then citing that case gives no justification that the current president’s similar conduct is appropriate, undercutting the argument.
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