Necessary AssumptionDiff: Easy
Logic Breakdown
Passage Summary: Some think the government likes free speech because they allowed a protest, but the government actually agreed with those protesters. Real free speech support is only proven when you let people say things you hate.
Conclusion: The government does not actually support the freedom of popular expression.
Reasoning: True support for free expression requires accepting ideas the government opposes, but the government only accepted a rally that promoted ideas it already supports.
Analysis: The political scientist defines a necessary condition for supporting free expression: one must accept ideas they oppose. The argument then points out that the government hasn't met this condition *in this specific instance*. However, to conclude the government 'supports no such thing' generally, the author must assume the government hasn't accepted opposing ideas in other instances. Look for an answer that addresses the government's behavior regarding ideas it actually dislikes; the argument needs it to be true that the government doesn't accept those.
Conclusion: The government does not actually support the freedom of popular expression.
Reasoning: True support for free expression requires accepting ideas the government opposes, but the government only accepted a rally that promoted ideas it already supports.
Analysis: The political scientist defines a necessary condition for supporting free expression: one must accept ideas they oppose. The argument then points out that the government hasn't met this condition *in this specific instance*. However, to conclude the government 'supports no such thing' generally, the author must assume the government hasn't accepted opposing ideas in other instances. Look for an answer that addresses the government's behavior regarding ideas it actually dislikes; the argument needs it to be true that the government doesn't accept those.
Passage Stimulus
Passage Redacted
Unlock Full Passage5.Which one of the following is an assumption that is required by the political scientist's argument?
Correct Answer
C
C is necessary. If we negate it—suppose the government would accept a protest rally whose message it opposes—then the fact it accepted this pro-government rally would be consistent with supporting freedom of popular expression, and the scientist’s conclusion (“supports no such thing”) would no longer follow. Thus, C is required for the argument.
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