Logical Reasoning

PT103 · S2 · Q7 Speakers of the Caronian language

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Speakers of the Caronian language constitute a minority of the population in several large countries.

Conclusion (hence)

The recommendation cannot be satisfied.

Since this conclusion has referential language, we need to identify what concept it refers back to. The recommendation in question is that regions where Caronian-speakers live be granted autonomy as an independent nation in which they would be a majority.

Evidence

Caronian-speakers live in several, widely scattered areas that cannot be united within a single continuous boundary while at the same time allowing Caronian-speakers to be the majority population.

Evaluate

The conclusion is about an "independent nation" while the evidence is about areas united within a single continuous boundary. This sets us up for a potential missing link assumption: independent nations have to be united within a single continuous geographic boundary.

If you didn't spot that and this seems like a pretty decent argument to you, it's a great opportunity to deploy the Anti-conclusion technique to generate an objection. How could the evidence be true and the conclusion be false? Well, what if we didn't need a single continuous boundary in order to get an independent nation?

Anticipate

Predict an answer that addresses the Assumption or Objection above, but be open to other possibilities too because Necessary Assumption questions can be unpredictable.

7.

The argument relies on which one of the following assumptions?

  1. A nation once existed in

    Out of Scope: once existed

    We don't need to assume that such a nation ever existed in the past in order to conclude that such a nation cannot exist in the present.

    2% picked this

  2. Caronian-speakers tend to perceive themselves

    Out of Scope: perceive / community

    Perceptions are irrelevant to this argument, as is the idea of a "single community." We don't know what relationship that has to the relevant concepts of geographic boundaries and independent nationhood.

    5% picked this

  3. Correct

    The recommendation would not be

    Why this is right

    This matches our prediction by establishing that a nation that satisfies the recommendation can't lack that single continuous boundary.

    Skill tested: Necessary Assumption · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.

    88% picked this

  4. The new Caronian nation will

    Too Strong: will not include

    To satisfy the recommendation, we need Caronian-speakers to be the majority. We don't need them to be the only citizens in the nation.

    4% picked this

  5. In most nations several different

    Too Broad: most nations

    Answers that broaden the scope of the stimulus are suspect in Necessary Assumption questions. We need to draw a conclusion about one specific nation. We don't need to assume anything about most nations, broadly speaking.

    1% picked this

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