Each of the following is an assumption

Answer choices

1. A

   Assumed4% picked this

   Enough of the mixture is produced to provide the required doses to almost everybody

   In order for the author to think that the world isn't using the mix because it's ineffective, she has to assume the mix isn't being used for some other reason. She's assuming that "supply of doses" isn't the issue. If we negated this and got "there's not enough doses of the mix to supply everyone with a dose", it would offer an alternate explanation for why many people who have colds don't use the mixture, which weakens the author's argument.

   4%
2. B

   Assumed5% picked this

   The mixture does not have side effects severe enough to make many people who have

   When Necessary Assumption answer choices have a ruling out "not" in them, we lovingly stop, negate them (by removing the "not"), and see if they would weaken. Does it hurt the author if we say, "the mix does have side effects severe enough to make many people avoid it"? Yes, because again the author is blaming the mix's lack of use on its ineffectiveness, but if we offer an alternate explanation for its lack of use, that weakens her argument. She has to assume people are avoiding it because it doesn't work, not because it has severe side effects.

   5%
3. C

   Correct71% picked this

   The mixture is powerful enough to prevent almost everybody who uses it from contracting

   Why this is right

   Correct Too Strong: prevents most future colds The argument definitely didn't need to assume that this is some super-elixir that not only treats your current cold but then almost always prevents all future colds.

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

   71%
4. D

   Assumed7% picked this

   The mixture is widely enough known that almost everybody with a cold is

   Does it hurt the author if we negate this answer and say, "the mix is not widely enough know that the vast majority of people would be aware of it" (i.e. a lot of people are not aware of it). Yes, because the author is blaming the mix's lack of use on its ineffectiveness, but if we offer an alternate explanation for its lack of use, that weakens her argument. She has to assume people are avoiding it because it doesn't work, not because they aren't aware of it (and so have never even tried it in the first place).

   7%
5. E

   Assumed14% picked this

   There are no effective cold remedies available that many people who have colds prefer

   When Necessary Assumption answer choices have a ruling out "no / not" in them, we stop, negate them (by removing the "no / not"), and see if they would weaken. Does it hurt the author if we say, "there are effective cold remedies that many people prefer to this mix"? Yes, because the author is blaming the mix's lack of use on its ineffectiveness, but if we offer an alternate explanation for its lack of use, that weakens her argument. She has to assume people are avoiding it because it doesn't work, not because it works but people just prefer a different cold remedy.

   14%