Assumptions and Deconstructing Arguments

Question 1

What are assumptions?

Answer 1

Assumptions are evidences that are not explicitly stated or that are just asserted by the author as something true without proof. The assumption usually leads to a flaw in logic, as the absence of grounds that validate the assumption makes the conclusion not to be a logical result of the premises

Question 2

What is assuming a shared belief?

Answer 2

It is a flaw in which the arguer assumes that the listener will share certain basic beliefs (impressions, prejudices, and so on)

Question 3

What is assuming skill and/or will?

Answer 3

For people to do something, they have to be able to do it, but they also have to want to. Both skill and will are necessary. Some arguments give you one piece but not the other

Question 4

What is assuming the future equals the past?

Answer 4

It is when the arguer take advantage of the general assumption that the future will be like the past, something that may be generally true, but not necessarily.

Question 5

What are the CR question types?

Answer 5

1) Question about Assumptions: ask directly about assumption or that ask you to strengthen and weaken arguments
2) Question about evidence: ask you to draw an inference or conclusion or ask you to resolve a discrepancy or a paradox
3) Question about structure: will have two bold statements and ask you to pick the answer that tells the role of those two statements or ask how one person responds to another person’s argument

Question 6

How to deal with a question regarding assumption?

Answer 6

It is important to deconstruct the argument, find the premises and the conclusion, and brainstorming assumptions.

Question 7

How to deal with a question about structure?

Answer 7

You must recognize the assumptions of the argument to be able to identify in the options a new piece of information that might strength or weaken the argument.
The new piece not necessarily validates or invalidates the argument, but make it more likely or not to be valid.

Question 8

How to deal with a question about evidence?

Answer 8

This question asks you to make an inference from the facts given in the argument. The argument itself will not contain a conclusion. The answer should avoid flaws in the reasoning and aim to deduce or to conclude something that must be true from the given information
The same goes for contradiction or discrepancy. There is always a perfectly reasonable explanation for something that looks like a contradiction or impossibility, and that should be the correct answer.

Question 9

What is a faulty comparison?

Answer 9

Is when an answer uses false synonyms or false equivalents: “use their cell phones more” is not necessarily equivalent to “sent more text messages”, as you can use your phone more in other phone activities.

The same apply to distinctions or comparison that are not supported by the argument, which mean that although reasonable they are irrelevant in the context of the argument.

Question 10

What is misinterpret the argument?

Answer 10

Is when the alternatives answers proposes try to mislead the candidate by suggesting answers that may look in line with the argument, whereas in fact they only that advantage of a possible misinterpretation that the argument may lead to
Put S for Strengthen or W for Weaken to guarantee that you don’t loose track of the question

Question 11

What are superficial word matches?

Answer 11

Is when the answers try to reproduce the wording of the argument to be confusing, whereas the correct answer uses synonyms to be correct. Take two steps:
1) check the synonyms and make sure they are valid based on the argument information
2) if yes, this is likely the right answer, as the GMAT is trying to make people fall for the answer that looks like the enunciate