Affirmation and Presupposition
Are you preparing for competitive exams and finding Statement and Assumption questions a challenge? Fear not! This article provides you with essential tips and strategies to tackle these questions effectively.
In competitive exams, Statement and Assumption questions are designed to test your critical thinking skills, and they are among the most commonly asked topics. To understand these questions, it's crucial to know what constitutes a statement and an assumption.
A **statement** is a given assertion or claim, often presented as a fact or opinion. On the other hand, an **assumption** is an underlying, unstated belief that is taken for granted and necessary for the statement to hold true.
To solve Statement and Assumption questions, follow these key tips:
1. **Identify the Theme and Purpose of the Statement:** Carefully read and understand the statement. Focus on its main idea and intended message before evaluating the assumptions.
2. **Assumptions are Indefinite and Encouraging:** Assumptions are generally not stated and are positive or supportive of the statement. They make the statement reasonable or plausible.
3. **Watch for Absolute or Extreme Language:** Assumptions with words like "each," "only," "any," "all," "every," "why," "what," "these," "therefore," "but," "definitely," and "certainly" are often false or invalid unless directly supported by the statement.
4. **Assumptions with Moderate Language are Likely Valid:** Assumptions containing words like "many," "some," "much," and "to a large extent" are usually true, as they are less absolute and more realistic.
5. **Ask "What Must Be True for the Statement to Hold?":** This helps identify the implicit assumptions that support the statement. If the assumption is necessary for the statement to make sense, it is likely valid.
6. **Avoid Extreme or Unsupported Assumptions:** Do not accept assumptions that introduce new or unrelated information, or are too strong without explicit support in the statement.
7. **Practice Sample Questions:** Regular practice with solved examples helps you recognise patterns and improves your ability to distinguish between valid and invalid assumptions.
Let's illustrate these tips with an example:
**Statement:** The company has decided to give all employees a 10% salary increase. **Valid Assumption:** The company can afford to pay higher salaries. **Invalid Assumption:** All employees will now work harder.
The valid assumption is necessary for the statement to be reasonable, whereas the invalid assumption introduces new, unsupported information.
By following these tips and practicing regularly, you can improve your accuracy and efficiency with Statement and Assumption questions in competitive exams. Be prepared for these questions in various exams such as SSC and Banking.
Remember, if the statement contains words like each, only, any, all, every, why, what, these, therefore, but, definitely, and certainly, then the assumption will be false. On the other hand, if the statement contains words like many, some, much, and to a large extent, then the assumption will be true.
Practice is essential for Statement and Assumption questions. Good luck in your preparations!
In the context of competitive exams, understanding Statement and Assumption questions is crucial for testing critical thinking skills. To master these questions, one can engage in education and self-development focused on learning how to identify themes, watch for absolute language, and ask key questions to uncover assumptions.
Practicing Statement and Assumption questions regularly will help you recognize patterns and reinforce your ability to distinguish valid from invalid assumptions. As you prepare for exams like SSC and Banking, you'll find that mathematics and analytical skills, along with a strong foundation in Statement and Assumption question strategies, will be key to success.
