GRE Prep Hour: Can you find the
assumptions in these GRE passages?
Manhattan Prep GRE
Logic Based Passages
Logic based or argument based passages are similar to reading
a textbook or news article. They are not usually opinionated,
but the author's opinion is relevant. These passages can vary
in length and there are several passages per section. In the
verbal section, there are about seven to nine questions that
come from this type of passage. On the other hand, argument
structure passages are more real-world and have a more
specific conclusion. They are usually shorter and there is only
one question about these passages per section.
Analyzing the Argument
Analyzing the argument is crucial in finding assumptions.
Assumptions are unstated information that connect the
premises to the conclusion. They support the ability to get from
the premise to the conclusion and are necessary for the
argument to function. One example of an assumption in the
given argument is that there were not significant increased
costs. If this assumption is broken, the argument falls apart
and the conclusion cannot be reached.
Assumptions have disastrous consequences if they are untrue.
Breaking an assumption can render the argument invalid. In
the given example, if the assumption of no increased costs is
broken, the conclusion that profits are up cannot be reached.
The broken assumption ruining the path to get to the
conclusion is to identify assumptions in this sort of question. If
you find yourself wondering if something is an assumption or
not, just ask yourself: does it break the argument? If you break
this assumption, if you take this assumption and negate it,
does it ruin the argument? If it does, it's probably a good clue
that it's an assumption. If it does not, if you break the
assumption as in you negate it, you say it's not true and it
really doesn't change the argument very much, that would be a
clue that it's probably not a key assumption. It's something
that doesn't really affect the connection between the premises
and the conclusion.
assumptions in these GRE passages?
Manhattan Prep GRE
Logic Based Passages
Logic based or argument based passages are similar to reading
a textbook or news article. They are not usually opinionated,
but the author's opinion is relevant. These passages can vary
in length and there are several passages per section. In the
verbal section, there are about seven to nine questions that
come from this type of passage. On the other hand, argument
structure passages are more real-world and have a more
specific conclusion. They are usually shorter and there is only
one question about these passages per section.
Analyzing the Argument
Analyzing the argument is crucial in finding assumptions.
Assumptions are unstated information that connect the
premises to the conclusion. They support the ability to get from
the premise to the conclusion and are necessary for the
argument to function. One example of an assumption in the
given argument is that there were not significant increased
costs. If this assumption is broken, the argument falls apart
and the conclusion cannot be reached.
Assumptions have disastrous consequences if they are untrue.
Breaking an assumption can render the argument invalid. In
the given example, if the assumption of no increased costs is
broken, the conclusion that profits are up cannot be reached.
The broken assumption ruining the path to get to the
conclusion is to identify assumptions in this sort of question. If
you find yourself wondering if something is an assumption or
not, just ask yourself: does it break the argument? If you break
this assumption, if you take this assumption and negate it,
does it ruin the argument? If it does, it's probably a good clue
that it's an assumption. If it does not, if you break the
assumption as in you negate it, you say it's not true and it
really doesn't change the argument very much, that would be a
clue that it's probably not a key assumption. It's something
that doesn't really affect the connection between the premises
and the conclusion.
