What do assumption questions require you to identify?

Assumption questions require you to identify an underlying assumption of the argument. These assumptions are the unstated premises that must be true for the argument to hold logically. When assessing an argument, it often presents a conclusion based on certain premises; however, there may be additional beliefs or principles that are taken for granted but not explicitly stated. Recognizing these assumptions is crucial, as they are essential for the argument's validity.

In this context, while a supporting statement or evidence-based conclusion might be important components of the argument, they do not address the implicit beliefs that must be accepted for the argument to be sound. Likewise, solutions to problems presented do not directly relate to the logical structure of the argument itself; assumption questions specifically focus on what must be assumed for the conclusion to follow logically from the premises. Thus, identifying these underlying assumptions is key to understanding and critically evaluating the argument's strength.