GMAT CR DIAGNOSTIC QUIZ – MODULE 2 MASTERY CHECK: ASSUMPTIONS

Argument:

“SunBright Solar Company plans to expand into the residential solar panel installation market in the Midwest region. The company’s market research indicates that electricity costs in the Midwest have increased 35% over the past five years, while solar panel installation costs have decreased 40% during the same period. SunBright executives believe these trends create favorable conditions for residential solar adoption. They project that their Midwest expansion will capture 8% market share within three years, generating $50 million in annual revenue.”

Question: The executives’ projection depends on which of the following assumptions?

Argument:

“Urban development specialist Karen Liu argues that cities experiencing population growth should prioritize building mid-rise apartment buildings (5-8 stories) rather than high-rise towers (15+ stories) in residential neighborhoods. She notes that mid-rise buildings provide similar housing density to high-rises when constructed across multiple city blocks, but they better preserve neighborhood character and maintain human-scale street environments. Liu acknowledges that high-rises are more cost-efficient per unit due to economies of scale. Nevertheless, she contends that the social benefits of mid-rise development justify the higher per-unit costs.”

Question: Which of the following, if assumed, would allow Liu’s contention about social benefits justifying costs to be properly drawn?

Argument:

“Cybersecurity researcher Dr. Alan Foster warns that the increasing adoption of Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices in homes—smart thermostats, security cameras, door locks, and appliances—creates significant security vulnerabilities. He points out that a recent survey of 1,500 IoT devices found that 68% used weak default passwords, 54% had unpatched security flaws, and 41% transmitted data without encryption. Dr. Foster concludes that widespread IoT adoption will lead to a dramatic increase in home network breaches, enabling cybercriminals to access personal data, monitor activities, and potentially control critical home systems.”

Question: Dr. Foster’s conclusion requires which of the following assumptions?

Argument:

“The ancient city of Thalassia, which flourished from 800 BCE to 200 BCE, was a major center of maritime trade in the Mediterranean. Archaeological excavations have uncovered large warehouse structures near the city’s harbor, sophisticated dock facilities, and numerous amphorae—ceramic vessels used for transporting wine, olive oil, and grain. Historians have debated whether Thalassia primarily exported goods it produced locally or served mainly as a trading hub that redistributed goods from other regions. Recent analysis of clay composition in the amphorae found at the warehouse sites shows that 73% were manufactured locally in Thalassia, while 27% originated from distant regions. Researchers conclude that Thalassia was primarily an exporter of locally-produced goods rather than a redistribution center.”

Question: Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the researchers’ conclusion?

Argument:

“Neuroscientist Dr. Rachel Mendez argues that learning a musical instrument before age 12 produces permanent changes in brain structure that enhance mathematical reasoning abilities throughout life. She cites longitudinal research following 500 individuals from childhood to age 45, which found that those who learned instruments before age 12 consistently outperformed matched controls on mathematical reasoning tests by an average of 17%. Dr. Mendez acknowledges that children who learn instruments often come from families that also emphasize academic achievement and provide enriched educational environments. However, she maintains that the instrument learning itself—specifically the neural development required to coordinate complex motor movements with auditory processing—drives the mathematical advantages observed.”

Question: The argument depends on assuming which of the following?

Argument:

“Economic analysts at Silverton Investment Group predict that commercial real estate values in downtown Riverside will appreciate by 25-30% over the next five years. Their prediction is based on three factors: the city recently announced plans for a new light rail line connecting downtown to the airport and suburban areas; two Fortune 500 companies have committed to relocating their regional headquarters downtown, bringing 3,000 employees; and current vacancy rates in downtown commercial space stand at only 4%, suggesting strong demand. The analysts note that similar transportation infrastructure projects in comparable cities have historically coincided with significant commercial property value increases.”

Question: The analysts’ prediction requires assuming that

Argument:

“Public health researcher Dr. James Morrison proposes that implementing a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages would significantly reduce Type 2 diabetes rates. He points to data from Berkeley, California, where a soda tax implemented in 2015 led to a 21% decrease in sugar-sweetened beverage consumption over three years. Dr. Morrison acknowledges that Berkeley’s diabetes rates did not measurably decline during this period. However, he argues that diabetes develops over many years, so the health benefits of reduced consumption would not yet be visible in three-year data. He contends that if Berkeley maintains reduced consumption levels, diabetes rate reductions will eventually emerge, and other cities implementing similar taxes will see comparable health benefits.”

Question: Which of the following, if assumed, allows Dr. Morrison’s contention to be properly drawn?

Argument:

“Literary historian Professor Diana Ashworth challenges the traditional view that novelist Margaret Hartwell wrote her acclaimed novel ‘Echoes of Memory’ while living in isolation at her family’s rural estate in 1847. Ashworth points to newly discovered correspondence revealing that Hartwell spent substantial time in London during 1847, attending literary salons and engaging with prominent intellectuals. Additionally, ‘Echoes of Memory’ contains detailed descriptions of London’s evolving class dynamics and urban social tensions that would have been difficult to capture without direct observation. Ashworth argues that while Hartwell may have completed some drafting at the rural estate, the novel’s intellectual development and most substantial writing occurred during her London period, fundamentally reshaping our understanding of the work’s origins and influences.”

Question: Ashworth’s argument requires the assumption that

Argument:

“Rivertown School District implemented a policy requiring all high school students to complete 60 hours of community service to graduate. District administrators claim the policy has successfully increased civic engagement among students, pointing to survey results showing that 71% of current students report feeling more connected to their community compared to 52% of students surveyed before the policy was implemented. The administrators argue that mandatory community service develops lasting civic values and should be maintained as a graduation requirement.”

Question: Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the administrators’ argument?

Argument:

“Evolutionary biologist Dr. Christina Park argues that the extinct Caribbean monk seal, last confirmed alive in 1952, was driven to extinction primarily by direct hunting rather than by habitat loss or declining food sources. She notes that historical records document intensive hunting of the seals for their oil and hides from the 18th century through the early 20th century. Dr. Park acknowledges that Caribbean coral reef ecosystems experienced significant degradation during the same period when seal populations were declining. However, she points out that other Caribbean seal species that faced similar habitat degradation but minimal hunting pressure, such as the Hawaiian monk seal, have survived to the present day. She concludes that had hunting pressure on Caribbean monk seals been eliminated by the early 20th century, the species would likely have survived despite habitat challenges.”

Question: Which of the following, if assumed, would allow Dr. Park’s conclusion to be properly drawn?