Verbal Reasoning: Identifying Assumptions

The business model of internet cafes is no longer capable of success in the United States. This is because the availability of internet has skyrocketed over the past several years. Free wifi is offered in most major coffee shops and stores. Additionally, Americans have mobile devices with plans that provide them with internet access. For those without devices, public libraries also provide computers offering internet access, free of charge.   The argument depends on which of the following assumptions?

Landline telephone sales are declining and will no longer exist in a few decades. This is because almost everyone has cellular service or is able to rely on computer systems for their personal needs. Even in workplaces, landlines are becoming obsolete.  The argument depends on which of the following?

Political partisanship is now so out of control that it has irreparably harmed the normal functioning of government. This situation has been created by zealots on both ends of the political spectrum. Our nation’s founders would surely be horrified by this disastrous, new state of affairs. The argument depends on which of the following assumptions?

Traditional print journalism is dying. The proliferation of online and cable news sources makes it easy for readers to bypass newspapers and magazines. Since most publications generate advertising revenue based on their circulation, this decline in readership will be fatal to the print journalism industry. The argument depends on which of the following assumptions?

Comic books are no longer just for children. They deal with adult themes like government surveillance, terrorism, sexuality, religion, conformity and repression. Although costumed heroes, villains and super powers populate the medium, stories are told in more realistic settings and characters deal with more realistic problems. For this reason, the notion that comic books are merely juvenile, escapist fare is no longer true, if it ever actually was. The argument depends on which of the following assumptions?

Our collective obsession with celebrities and entertainment news is ruining this country. As a nation, we face daunting political, economic, social and environmental problems that threaten our existence. Instead of dealing with these problems, we instead focus on the minute details of even the most minor celebrities. How can we prepare for the challenges of the future when we’re so obsessed with trivia of the present? The argument depends on which of the following assumptions?

Humanity’s long-term survival depends on developing the capacity for space travel. Even if we learn to make better use of our natural resources, control population growth and live in harmony with our environment, our sun will eventually die. If our species is to survive, then we must develop the means to find and settle a new planet that we can call home. The argument depends on which of the following assumptions?

The way we treat the most vulnerable members of our society reflects on our own level of moral development. The poor, the homeless, orphans, the mentally ill, prisoners and those afflicted with disease usually lack the political power to advocate on their own behalf. When we address their concerns and make them our own, that is when we show true nobility of spirit. The argument depends on which of the following assumptions?

Capital punishment needs to be enacted more widely. Today’s criminals know that the appeals process can drag on indefinitely and that executions are becoming increasingly rare. Is it any wonder that our prisons are so overcrowded? Criminals know that their odds of facing the death penalty are the lowest in history. The argument depends on which of the following assumptions?

Government regulation and red tape are hampering business and stifling our economy. As we compete in the global marketplace, our businesses are falling behind foreign competitors who are free from such constraints. In terms of time and money, the costs of regulatory compliance are simply too high. We would all benefit from deregulation. The argument depends on which of the following assumptions?