Question

In France children in preschool programs, spend a portion of each day engaged in a program of stretching and exercise. Preschool programs in the United States, however, seldom denote time to a daily stretching and exercise program. In tests designed to measure cardiovascular fitness, children in the United States were out-performed by their children attending preschool programs in the United States can achieve cardiovascular fitness only by engaging in a daily school program of stretching and exercise.
Which one of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?
A. A daily program of stretching and exercise will allow all children to achieve cardiovascular fitness.
B. Cardiovascular fitness is integral to one’s overall health.
C. It has been proved that children who participate in stretching and exercise programs in pre-school have better cardiovascular fitness than adults.
D. Stretching and exercise are necessary components of French children’s superior cardiovascular fitness programs.

Answer 1

Hint: An assumption is defined as something which is supposed, assumed or taken for granted. We accept it as true without asking questions or proofs for its validation.

Complete answer:
An argument is a form of communication that tries to persuade its audience to adopt a particular position about a topic. Here in this question, we have to look at the various options and see which one out of the four is the most suited assumption or in other words the most appropriate supposition that comes to our mind after reading the passage. We have to assess the given passage and then decide which of the given assumptions is implied or indirectly stated in the passage.

Option A) A daily program of stretching and exercise will allow all children to achieve cardiovascular fitness- this is the correct answer. This assumption is correct because as implied by the passage we see an emphasis on the daily program of stretching and exercise in pre-school children that boosts their cardiovascular fitness. In French schools this program was followed regularly, hence we see them outperforming the children of the United States where this program was not followed regularly. This leads to the assumption, in order to achieve cardiovascular fitness all children should be made to undergo a daily program of stretching and exercise.

Option B) Cardiovascular fitness is integral to one’s overall health- this is an incorrect answer. This assumption is not appropriate as it is referring to the generic population. Here, in the passage the target group was pre-school children so the assumption needs to be specific.

Option C) It has been proved that children who participate in stretching and exercise programs in pre-school have better cardiovascular fitness than adults- this is an incorrect answer. This assumption is invalid because nowhere in the passage has there been a comparison between adults and children. We only get to understand from the passage that daily program of stretching and exercise leads to a better cardiovascular fitness in children.

Option D) Stretching and exercise are necessary components of French children’s superior cardiovascular fitness programs- this is an incorrect answer. This assumption is partially valid but it is not the correct answer as the implied supposition in the passage is the emphasis on daily program of stretching and exercise for all pre-school children. No doubt the French children’s better cardiovascular fitness belongs to the school’s daily program of stretching and exercise but this option is only partially valid.

A daily program of stretching and exercise will allow all children to achieve cardiovascular fitness. (Assumption on which the argument depends)

Hence the correct answer is option ‘A’.

Note: While solving such questions, you have to take into consideration the implied or the hidden meaning of the passage. You have to deduce out the assumption by focusing on the intricate details that the passage contains which is not so obvious. Such questions require alertness of mind and clarity of idea.