Question

A city council is considering the construction of a new sports stadium, arguing that it will stimulate local economic growth by creating jobs and attracting tourists. Proponents believe the stadium will revitalize the area, increase spending, and ultimately benefit the local community. Which of the following assumptions does the argument make?

• A. The construction and operation of the new stadium will create jobs for the local population.
• B. The local economy is currently in a recession, so adding a sports stadium is necessary to stimulate growth.
• C. The new stadium will not harm the existing local businesses.
• D. The residents will have more disposable income and spend more money after the stadium is built.
• E. The construction of the stadium will be the primary factor contributing to the economic growth of the area.

Hint:

First cross off any option that is already stated in the passage as a given fact -- that cannot be a hidden assumption. For what remains, try negating each one: whichever negation makes the conclusion of the argument fall apart is the assumption you need.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Identify the conclusion of the argument.
The argument concludes that building a new sports stadium will stimulate economic growth and benefit the local community.
Step 2: Understand what an assumption question requires.
An assumption is something that must be true for the argument’s reasoning to hold; if it is false, the argument weakens.
Step 3: Analyze the options.
Option (A) is already stated in the argument and hence is not an assumption.
Option (B) introduces a recession, which is not mentioned or required.
Option (C) is necessary because if the stadium harms existing local businesses, the claimed economic benefit may not occur.
Option (D) goes beyond the argument and assumes an additional outcome not required for the conclusion.
Option (E) exaggerates the role of the stadium and is not necessary for the argument to work.
Step 4: Core underlying assumption.
The argument assumes that the new stadium will not negatively impact existing local businesses; otherwise, the net economic benefit would be questionable.
Final Answer:
\[ \boxed{\text{Option (C)}} \]

Answer 2

Concept:

• The Negation Test is the standard way to verify a necessary assumption: negate the statement, and if the conclusion of the argument falls apart when the negated statement is true, the original statement was a required assumption.
• A statement that is already given as a stated fact in the argument, or that adds new information beyond what the conclusion actually needs, is not the answer, even if it sounds plausible.

Step 1: Identify the conclusion to protect.
The conclusion is that the stadium will produce a net benefit for the local community.

Step 2: Negate option (A): "the stadium will not create jobs."
Job creation is already stated as a given premise in the argument, so negating a premise does not reveal a hidden assumption. Option (A) is not the answer.

Step 3: Negate option (B): "there is no recession."
The argument never claims a recession is happening, so this negation has no effect on the conclusion at all. Option (B) is not the answer.

Step 4: Negate option (D): "residents will not have more disposable income."
The claimed increase in spending could still come from outside tourists rather than residents specifically, so the conclusion survives this negation. Option (D) is not the answer.

Step 5: Negate option (E): "the stadium will not be the primary factor in growth."
The argument only claims the stadium contributes to growth, never that it is the sole or primary cause, so the conclusion survives. Option (E) is not the answer.

Step 6: Negate option (C): "the stadium will harm existing local businesses."
If true, any jobs or spending gained at the stadium could simply be offset by losses at existing businesses, so the claimed net community benefit collapses under this negation. Option (C) is the required assumption.

Final Answer: The new stadium will not harm the existing local businesses (Option C)