Question

Free school meals increased attendance. Which assumption is needed to claim free meals caused attendance to rise?

• A. Meal distribution was the main change during the period
• B. Teachers were more vigilant about taking attendance
• C. School built new classrooms which could accommodate more students
• D. Local incomes doubled leading to a flux of new admissions

Hint:

For causal assumption questions, check what must be true for the cause to be credited with the observed effect.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understand the claim — The argument claims a causal link between free meals and increased attendance.
Step 2: Identify assumption — For this causal inference, no other major factor should explain the increase.
Step 3: Evaluate options — Option (a) ensures the causal link is valid. Others suggest alternative causes and are irrelevant assumptions.
Step 4: Conclusion — Option (a) is correct.