Question

In Country \(X,\) all citizens eligible to vote must do so or face stiff fines. Because voting in Country \(X\) is mandatory, over 99 percent of the eligible voters voted in the last election. Thus, the winner of the last election is truly the people's choice. Which of the following identifies an assumption in the author's argument?

Short answer

The assumption is that mandatory voting and high turnout alone ensure the election winner is the true people's choice.

Step-by-step solution

- Understand the Argument

Break down the argument into its key components. The argument states that because voting is mandatory and over 99% of eligible voters voted, the election winner is truly the people's choice.

- Identify the Conclusion

Identify the main conclusion of the argument. The conclusion is that the winner of the election is truly the people's choice.

- Identify Supporting Evidence

Identify the evidence provided to support the conclusion. The evidence is that voting is mandatory and over 99% of eligible voters voted.

- Determine the Assumption

Determine the hidden assumption that links the evidence to the conclusion. The assumption is that mandatory voting and high voter turnout alone ensure that the election results reflect the true will of the people.

- Analyze the Assumption

Analyze whether the assumption holds true. Consider whether other factors, such as voter manipulation or lack of meaningful choices, could affect whether the election results truly reflect the people's choice.

Key concepts

Logical Reasoning

Logical reasoning involves the process of using rational steps to arrive at a conclusion. In standardized tests, you are often required to evaluate how effectively an argument supports its conclusion. By dissecting the problem into smaller parts, you can better comprehend the logical flow. Here, the argument in the exercise is that because voting is mandatory and almost everyone votes, the election's outcome is a true reflection of the people's choice. To approach this rationally:

• Break the argument into premises: Voting is mandatory -> Over 99% participation -> Election winner is truly people's choice.
• Evaluate each step: Are these connections logical?
• Consider alternative influences like voter manipulation or lack of real choices.

By using logical reasoning, you can see the gaps or strengths within the argument, helping you to determine the validity of the author's conclusion. Always remember, reasoning logically ensures you can critically evaluate whether the provided evidence truly supports the stated conclusion.

Argument Analysis

Argument analysis involves breaking down an argument to understand its structure and effectiveness. To analyze the argument about the election in Country X:
1. **Identify Components**: Separate the argument into premises (mandatory voting, high voter turnout) and the conclusion (winner is the people's choice).
2. **Examine Evidence**: Look at the given evidence critically. Is the high voter turnout sufficient to support the conclusion?
3. **Identify Logical Connections**: Check if the premises logically lead to the conclusion. Does the fact that voting is mandatory and has high turnout automatically mean the election results reflect the real choice of the people?
4. **Consider Counterexamples**: Think about situations where the premise might be true, but the conclusion might not follow. Could factors like voter suppression or lack of meaningful candidates undermine the conclusion?
Argument analysis helps you to see if the connections between premises and conclusion are strong or if there are weak links that weaken the argument.

Assumption Identification

An assumption is an unstated premise that is essential for the argument to hold true. Identifying these hidden assumptions is key in critical thinking. In the provided exercise, the author assumes that because voting is mandatory, and participation is high, the election results accurately reflect people’s free will. To identify and evaluate assumptions:

• **Connect Evidence to Conclusion**: The evidence (mandatory voting and high turnout) needs an assumption to link it to the conclusion (true people’s choice).
• **Explore Alternatives**: Question if there are other factors that could invalidate this assumption. For example, voter choices limited by lack of credible candidates or external pressures.
• **Test Assumptions**: Consider if the assumption (high turnout = true people’s choice) holds up under scrutiny. What if many voters don't care or make uninformed decisions?

By identifying and questioning assumptions, you gain deeper insights into the argument's weaknesses or strengths. This is essential in making a well-informed analysis of any argument.