Question

Some have suggested a correlation between not wearing polished shoes and being lethargic – that those who don't polish their shoes are generally more lethargic than those who do. This, however, is not the case. I work at the employment exchange and the majority of the applicants have polished shoes. Which of the following assumptions is made by the author of the argument?

• A. Lethargy and polished shoes are learned behaviours.
• B. People with polished shoes are never unemployed.
• C. Lethargy has its origins in an individual's family background.
• D. People who apply for employment at the employment exchange are lethargic.

Hint:

In assumption questions, find the hidden belief that connects the author's rejection of one explanation with acceptance of another. Look for what the author presumes to be the real cause.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understand the argument.
- Initial claim: People who do not polish shoes are more lethargic.
- Counterclaim by author: This correlation does not hold because even unemployed applicants (assumed to be lethargic) have polished shoes.
Step 2: Examine assumptions.
(a) Suggests both lethargy and polished shoes are learned behaviours — not implied.
(b) Suggests polished-shoe people are never unemployed — contradicted, as applicants are unemployed but still have polished shoes.
(c) Indicates lethargy originates in family background — this fits as an implicit assumption: lethargy is unrelated to shoe-polishing habits, but has deeper roots elsewhere.
(d) Suggests all applicants are lethargic — not stated directly by the author.
Step 3: Conclusion.
The author assumes lethargy is not caused by shoe-polishing but something else — family background.
\(\boxed{\text{Lethargy has its origins in an individual's family background}}\)