Instruction: Identify the assumption that must hold for the statement to be valid, then close the correct option.
Statement: Deforestation in tropical rainforests, primarily driven by agricultural expansion and logging, not only contributes to the loss of biodiversity but also exacerbates global warming by reducing the Earth’s capacity of absorb carbon dioxide.
Assumption:
I. Deforestation reduces the Earth’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide.
II. Agricultural expansion and logging are the primary causes of deforestation.
III. The loss of biodiversity is the most significant consequence of deforestation.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
The correct answer is option 1 i.e. Only I and II are implicit.
Assumptions:
I. Implicit (because the statement links deforestation → reduced CO₂ absorption → global warming. For this argument to work, we must assume that deforestation actually decreases the Earth’s capacity to absorb CO₂.)
II. Implicit (because the statement explains the impact of deforestation based on the idea that these activities are the main drivers.)
Thus, the argument relies on this condition being true, so it works as an assumption.
III: Not implicit (because the statement only says biodiversity is lost, but it does not compare it with other consequences or say it is the most significant.)