For many students, Assumption questions are the most difficult
type of Critical Reasoning problem. An assumption is simply an
unstated premise of the argument; that is, an integral component
of the argument that the author takes for granted and leaves
unsaid. In our daily lives we make thousands of assumptions, but
they make sense because they have context and we have experience
with the way the world works. Think for a moment about the many
assumptions required during the simple act of ordering a meal at
a restaurant. You assume that: the prices on the menu are
correct; the items on the menu are available; the description of
the food is reasonably accurate; the waiter will understand what
you say when you order; the food will not sicken or kill you;
the restaurant will accept your payment, et cetera. In an GMAT
question, you are faced with the difficult task of figuring out
the author’s mindset and determining what assumption he or she
made when formulating the argument. This task is unlike any
other on the