Assumptions in arguments – UGC NET Question

Statements A, B and C correctly describe assumptions and their role in exam reasoning, while D and E are clearly wrong. An assumption is usually an implicit premise, not the explicit conclusion, and spotting it helps diagnose weaknesses. Not every statement in the passage is an assumption; many are explicit claims or conclusions, so D overgeneralises. Likewise, calling an assumption always a conclusion contradicts the standard definition, making E false, so D and E only are the wrong statements.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it marks only D as wrong, ignoring that E also mischaracterises assumptions by treating them as always conclusions. D only therefore underestimates how many statements are incorrect.

Option B:
Option B is correct since it isolates exactly those statements that distort the notion of assumptions while leaving A, B and C as accurate descriptions. It reflects the logical distinction between premises, assumptions and conclusions used in UGC NET critical reasoning questions.

Option C:
Option C is wrong because it treats E alone as wrong and leaves D unchallenged, even though D incorrectly classifies every passage statement as an unstated assumption. E only thus fails to capture the full set of erroneous claims.

Option D:
Option D is also incorrect since it includes C among the wrong statements, even though C accurately reports that some questions explicitly ask for underlying assumptions. C, D and E only therefore mislabels a true exam-related statement.