ACT (Enhanced)ReadingHard
A political analyst states: 'The recent electoral outcome, while surprising to many pundits, was a predictable consequence of years of economic stagnation and growing public disillusionment with the established political order. The electorate, tired of unfulfilled promises, simply sought a radical departure from the status quo.' Which of the following assumptions does the analyst make about the electorate's motivation?
- AThey were largely uninformed about the intricacies of economic policy.
- BThey prioritized national security above all other concerns.
- CThey were primarily driven by a desire for revolutionary political change.
- DThey were content with the current economic conditions but sought social reform.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. They were primarily driven by a desire for revolutionary political change.
The analyst attributes the outcome to 'years of economic stagnation and growing public disillusionment' and states the electorate 'sought a radical departure from the status quo.' This implies a strong desire for significant, fundamental change, which is best captured by 'revolutionary political change' (though 'revolutionary' might be strong, 'radical departure' aligns with it). The key is the 'departure from the status quo' fueled by disillusionment.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. The statement focuses on their reaction to economic stagnation, not their understanding of policy intricacies.
- B. National security is not mentioned as a driver; economic stagnation and disillusionment are.
- D. The statement explicitly says 'economic stagnation' was a cause, so they were *not* content with economic conditions.
Author's Assumption
An unstated belief or premise that an author takes for granted as true when constructing an argument or explanation.
- Not explicitly stated in the text.
- Necessary for the author's logic to hold.
- Often reveals underlying biases or beliefs.
Memory trick: Assumption's clue: what must be true for the view.