A local government proposes to fund a new public park by reallocating funds from the city's existing public library budget. Proponents argue that the park will provide much-needed green space and recreational opportunities, benefiting the community more broadly than the library, which they claim is underutilized. Which of the following, if true, would most effectively weaken the claim that the library is underutilized?
- AThe city's public library system recently implemented a popular digital lending program, significantly increasing off-site usage.
- BPublic libraries historically serve as important community hubs for educational and social programs.
- CA recent survey shows that only 15% of city residents visit the library in person more than once a month.
- DThe proposed park location is in a densely populated area with limited existing green space.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. The city's public library system recently implemented a popular digital lending program, significantly increasing off-site usage.
The claim of 'underutilization' for the library is based on an implicit assumption that utilization is solely measured by physical visits. Option A directly challenges this assumption by showing a significant increase in usage through a digital program, demonstrating that the library is indeed well-utilized, just not exclusively in a traditional physical sense.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. While true, this is a general statement about libraries and doesn't provide specific evidence about the *utilization* of *this particular library*.
- C. This would strengthen the claim of underutilization if 'in person' is the sole metric, which is the implicit assumption being challenged.
- D. This strengthens the argument for the park but does not address the claim about the library's utilization.
Challenging Implicit Assumptions
Challenging an implicit assumption involves identifying an unstated belief or premise upon which an argument relies and then providing information that demonstrates this assumption is false or questionable.
- Targets unstated parts of an argument.
- Revealing a false assumption can invalidate the conclusion.
- Often involves broadening the scope of a definition or metric.
Memory trick: Find the ghost in the machine - the hidden belief making the argument run.