The questions in the GMAT critical reasoning section often ask you to apply your reasoning skills distinguish assumption from assertion and inference. Let us see what each of these terms mean in context of the passage given below:

Children in families that habitually watch television during meals eat fewer fruits and vegetables than those who don’t, and consume more Pizza, snack food and caffeine laced soft drinks, U.S. researchers reported.

The report from Tufts University in Boston was based on a look at the eating habits of 91 families in neighborhoods adjacent to Washington, D.C., most of them in Maryland.

Katharine Coon, lead author of the study, said that a number of factors might be at work linking eating habits to watching television, but she believed TV itself – and the kinds of food advertised heavily on it – might be a powerful influence.

a)      Assertions: Assertions are claims, declarations or affirmations. You need solid, concrete grounds for refuting them because they are backed by research findings or scientific proof.

In the paragraph above, the statement, “Children in families that habitually watch television during meals eat fewer fruits and vegetables than those who don’t, and consume more Pizza, snack food and caffeine laced soft drinks, U.S. researchers reported” is an ASSERTION.

b) Assumption: Assumptions act as bridges relating the fact to the conclusion. Conclusion is drawn on the basis of the assumptions made while stating the facts. GMAT test takers often confuse assumption as a mere re-statement of the facts given in the passage.

In the above paragraph, the researcher Katharine Coon, believes that the TV itself might be a powerful influence. Mark the words believes and might.

c)       Implicit Statements: Those statements that are not stated in the passage, but are implied or inferred by the reader. For example, the paragraph implies that there are other researchers involved in the said study. This is implicit in the sentence that says Katherine Coon is the lead author, which means she is not the only author.

What was your reaction the first time you came across these kind of questions during GMAT testing? Many students were so befuddled that they skipped answering these questions. Upon finding the answers to the questions, their unanimous reaction was “Reading Comprehension will never be the same again.”

Read more about critical reasoning section in GMAT. Solve critical reading and reasoning questions and see how well prepared you are to take the GMAT exam.