LSAT Practice Test

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Prepare effectively for the LSAT Test. Utilize flashcards and tackle multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Ace your test with confidence!

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What term describes an unstated premise necessary for an argument to be valid?

Hypothesis
Assumption
Deduction
Postulate

The correct answer is: Assumption

An assumption is an unstated premise necessary for an argument to be valid. In any argument, there are premises that lead to a conclusion. Sometimes, these premises are not explicitly stated but are essential for the conclusion to be logically sound. This is where assumptions come into play. They fill in the gaps in the argument and make it coherent. In this question, the term being described is an assumption, making it the correct answer. Option A, hypothesis, generally refers to a proposed explanation for a phenomenon and is not synonymous with an unstated premise in an argument. Option C, deduction, is a method of reasoning from general principles to specific instances and does not specifically relate to unstated premises. Option D, postulate, refers to a basic principle accepted as true without proof and is not necessarily synonymous with an unstated premise in an argument.