Due to the increasing number of cardiologists compared to the number of heart procedures, and the rise of alternative therapies that reduce the need for surgery, the average annual number of procedures performed by each cardiologist has decreased by one-fifth in recent years. It can be inferred that if these trends persist, there will be a significant decline in the proficiency of cardiac skills. The argument above relies on which of the following assumptions?

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A cardiologist's proficiency cannot be adequately maintained unless they perform procedures with a certain minimum frequency.

Correct

Cardiologists are now dedicating a significant portion of their time to alternative therapies.

All medical professionals, particularly cardiologists, are receiving inferior training in medical schools compared to a few years ago.

The proficiency of each individual cardiologist has diminished in recent years.

Some seasoned cardiologists are now conducting more procedures than they previously did.

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The argument suggests that a decline in the average number of procedures per cardiologist will lead to a decline in surgical skill. This relies on the assumption that a…

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Comments

BraedonJan 19, 2025

thanks a lot

PranavFeb 5, 2025

how much time should this take to solve?

AyeshaJul 26, 2024

greatt question!

HarmanMay 31, 2024

Greatt

What this question tests

What it tests

Whether you can identify the unstated assumption a critical-reasoning argument depends on.

Common trap

Picking an option that strengthens the argument or is merely relevant instead of one that is required.