Question: In Europe, schoolchildren devote time during each school day to calisthenics. North American schools rarely offer a daily calisthenics program. Tests prove that North American children are weaker, slower, and shorter-winded than European children. We must conclude that North American children can be made physically fit only if they participate in school calisthenics on a daily basis.

Which of the following is an assumption required by the argument above?

(A) Physical fitness is a compelling national priority worthy of taxpayer resources.
(B) School calisthenics programs are an indispensable factor in European student fitness.
(C) All children can be made equally physically fit.
(D) European schoolchildren enjoy physical activities more than do American children.
(E) American physical education teachers are capable of designing a successful calisthenics program.

“In Europe, schoolchildren devote time during each school day to calisthenics” - is a GMAT critical reasoning topic. This GMAT critical reasoning consists of five options and candidates must select the correct one. GMAT critical reasoning seeks to measure the candidates’ efficiency to judge each argument of the question logically and rationally. To respond to the question correctly, a candidate can search for evidence to weaken the argument. The candidate can look for logical flaws in the argument. The candidates will obtain 65 minutes to answer all 36 MCQ questions in the critical reasoning section of the GMAT.

Answer: (B)
Explanation: This question is an assumption critical reasoning question. In order to answer this question, the candidates need to read the question carefully to understand each step of the argument. The candidate must utilise language with clarity, accuracy and discernment. The candidates must recognise the unstated values and assumptions. The candidates must interpret each data cited in the question to assess arguments and to appraise evidence. The candidates must identify the presence or absence of logical relationships between the premise of the questions. The candidate must draw generalisations and conclusions to reach the final solution to the question. This question states the fact: North American kids are slower and weaker than European kids since their school rarely offers a daily calisthenic program.

Option (A): Wrong
The statement of this option does not support the claim of the passage. The passage does not discuss anything about the money of the taxpayers. Therefore, the statement gets eliminated as it is out of the context of the passage. Moreover, the word “compelling” used in this option is an extreme word that needs to be ignored.

Option (B): Correct
The statement of this option suggests that school calisthenics programs are a crucial factor in the fitness of European students. The passage depicts that North American children are weaker and slower than European children. This is because schools in North America rarely offer calisthenics programs on a daily basis. The children of North America can be made fit only by undertaking calisthenics programs. Therefore, the statement in this option is correct as it justifies the facts provided in the passage.

Option (C): Wrong
The statement cited in this option is incorrect since it does not serve as a fair assumption. The word “equally” makes the statement of this option too hypothetical to acknowledge. Therefore, the option gets eliminated.

Option (D): Wrong
The facts stated in this option are irrelevant since it does not support the claim of the passage. The schools implement these calisthenics programs forcibly so that the children may stay fit. There is no such provision in North American schools. This program does not depend on the likings of the students. The authorities or the schools play a vital role in devising a child’s personality. It can be inferred from the passage that the children can be made fitter only by making them participate in the calisthenics programs on a daily basis. Therefore, there is nowhere mentioned in the passage whether European school children enjoy physical activities more than American children. Hence, the option gets eliminated.

Option (E): Wrong
The option suggests the efficiency of physical education teachers in America. However, the passage does not depict the capability of teachers in designing a program in the argument or in the conclusion. The passage just states about implementing calisthenics programs for the benefit of students. Therefore, the option is incorrect and thereby gets eliminated.

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