Steps:
- Identify the question type. Although not phrased in the typical Cambridge format (“What is the assumption in the argument…”) we can easily identify that it is asking for an assumption.
- Strategy Tool Kit for solving assumptions
- Find the conclusions
- Find the reasons
- Find the unwritten link that the conclusion relies on
- Discard and decide (use negation test if needed)
Let’s simplify the question into action, reaction, and response.
Action: the captain commits adultery and inappropriate behaviour outside the team.
Response: he has become a target in the eye of the public for this behaviour.
Reaction: he is removed from his position in order for his team in order for the team to have the best possible chance at the World Cup.
If we simplify it like this, we have to assume that his off-the-pitch behaviour would have affected the team because the captain has not done anything on the football field to justify this punishment, it is all outside the team. Now let’s look at our options:
A. The new captain’s actions have weakened team morale.
If the team had no objections, then there would be no reason for the captain to be removed. This whole situation is off the football field, and if no one found out then there would be no changes in performance. We cannot know the reaction of the team as it is not stated in the text, but we have to assume that these actions affected them and so they acted accordingly and removed the captain. Therefore A is the correct answer.
B. This new captain should not have been appointed.
We have no background information on the captain, he could have a clean, trouble-free past and his ability could justify his position. B cannot be the answer as we can easily find reasons as to why he could have been appointed.
C. If the new captain is fired, the national team will win the World Cup.
We cannot assume this, we are only told that they were right to fire him in order to have the best possible CHANCES of winning the world cup. We cannot predict with certainty here. Therefore C is incorrect.
D. The national team will not win the World Cup.
This is the same as C but the opposite statement. As stated, we cannot make any conclusions about the team’s performance in the world cup, they may or may not win, we cannot know. Therefore D is incorrect as the language forces certainty that they will not win, which is something we do not know.
E. Newspapers have the right to report on people’s personal lives.
This is not the focus of the passage. The newspaper is not the only way for this information to spread, and once the information is out there, it is out, and the damage is done. So it does not matter whether they do or do not have the right to report on people’s personal lives because once there is word of his behaviour out there, no one focuses on the newspaper but rather on the actions. Therefore E is incorrect.