Instruction: Read the statement carefully and evaluate the implicit assumptions provided below.

Statement:
“The municipal corporation must impose stringent restrictions on single-use synthetic packaging.”
Assumptions:
I. Non-biodegradable synthetic materials lead to ecological degradation.
II. Implementing statutory controls will lead to a decline in the consumption of non-biodegradable materials.

Correct Answer: Both I and II

Explanation and Step-by-Step Analysis:

In logical reasoning, an assumption is an unstated premise or underlying belief that makes the statement logical and meaningful. When analyzing a policy or recommendation statement, we evaluate whether the assumptions must hold true for the statement to make sense.

Analyzing Statement & Assumptions:

Statement: “The municipal corporation must impose stringent restrictions on single-use synthetic packaging.”

Evaluating Assumption I: "Non-biodegradable synthetic materials lead to ecological degradation."
The statement advocates for strict restrictions on single-use synthetic packaging. A municipal corporation would only consider taking such strict action against a material if that material is harmful or causes severe problems like environmental/ecological degradation. Therefore, Assumption I is implicitly assumed as the reason justifying the restriction.

Evaluating Assumption II: "Implementing statutory controls will lead to a decline in the consumption of non-biodegradable materials."
When a regulatory body proposes or implements a policy (statutory controls/restrictions), it does so under the assumption that the rule will be effective in reducing or stopping the unwanted behavior (consumption of single-use synthetic packaging). If the authority believed that restrictions would have no impact on reducing consumption, proposing the policy would be pointless. Therefore, Assumption II is implicitly assumed.

Since both assumptions are implicitly present in making the statement, the correct choice is Both I and II.