Level 5 — Advanced · Technical & Evaluative Speaking
Drill 73: Naming the Hidden Assumption Out Loud
Say an argument with a real gap, then say out loud exactly what unstated assumption bridges it — live, unscripted, building on Lesson 73's gap-finding skill.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this drill, you should be able to:
- Say an evidence-to-conclusion argument aloud that leans on an unstated assumption
- Name the specific hidden assumption immediately afterward, without a planning pause
- Judge out loud whether the assumption actually holds
Introduction
Lesson 73 taught you to spot the assumption an author never says out loud. This drill makes you catch your own — say an argument, then immediately expose the gap in it yourself, live.
Shadow the Model
Sales rose after the new packaging launched. Therefore, the new packaging caused the increase. Hidden assumption: nothing else changed at the same time.
Shadow this, paying attention to how flatly "hidden assumption" is said — it's a plain label, not a dramatic reveal, because naming a gap should feel like routine checking, not a gotcha.
Your Turn
Your Turn
Think of a change at your workplace and a claim someone made about its effect. In 30 seconds, say the evidence, say the "therefore" conclusion, then say "Hidden assumption:" and name what's being silently assumed.
Speak now — evidence, conclusion, hidden assumption
Record Yourself
Record your argument and the hidden assumption you named, then play it back and check the assumption is specific, not vague.
Model Answer
Show a model answer
There's no single correct topic — what matters is a real, specific gap. One natural version: "Employee turnover dropped after we introduced flexible hours. Therefore, flexible hours reduced turnover. Hidden assumption: nothing else affecting turnover — like a recent pay raise — changed during the same period." Check that your own assumption names a concrete alternative cause, not just "other factors."
Vocabulary in Context
gapnounneutral
the missing logical step between evidence and a conclusion (যুক্তির ফাঁক)
Often with logical gap, gap in the argument, bridge the gap
“There is a gap between 'complaints fell' and 'customers are happy'.”
exposeverbformal
to reveal something that was hidden or unstated (উন্মোচন করা)
Often with expose a weakness, expose an assumption, be exposed
“The question exposed the assumption behind the forecast.”
Self-Check
Self-Check
- Did your conclusion genuinely reach beyond what the evidence alone proves?
- Was the hidden assumption you named specific, not a vague "something else might explain it"?
- Did you speak immediately, without a long pause before naming the assumption?
Next: Speaking 74 — Judging Evidence Sufficiency Out Loud: saying a short case and deciding, live, whether its evidence is actually enough for the conclusion it's asked to support.