Assumption

rahul.s wrote:Most people who betray their country through some form of espionage are driven by irrational desires to feel powerful or important, to seek revenge, or even to take risks. If these people were thinking rationally, they would not be involved in such self-destructive behavior.

The argument above rests on which of the following assumptions?

The conclusion shows Cause Effect Relationship

Cause : Think Rationally
Effect : To not get involved in self destructive behaviour (Espionage)

Since this is an assumption question, the correct answer choice will follow the causal relationship. Lets see which one does :

A) Self-destruction is the most frequent result of espionage.
INCORRECT : Irrelevant. Issue is not about result of espionage, it is about reasons of espionage.

B) The desire to feel powerful is always irrational.
INCORRECT : This has no impact on the conclusion whatsoever.

C) Those involved in espionage do not have rational reasons for their behavior.
CORRECT : Yes !! .. This is what we are looking for. If we negate this answer choice (Those involved in espionage HAVE rational reasons for their behavior) it completely destroys the argument. Since this answer choice passes the negation technique I pick this one.

D) Espionage is rarely a successful way to gain revenge.
INCORRECT : Does nothing to impact the cause effect relationship of the conclusion.

E) Risk-taking is a less frequent motivation for espionage than the desire to feel important.
CORRECT : Out of scope. We are certainly not looking at which desire is more or less frequent motivation for espionage.

komal wrote:
C) Those involved in espionage do not have rational reasons for their behavior.
CORRECT : Yes !! .. This is what we are looking for. If we negate this answer choice (Those involved in espionage HAVE rational reasons for their behavior) it completely destroy the argument. Since this answer choice passes the negation technique I pick this one.