Aptitude Material Statements Arguments and Conclusions

CHAPTER-10

STATEMENTS, ARGUMENT AND CONCLUSIONS

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Type 1 Statement & Argument

In this of questions, a statement is followed by two arguments. The candidate is required to distinguish between the strong and weak argument. A strong argument is that which touches the practical and real aspect of the situation as described in the statement. A weak argument is very simple.

Directions: Each of the following questions consists of a statement followed by two arguments I and II.

Give answer:

(a) if only argument I is strong:

(b) if only argument II is strong:

(c) if either I or II is strong:

(d) if neither I nor II is strong and

(e) if both I and II are strong.

Example 1.

Statement: Should school education be made free in India?

Arguments: I. Yes, this is the only way to improve the level of literacy.

II. No, it will add to the already heavy burden on the exchequer.

Solution: (b). Argument I is not strong because word ‘only’ makes the argument weak as it is not the only real and practical solution to improve the level of literacy. Argument II is strong as it describes the practical problem which may arise out of the decision of making education free in India.

Example 2.

Statement: Should luxury hotels be banned in India?

Argument: I. Yes, these are places from where international criminals operate.

II. No, affluent foreign tourists will have no place to stay.

Solution. (b). Argument I is a weak argument because ban on luxury hotels is not a way to end the international criminals. Argument II is strong because the luxury hotels are symbol of country’s standard and a place for staying the foreign tourists.

Example 3.

Statement: Should the government levy tax on agricultural income also?

Arguments: I. Yes, that is the only way to fill government’s coffer.

II. No, eighty percent of our population live in rural areas.

Solution. (d). Argument I is not weak because word only makes the argument weak as it is not the only read and practical solution to fill government’s coffer. Argument II is also weak because we can not say that all the eighty percent rural population are poor statement.

Example 4.

Statement: Should parents play with their children?

Arguments: I. Yes, it helps in building up a healthy and much needed companionship between children and parents.

II. No, Children treat their parents like equals and there is no distance left.

Solution. (a). Argument I is strong because a close companionship bridges the gap between parents and child. Argument II is not supported by a positive logical aspect of the statement.

Example 5.

Statement: Should government stop spending huge amounts of money on international sports?

Arguments: I. Yes. This money can be utilized for upliftment of the poor.

II. No. Sports persons will be frustrated and will not get international exposure.

Solution. (b). Argument I is weak. Spending money on sports can not avoided because the sports persons would face lack of facilities and training and our country will lag behind in international sports competitions. So, Argument II is strong.

Exercise 1

Directions: Each of the following questions Consists of a statement followed by two arguments I and II.

Give answer:

(a) if only argument I is strong;

(b) if only argument II is strong;

(c) if either I or II is strong;

(d) if neither I nor II is strong and

(e) if both I and II are strong.

1. Statement: Should number of holidays of government employees be reduced?

Arguments: I. Yes, our government employees are having maximum number of holidays among the other countries of the world.

II. Yes, it will lead to increase productivity of government offices.

2. Statement: Should these be a complete ban on strike by government employees in India?

Arguments: I. Yes, this is the only way to teach discipline to the employees.

II. No, this deprives the citizens of their democratic rights.

3. Statement: Should there be a world government?

Argument: I. Yes, it will help in eliminating tensions among the nations.

II. No, then only the developed countries will dominate in the government.

4. Statement: Should family planning be made compulsory in India?

Arguments: I. yes, looking to the miserable conditions in India, there is not other go.

II. No, in India there are people of various religions and family planning is against the tenets of same of the religions.

5. Statement: Should we scrap the system of formal education beyond graduation?

Arguments: I. Yes, it will mean taking employment at an early date.

II. No, it will mean lack of depth of knowledge.

6. Statement: Should taxes on colour television be further increased?

Arguments: Yes, colour television is a luxury item and only rich people buy them.

II. No, television are bought by the poor too.

7. Statement: Should we impart sex education in schools?

Arguments: I. Yes, all the progressive nations do so.

II. No, we cannot impart it in co-educational schools.

8. Statement: Should fashionable dresses be banned?

Arguments: I. Yes, fashions keep changing and hence consumption of cloth increases.

II. No, fashionable clothes are a person’s self expression and therefore his/her fundamental right.

9. Statement: Should the age of retirement government service be increased in view of longer life span in India.

Arguments: I. Yes, other countries have already taken such decision.

II. Yes, if is a genuine demand of laks of employees.

10. Statement: Should there be a complete ban on manufacture of firecrackers in India?

Arguments: I. No, this will render thousands of worken jobless.

II. Yes, the firecracker manufacturers use child labour to a large extent.

11. Statement: Should student’s union in universities be abolished?

Arguments: I. Yes, students can pay full attention to their career development.

II. No, all the great leaders had been students union leaders.

12. Statements: Should education be made compulsory for all children upto the age of 14?

Arguments: I. Yes, this will help to eradicate the system of forced employment of these children

II. Yes, this would increase the standard of living.

13. Statement: Should small states be formed out of bigger states in India?

Arguments: I. Yes, there will be administrative convenience.

II. No, it will be a danger to national integration.

14. Statement: Should the private companies be allowed to operate passenger train service in India?

Arguments: I. Yes, this will improve the quality of service in Indian Railways as it will have to face servere competition.

II. No, the private companies may not agree to operate in the non-profitable sectors.

15. Statement: Are marriages based on well-matches horoscopes more successful than other marriages?

Arguments: I. yes, there is no possibility of sifts or up and downs as the horoscopes have already been studied well.

II. No, such marriages are rather dull.

16. Statement: Should little children be loaded with such heavy school bags?

Arguments: I. Yes, heavy bag means more knowledge

II. No, heavy school bags spoil the posture of the children.

17. Statement: Is investment of money in insurance policies a wise step?

Arguments: I. Yes, it ensures security and covers risks

II. NO, by the time the policy nature, the value of money falls down considerably.

18. Statement: Should English be the medium of instruction for higher education in India?

Arguments: I. Yes, even in advanced countries like UK and USA, the medium of instruction is English for higher education.

II. Yes, English is much widely spoken language is the world today.

19. Statement: Should there be a ban on product advertisement?

Arguments: I. No, it is an age of advertising. Unless your advertisement is better than that of your other competitions, the products will not be sold.

II. Yes, the money spend on advertising is very huge and it inflates the cost of the product.

20. Statement: Should dams be built in rivers?

Arguments: I. No, some dam projects have proved to unsuccessful in recent years.

II. Yes, they are beneficial in checking floods and conserving soil.

21. Statement: Should new universities be established in India?

Arguments: I. No, we have not yet achieved the target of literacy.

II. No. We have to face the problems of highly educated but unemployed youths.

22. Statement: Do children adopted from poor families love their new rich parents like their own poor ones?

Arguments: I. Yes, because they are loved, cared for and provided with comforts of life.

II. No, because in the criminal world, they become settish and hard-boiled.

23. statement: Do scientists believe in religion?

Arguments: I. Yes, because science as a profession does not come in the way of faith.

II. No, because religion and faith do not go together.

24. Statement: Should the age for marriage for boys be increased to 30 years?

Arguments: I. No, it is arbitrary.

II. Yes, it may solve the population problem.

25. Statement: Does President’s rule in a state improve law and order in distributed area?

Arguments: I. yes, the chief minister does not know low to cope with the deteriorating conditions of law and order.

II. No, because the president is not physically present there.

26. Statement: Should all news be controlled by Government in a democracy?

Arguments: I. Yes, variety of news only confuses people

II. No, controlled news loses credibility.

27. Statement: Should mercy death be legalized?

Arguments: I. Yes, patients undergoing terrible suffering and having absolutely no chance of recovery should be liberated from suffering through mercy death.

II. No, even mercy death is a sort of killing and killing can never be legalized.

28. Statement: Should the political parties be banned?

Arguments: I. Yes, it is necessary to teach a lesson to the politicians.

II. NO, it will lead to an end of democracy.

29. Statement: Is ragging in colleges a good practice?

Arguments: I. Yes, a sensible ragging helps the school boys to step into manhood and teaches them to take triffes in a good humour.

II. No, the tortures inflicted in the name of ragging and the humiliation suffered by young boys and girls often go beyond limits.

30. Statement: Should India manufacture atom bombs?

Arguments: I. Yes, it is imperative to protect the, sovereignty and integrity of the country

II. No, this will create unbalance in the power of national in this region.

31. Statement: Should smoking prohibited?

Arguments: I. Yes, it is wrong to smoke away millions of money.

II. No, it will throw thousands of workers in the tobacco industry out of employment.

32. Statement: Should India have no military force at all?

Arguments: I. No, other countries in the world do not believe in non-violence.

II. Yes, many Indians believe in non-violence.

33. Statement: Should India give away Kashmir to Pakistan?

Arguments: I. No, Kashmir is a beautiful state. It earns a lot of foreign exchange for India.

II. Yes, this would help settle conflicts.

Type 2: Statement & Conclusions

In this type of questions, statement is followed by conclusions instead of assumptions. Students are required to analyze the given statements, understand their indirect implications and then decide which of the given conclusion follows logically and for sure, from the given statements.

Directions: In each of the following questions, a statement is given followed by two conclusions I and II. Give answer.

(a) if only conclusion I follows;

(b) if only conclusion II follows;

(c) if either I or II follows;

(d) if neither I nor II follows and

(e) if both I and II follow.

Example 1.

Statement: Any young man, who makes, dowry as a condition for marriage, discredits himself and dishonours womanhood.

Conclusion: I. Those who take dowry in marriage should be condemned by society

II. those who do not take dowry in marriage respect womanhood.

Solution. (e). Both the conclusions (I) and (II) follows. Clearly, the statement declares dowry as an evil practice and reflects its demerits. Also it is given that those who take dowry, dishonour womanhood. This implies that those who do not take dowry respect womanhood.

Example 2.

Statement: Libraries are flourishing very much these days.

Conclusion: I. People in general have got a video craze.

II. It is much cheaper to see as many movies as one likes an videos rather than going to the cinema hall.

Solution. (e). Both the conclusions (I) and (II) follows.

Example 3.

Statement: The use of non-conventional sources of energy will eliminate the energy crisis in the world.

Conclusions: I. Modern technology is gradually replacing the conventional sources of energy.

II. The excessive exploitation of environment has led to depletion of conventional sources of energy.

Solution. (e) Both I and II directly follow the given statement.

Example 4.

Statement: Any student who does not behave properly while in the school brings bad name to himself and also for the school.

Conclusions: I. Such student should be removed from the school.

II. Stricter discipline does not improve behavior of the students.

Solution. (d) Clearly, I can’t be deduced fro the statement. Also nothing about discipline is mentioned in the statement, so, neither I nor II follows.

Example 5.

Statement: Interview panel may select a student who is neither possessing the abilities of desired level nor any value and assumptions.

Conclusions: I. Inclusion of experts in interview panel does not ensure that the selection will be made properly.

II. Interview procedure of admission has some limitations.

Solution. (e) Both conclusions follow. The statement clearly means that inclusion of experts does not ensure proper selection. It also indicates limitation of interview procedure for admission.

Exercise 2

Directions: In each of the following questions, a statement is given followed by two conclusions I and II.

Give answer:

(a) if only conclusion follows

(b) if only conclusion II follows

(c) if either I or II follows

(d) if neither I nor II follows and

(e) if both I and II follow

1. Statement: The majority of Indian labourers belong to unorganized sector and most of them earn very low.

Conclusions: I. the labourers belonging to organized sector have better benefits and stability.

II. Some labouers belonging to unorganized sector have regular and certain income.

2. Statement: Our security investments carry market risk consult your investment advisor or agent before investing.

Conclusions: I. One should not invest in securities.

II. The investment advisor calculates the market risk with certainty.

3. Statement: In diabetes, there is an excess of sugar in the body. Our body needs sugar for energy. The quantity of sugar in excess of body’s requirement is excreted through urine.

Conclusions: I. The excessive consumption of sugar is likely to lead to diabetes.

II. Consumption of sugar should be avoided.

4. Statement: Today out of the world population of several thousand million, the majority of men have to line under Governments which refuse them personal liberty and the right to dissent.

Conclusions: I. People are indifferent to personal liberty and right to dissent.

II. People desire personal liberty and right to dissent.

5. Statement: He emphasized the need to replace the present training programme by other methods which will bring out the real merit of the managers.

Conclusions: I. It is important to bring out the real merit of the managers.

II. The present training programme does not bring out the real merit of the managers.

6. Statement: The greatest need in India today is not for sophisticated gadgets but for programmes which will provide employment large number of people.

Conclusions: I. There is an adequate number of sophisticated gadgets in India.

II. Emphasis is being laid on procuring sophisticated gadgets.

7. Statement: Doctors have comprehensive knowledge of human structure.

Conclusions: I. Anatomy is one of their subject in curriculum.

II. Other subjects also deal with human structure.

8. Statement: National Aluminum Company has Moved India from a position of shortage to self-sufficiency in the metal.

Conclusions: I. Previously India had to import aluminum.

II. With this regard, it can soon become a foreign exchange earner.

9. Statement: These apples are too expensive to be bad.

Conclusions: I. When apples are in short supply, the prices go up.

II. The higher the selling price, the superior is the quality of the commodity.

10. Statement: Inspite of the claim of Govt. terrorism being under check, killing continues.

Conclusions: I. the terrorists have not come to an understanding with the Govt.

II. The Govt. has been constantly telling a lie.

11. Statement: The chief minister emphasized the point that the Govt. will try its best for the development of farmers and rural poor.

Conclusions: I. The former Govt. had not tried seriously for the development of these people.

II. This Govt. will not try seriously for the development of urban poor.

12. Statement: Company X has marketed the product. Go ahead, purchase it if price and quality are your considerations.

Conclusions: I. The product must be good in quality.

II. The price of the product must be reasonable.

13. Statement: Vegetables prices are soaring in the market.

Conclusions: I. vegetables are becoming a rare commodity.

II. People cannot et vegetables.

14. Statement: All the organized persons find time for rest. Sunita, inspite of her very busy schedule, find time for rest.

Conclusions: I. Sunita is an organized person.

II. Sunita is an industrious person.

15. Statement: Jade plant has thick leaves and it requires little water.

Conclusions: I. All plants with thick leaves require little water.

II. Jade plants may be grown in places where water is not in abundance.

16. Statement: The best evidence of India’s glorious past is the growing popularity of Ayurvedic medicines in the west.

Conclusions: I. Ayurvedic medicines are not popular in India.

II. Allopathic medicines are more popular in India.

17. Statement: Fortune favours the brave.

Conclusions: I. Risks are necessary for success.

II. Cowards die many times before their death.

18. Statement: Quality has a price tag. India is allocating lots of funds to education.

Conclusions: I. Quality of education in India would improve soon.

II. funding alone can enhance quality of education.

19. Statement: A man must be wise to be a good wrangler. Good wranglers are talkative and boring.

Conclusions: I. All the wise person are boring

II. All the wise persons are good wranglers.

20. Statement: America’s defence secretary reiterated that they would continue to supply arms to Pakistan.

Conclusions: I. Pakistan is incapable of manufacturing arms.

II. It would ensure peace in the region.

21. Statement: Money plays a vital role in politics.

Conclusions: I. The poor can never become politicians.

II. All the rich men take part in politics.

22. Statement: I know nothing except the fact of my ignorance.

Conclusions: I. Writer’s knowledge is very poor.

II. be explored by a single person.

23. Statement: In a one day cricket match, the total runs by a team were 200. Out of these 160 runs were made by spinners.

Conclusions: I. 80% of the team consists of spinners.

II. The opening batsman were spinners.

24. Statement: Morning walk is good for health.

Conclusions: I. All healthy people go for morning walk.

II. Evening walk is harmful.