Reasoning Aptitude
STATEMENT & ARGUMENTS MCQs
Directions: Each question given below consists of a statement, followed by three or four arguments numbered I, II, III and IV. You have to decide which of the arguments is/are 'strong' argument(s) and which is/are 'weak' argument(s) and accordingly choose your answer from the alternatives given below each question.
- Statement:
- Should all the students graduating in any discipline desirous of pursuing post-graduation of the subjects of their choice be allowed to enroll in the post-graduate courses?
- Arguments:
- I. Yes. The students are the best judge of their capabilities and there should not be restrictions for joining post-graduate courses.
- II. No. The students need to study relevant subjects in graduate courses to enroll in post-graduate courses and the students must fulfil such conditions.
- III. No. There are not enough institutes offering postgraduate courses which can accommodate all the graduates desirous of seeking post-graduate education of their own choice.
Answer: (e)
Only argument II is strong. The students cannot be enrolled in the courses just on the basis of their interests, but their compatibility with the same also matters.
So, I do not hold. Besides, lack of institutes is no criteria to deny post-graduate courses to students.
So, argument III also does not hold. II provides a genuine reason and thus holds strong.
Directions: In making decisions about important questions, it is desirable to be able to distinguish between 'strong' arguments and 'weak' arguments. 'Strong' arguments are those which are both important and directly related to the question. 'Weak' arguments are those which are of minor importance and also may not be directly related to the question or may be related to a trivial aspect of the question. Each question below is followed by two arguments numbered I and II. You have to decide which of the arguments is a 'strong' argument and which is a 'weak' argument? 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 (e) if both I and II are strong.
- Statement:
- Should school education be made the tree in India?
- Argument :
- 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.
Answer: (b)
Argument I, is not strong because the 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.
Directions: In making decisions about important questions, it is desirable to be able to distinguish between 'strong' arguments and 'weak' arguments. 'Strong' arguments are those which are both important and directly related to the question. 'Weak' arguments are those which are of minor importance and also may not be directly related to the question or may be related to a trivial aspect of the question. Each question below is followed by two arguments numbered I and II. You have to decide which of the arguments is a 'strong' argument and which is a 'weak' argument? 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 (e) if both I and II are strong.
- Statement:
- Should there be a complete ban on the manufacture of firecrackers in India?
- Argument :
- I. No, this will render thousands of workers jobless.
- II. Yes, the firecracker manufacturers use child labour to a large extent.
Answer: (e)
Both the arguments refer to the practical consequences of the action mentioned in the statement and hence, are strong.
Directions: In making decisions about important questions, it is desirable to be able to distinguish between 'strong' arguments and 'weak' arguments. 'Strong' arguments are those which are both important and directly related to the question. 'Weak' arguments are those which are of minor importance and also may not be directly related to the question or may be related to a trivial aspect of the question. Each question below is followed by two arguments numbered I and II. You have to decide which of the arguments is a 'strong' argument and which is a 'weak' argument? 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 (e) if both I and II are strong.
- Statement:
- Should graduation be made minimum educational qualification for entry-level jobs in any public sector organization?
- Argument :
- I. Yes, graduates always perform better than non-graduates by virtue of their higher level of education.
- II. No, there are quite a few people who cannot afford to remain unemployed till the completion of graduation and are capable of performing equally well as the graduate candidates.
Answer: (d)
Argument I is not necessarily true. Hence, it is weak.
Argument II deviates from the core issue. Hence, it is also weak.
Directions: In making decisions about important questions, it is desirable to be able to distinguish between 'strong' arguments and 'weak' arguments. 'Strong' arguments are those which are both important and directly related to the question. 'Weak' arguments are those which are of minor importance and also may not be directly related to the question or may be related to a trivial aspect of the question. Each question below is followed by two arguments numbered I and II. You have to decide which of the arguments is a 'strong' argument and which is a 'weak' argument? 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 (e) if both I and II are strong.
- Statement:
- Should the sale of tobacco products be restricted to only a few outlets in each city/town?
- Argument :
- I. Yes, this will substantially reduce the consumption of tobacco products.
- II. No, those who want to purchase tobacco products should get them at convenient locations.
Answer: (a)
Argument I is strong as reduced tobacco consumption is desirable.
Argument II is weak as such convenience is not desirable.
Directions: In making decisions about important questions, it is desirable to be able to distinguish between 'strong' arguments and 'weak' arguments. 'Strong' arguments are those which are both important and directly related to the question. 'Weak' arguments are those which are of minor importance and also may not be directly related to the question or may be related to a trivial aspect of the question. Each question below is followed by two arguments numbered I and II. You have to decide which of the arguments is a 'strong' argument and which is a 'weak' argument? 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 (e) if both I and II are strong.
- Statement:
- Should there be no examination up to Std IX in all the schools in India?
- Argument :
- I. No, students need to go through the process of giving examinations right from a young age.
- II. Yes, this will help students to think laterally and achieve their creative pursuits.
Answer: (e)
Argument I is strong as school is the ground where we prepare for the future battles of life.
Argument II is strong as examinations kill our creativity, turning us all into mere clerks.
Directions: In making decisions about important questions, it is desirable to be able to distinguish between 'strong' arguments and 'weak' arguments. 'Strong' arguments are those which are both important and directly related to the question. 'Weak' arguments are those which are of minor importance and also may not be directly related to the question or may be related to a trivial aspect of the question. Each question below is followed by two arguments numbered I and II. You have to decide which of the arguments is a 'strong' argument and which is a 'weak' argument? 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 (e) if both I and II are strong.
- Statement:
- Should the examination bodies for all university examinations permit the use of calculators?
- Argument :
- I. No, it is necessary for the students to know the methods of manual calculation to make their concepts clear.
- II. Yes, manual calculations are no more required with extensive use of computers in all fields.
Answer: (c)
Methods of manual calculations are necessary for individuals. Hence, they should be encouraged.
Thus, Argument I is strong Argument II is also strong in its way but, since l and II contradict each other, we go for the choice (c).
Directions: In making decisions about important questions, it is desirable to be able to distinguish between 'strong' arguments and 'weak' arguments. 'Strong' arguments are those which are both important and directly related to the question. 'Weak' arguments are those which are of minor importance and also may not be directly related to the question or may be related to a trivial aspect of the question. Each question below is followed by two arguments numbered I and II. You have to decide which of the arguments is a 'strong' argument and which is a 'weak' argument? 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 (e) if both I and II are strong.
- Statement:
- Should the knowledge of Hindi languages be made compulsory for all the employees of public sector organizations?
- Argument :
- I. Yes, it is necessary for dealing with people from the educationally backward strata of society.
- II. No, It is not necessary for every employee to have the knowledge of Hindi language.
Answer: (a)
Argument I is strong but Argument II is simplistic and hence, it is a weak argument.
Directions: In making decisions about important questions, it is desirable to be able to distinguish between 'strong' arguments and 'weak' arguments. 'Strong' arguments are those which are both important and directly related to the question. 'Weak' arguments are those which are of minor importance and also may not be directly related to the question or may be related to a trivial aspect of the question. Each question below is followed by two arguments numbered I and II. You have to decide which of the arguments is a 'strong' argument and which is a 'weak' argument? 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 (e) if both I and II are strong.
- Statement:
- Should it be made compulsory for all the private sector organizations to reserve quota for socially backward classes?
- Argument :
- I. No, the private sector should not be governed by the Government rules.
- II. Yes, private sector organizations should also contribute to the upliftment of socially backward classes.
Answer: (b)
Argument I is not the right way. Thus, Argument I is weak.
Argument II is strong as the upliftment of socially backward classes is necessary.
Directions: In making decisions about important questions, it is desirable to be able to distinguish between 'strong' arguments and 'weak' arguments. 'Strong' arguments are those which are both important and directly related to the question. 'Weak' arguments are those which are of minor importance and also may not be directly related to the question or may be related to a trivial aspect of the question. Each question below is followed by two arguments numbered I and II. You have to decide which of the arguments is a 'strong' argument and which is a 'weak' argument? 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 (e) if both I and II are strong.
- Statement:
- Should India make efforts to harness solar energy to fulfill its energy requirement?
- Argument :
- I. Yes, most of the energy sources used at present are exhaustible.
- II. No, harnessing solar energy requires a lot of capital, which India lacks in.
Answer: (a)
Argument I is strong i.e., India should make efforts to harness solar energy to fulfill its energy requirement.
Because most of the energy sources used at present are exhaustible. Argument II is weak.