📑 Topics on this page (Jump to Topic):
📌 1. Statement–Conclusion
- A conclusion must follow directly from the statement; do not add outside knowledge.
- Conclusions with extreme words ('only', 'all', 'always', 'never') are usually wrong.
📌 2. Assumption
- An assumption is what the speaker has taken for granted without saying it.
- Ads, appeals and advice assume they will be effective and that people will read/follow them.
💡 Memory Tip: Negation test: negate the assumption — if the statement becomes pointless, the assumption is implicit.
📌 3. Course of Action
- A valid course is practical, reduces the problem, and is taken by the proper authority.
- Extreme actions (total ban, dismissing everyone) are usually wrong.
📌 4. Cause–Effect & Arguments
- Cause comes first, effect later. Check if one is a logical cause of the other, or both are effects of a common cause.
- Strong argument: directly related, based on facts/universal truths. Weak: emotional, vague, merely anecdotal.
⚠️ Exam Traps:
- If the statement says 'the government said', the government's intention is implicit, not a guaranteed outcome.
📌 5. Practice MCQs
📝 Practice MCQs (prepared by SF Prep — not PYQs)
Q1. Statement: 'All roads of this city get flooded in rain.' Conclusions: I. The city's drainage is poor. II. It never rains in this city. Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Repeated flooding reasonably implies poor drainage; II contradicts the statement.
Repeated flooding reasonably implies poor drainage; II contradicts the statement.
Q2. Statement: 'Do yoga daily to stay healthy.' — an ad. Assumptions: I. People want to stay healthy. II. Yoga helps health. Practice
Correct answer: (C)
The appeal makes sense only if people want health and yoga helps.
The appeal makes sense only if people want health and yoga helps.
Q3. Statement: 'Dengue cases are rising fast in the city.' Courses: I. The civic body should spray anti-mosquito chemicals. II. All residents should leave the city. Practice
Correct answer: (D)
I is practical and reduces the problem; II is impractical and extreme.
I is practical and reduces the problem; II is impractical and extreme.
Q4. Event I: Petrol prices rose. Event II: Transport costs rose. Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Costlier fuel raises transport costs.
Costlier fuel raises transport costs.
Q5. Question: Should mobile phones be banned in schools? Arguments: I. Yes, it reduces classroom distraction. II. No, my friend also has a phone. Practice
Correct answer: (B)
I is directly relevant; II is personal and irrelevant.
I is directly relevant; II is personal and irrelevant.
Q6. Statement: 'Please do not use the lift in an emergency.' Assumptions: I. The lift may be unsafe in emergencies. II. People read notices. Practice
Correct answer: (C)
I is the reason for the notice, and notices are put up assuming people read them (II).
I is the reason for the notice, and notices are put up assuming people read them (II).
Q7. Statement: '80% of students failed in maths.' Conclusions: I. The paper may have been tough or teaching weak. II. All students hate maths. Practice
Correct answer: (D)
I is a plausible reason; II uses 'all' and an emotional overstatement.
I is a plausible reason; II uses 'all' and an emotional overstatement.
Q8. Statement: 'The government announced 100 new hospitals in rural areas.' Assumptions: I. Rural areas lack health facilities. II. Opening hospitals will end all diseases. Practice
Correct answer: (A)
I is the basis of the announcement; II is an overstatement.
I is the basis of the announcement; II is an overstatement.
Q9. Statement: 'A bridge has developed cracks due to heavy vehicles.' Courses: I. Stop heavy vehicles on it and repair it. II. Demolish all bridges of the city. Practice
Correct answer: (B)
I is proper and practical; II is extreme.
I is proper and practical; II is extreme.
Q10. Event I: The monsoon was weak this year. Event II: Food grain output fell. Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Less rain lowers crop output.
Less rain lowers crop output.
Q11. Statement: '500 selections from our coaching — join today!' Assumptions: I. People are influenced by selection numbers. II. Every student who joins will surely be selected. Practice
Correct answer: (D)
The ad relies on I; II is not guaranteed by the statement.
The ad relies on I; II is not guaranteed by the statement.
Q12. Question: Should those under 16 be allowed to drive? Arguments: I. No, they are not mature enough for road safety. II. Yes, some children abroad drive too. Practice
Correct answer: (A)
I is directly about safety; II is an unproven anecdote.
I is directly about safety; II is an unproven anecdote.
Q13. Statement: 'Only hardworking people succeed.' Conclusions: I. Ram is successful, so he is hardworking. II. All hardworking people succeed. Practice
Correct answer: (B)
'Only' ⇒ successful ⊂ hardworking, so I follows; the reverse (II) is not certain.
'Only' ⇒ successful ⊂ hardworking, so I follows; the reverse (II) is not certain.
Q14. Statement: 'Switch off computers to save power in the office.' Assumptions: I. Switched-off computers use little or no power. II. Employees never use computers. Practice
Correct answer: (C)
The advice rests on I; II contradicts the context.
The advice rests on I; II contradicts the context.
Q15. Statement: 'Many villagers fell ill from contaminated water.' Courses: I. Test and purify the water source. II. Treat the sick immediately. Practice
Correct answer: (D)
I is a long-term fix, II immediate relief — both proper.
I is a long-term fix, II immediate relief — both proper.
Q16. Event I: The school raised fees. Event II: The school's teachers got a pay rise. (Both after a new government pay policy) Practice
Correct answer: (A)
The new pay policy raised pay and, to cover it, fees — a common cause.
The new pay policy raised pay and, to cover it, fees — a common cause.
Q17. Statement: 'Keep this medicine out of children's reach.' Assumptions: I. The medicine may harm children. II. Children may otherwise reach it. Practice
Correct answer: (B)
The warning makes sense only if both are assumed.
The warning makes sense only if both are assumed.
Q18. Statement: 'The city's population doubled in 5 years.' Conclusions: I. Pressure on housing and services must have grown. II. The birth rate is the only reason. Practice
Correct answer: (C)
I is a logical result; II says 'only' — migration may also be a cause.
I is a logical result; II says 'only' — migration may also be a cause.
Q19. Question: Should plastic bags be banned? Arguments: I. Yes, they pollute and harm animals. II. No, they are very convenient. Practice
Correct answer: (D)
I is fact-based and concerns wider welfare; convenience is a weak argument.
I is fact-based and concerns wider welfare; convenience is a weak argument.
Q20. Statement: 'The train is running 2 hours late.' Courses: I. Railways should inform passengers in time. II. Railways should cancel all trains. Practice
Correct answer: (A)
I is proper; II is extreme and unrelated.
I is proper; II is extreme and unrelated.