Statement And Arguments - General Inteligence & Reasoning MCQ Questions and Answers

51

Directions : Each of the following question consists of a statement followed by two arguments I and II. You have to decide which of the arguments is a STRONG arguments and which is a WEAK Argument.

Statement : Should the practice of transfers of clerical cadre employees from government offices of one city to those of another be stopped?

Arguments :
I. No. Transfer of employees is a routine administrative matter and we must continue it.
II. Yes. It involves lot of governmental expenditure and inconvenience too many compared to the benefits it yields.

A) Only argument I is strong B) Only argument II is strong C) Either I or II is strong D) Neither I nor II is strong E) Both I and II are strong

Discuss

Answer & Solution

Answer: Option D

Solution:

It is not necessary that any practice which has been in vogue for a long time is right and it must be continued. So, argument I is not strong. Also, a practice must be continued or discontinued in view of its merits/demerits and not on grounds of the expenditure or procedures it entails. The policy of transfer is generally practised to do away with corruption, which is absolutely essential. So, argument II also does not hold.

52

Directions : Each of the following question consists of a statement followed by two arguments I and II. You have to decide which of the arguments is a STRONG arguments and which is a WEAK Argument.

Statement : Is paying ransom or agreeing to the conditions of kidnappers of political figures, a proper course of action?

Arguments :
I. Yes. The victims must be saved at all cost.
II. No. It encourages the kidnappers to continue their sinister activities.

A) Only argument I is strong B) Only argument II is strong C) Either I or II is strong D) Neither I nor II is strong E) Both I and II are strong

Discuss

Answer & Solution

Answer: Option E

Solution:

Both the arguments are strong enough. The conditions have to be agreed to, in order to save the life of the victims, though actually they ought not to be agreed to, as they encourage the sinister activities of the kidnappers.

53

Directions : Each of the following question consists of a statement followed by two arguments I and II. You have to decide which of the arguments is a STRONG arguments and which is a WEAK Argument.

Statement : Should religion be banned?

Arguments :
I. Yes. It develops fanaticism in people.
II. No, Religion binds people together.

A) Only argument I is strong B) Only argument II is strong C) Either I or II is strong D) Neither I nor II is strong E) Both I and II are strong

Discuss

Answer & Solution

Answer: Option C

Solution:

Religion binds people together through the name of God and human values. But at the same time it may create differences and ill-will among people. So, either of the arguments holds strong.

54

Directions : Each of the following question consists of a statement followed by two arguments I and II. You have to decide which of the arguments is a STRONG arguments and which is a WEAK Argument.

Statement : Should India become a permanent member of UN's Security Council?

Arguments :
I. Yes. India has emerged as a country which loves peace and amity.
II. No. Let us first solve problems of our own people like poverty, malnutrition.

A) Only argument I is strong B) Only argument II is strong C) Either I or II is strong D) Neither I nor II is strong E) Both I and II are strong

Discuss

Answer & Solution

Answer: Option A

Solution:

A peace-loving nation like India can well join an international forum which seeks to bring different nations on friendly terms with each other. So, argument I holds strong. Argument II highlights a different aspect. The internal problems of a nation should not debar it from strengthening international ties. So, argument II is vague.

55

Directions : Each of the following question consists of a statement followed by two arguments I and II. You have to decide which of the arguments is a STRONG arguments and which is a WEAK Argument.

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.

A) Only argument I is strong B) Only argument II is strong C) Either I or II is strong D) Neither I nor II is strong E) Both I and II are strong

Discuss

Answer & Solution

Answer: Option B

Solution:

Clearly, imposing ban on fashionable dresses will be a restriction on the personal choice and hence the right to freedom of an individual. So, only argument II is strong.

56

Directions : Each of the following question consists of a statement followed by two arguments I and II. You have to decide which of the arguments is a STRONG arguments and which is a WEAK Argument.

Statement : Should an organization like UNO be dissolved?

Arguments :
I. Yes. With cold war coming to an end, such organizations have no role to play
II. No, In the absence of such organizations there may be a world war.

A) Only argument I is strong B) Only argument II is strong C) Either I or II is strong D) Neither I nor II is strong E) Both I and II are strong

Discuss

Answer & Solution

Answer: Option B

Solution:

An organization like UNO is meant to maintain peace all over and will always serve to prevent conflicts between countries. So, its role never ends. So, argument I does not hold. Also, lack of such an organization may in future lead to increased mutual conflicts and international wars, on account of lack of a common platform for mutual discussions. So, argument II holds.

57

Directions : Each of the following question consists of a statement followed by two arguments I and II. You have to decide which of the arguments is a STRONG arguments and which is a WEAK Argument.

Statement : Should there be no place of interview in selection?

Arguments :
I. Yes, it is very subjective in assessment.
II. No. It is the only instrument to judge candidates' motives and personality.

A) Only argument I is strong B) Only argument II is strong C) Either I or II is strong D) Neither I nor II is strong E) Both I and II are strong

Discuss

Answer & Solution

Answer: Option A

Solution:

Clearly, besides interview, there can be other modes of written examination to judge candidates' motives. So argument II is not strong enough. However, the interview is a subjective assessment without doubt. So, argument I holds.

58

Directions : Each of the following question consists of a statement followed by two arguments I and II. You have to decide which of the arguments is a STRONG arguments and which is a WEAK Argument.

Statement : Should family planning be made compulsory in India?

Arguments :
I. Yes. Looking to the miserable conditions in India, there is no other go.
II. No. In India there are people of various religions and family planning is against the tenets of some of the religions.

A) Only argument I is strong B) Only argument II is strong C) Either I or II is strong D) Neither I nor II is strong E) Both I and II are strong

Discuss

Answer & Solution

Answer: Option E

Solution:

Family planning is an essential step to curb population growth. So, argument I holds strong. Also, family planning being against the tenets of some of the Indian religions, it is not necessary to make it compulsory. Instead, it can be enforced by creating public awareness of the benefits of family planning. So, argument II also holds.

59

Directions : Each of the following question consists of a statement followed by two arguments I and II. You have to decide which of the arguments is a STRONG arguments and which is a WEAK Argument.

Statement : Should income tax be abolished in India?

Arguments :
I. Yes. It is an unnecessary burden on the wage earners.
II. No. It is a good source of revenue.

A) Only argument I is strong B) Only argument II is strong C) Either I or II is strong D) Neither I nor II is strong E) Both I and II are strong

Discuss

Answer & Solution

Answer: Option B

Solution:

Income-tax is levied so that every citizen can contribute a share of his earning towards the infrastructural development of the nation. So, argument I seems to be vague. However, income-tax is no doubt a good source of revenue for the government. Hence, argument II holds strong.

60

Directions : Each of the following question consists of a statement followed by two arguments I and II. You have to decide which of the arguments is a STRONG arguments and which is a WEAK Argument.

Statement : Should there be a ceiling on the salary of top executives of multinationals in our country?

Arguments :
I. Yes. Otherwise it would lead to unhealthy competition and our own industry would not be able to withstand that.
II. No. With the accent on liberalization of economy, any such move would be counter-productive. Once the economy picks up, this disparity will be reduced.

A) Only argument I is strong B) Only argument II is strong C) Either I or II is strong D) Neither I nor II is strong E) Both I and II are strong

Discuss

Answer & Solution

Answer: Option E

Solution:

In the absence of such a ceiling, the companies would be involved in a mutual competition of salaries, in a bid to attract the most competent professionals. So, argument I holds. Also, the prospects of increase in salary would encourage the officials to perform better in the interest of the company they serve, which would otherwise not be so if a ceiling is imposed. So, argument II also holds strong.