STATEMENT
- ARGUMENT
Statement - A message that is stated or declared; a
communication (oral or written) setting forth particulars or facts etc.
Argument - An argument is an attempt to persuade
someone of something, by giving reasons or evidence for accepting a particular
conclusion. The general structure of an argument in a natural language is that
of premises (typically in the form of propositions, statements or sentences) in
support of a claim: the conclusion. Many arguments can also be formulated in a formal
language. An argument in a formal language shows the logical form of the
natural language arguments obtained by its interpretations.
Solved
Examples
In this chapter each question given below consists
of a statement, followed by two arguments numbered I and II .You have to decide
which of the arguments is ‘strong’ argument or vice versa.
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 India
Arguments: (I) Yes, Most of the energy sources used
at present is exhaustible. (II) No, producing solar energy requires a lot of
capital.
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
1(A) Clearly, Producing solar energy will be helpful
as it is an renewable resource of energy. So, argument I holds. But argument II
is not strong because solar energy is the cheapest form of energy.
2. Statement:
Should there be students union in college/university?
Arguments: (I) No, this will create a political
atmosphere in the college/university.
(II) Yes, it is very necessary Students must be aware
about Politics and they are future Politician.
A.
Only argument I is strong
B.
Only argument II is strong
C.
Either I or II is strong
D.
Both I and II are strong
2(D) The student’s union formation shall be a step
towards giving to students the basic education in the field of politics.
However, it shall create the same political atmosphere in the campus, which is
not healthy for educational environment. Thus, both the arguments hold strong.
3. Statement:
Should cottage industries be encouraged in rural areas?
Arguments: (I) Yes, rural people are creative. (II) Yes,
this would help to solve the problem of unemployment to some extent.
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
3(B) Clearly, cottage industries need to be promoted
to create more job opportunities for rural people in the villages themselves.
The reason that rural people are creative is vague. So, only argument II holds.
4. Should young entrepreneurs be encouraged?
Arguments: (I) Yes, they will help in industrial
development of the country. (II)Yes, they will reduce the burden on employment
market.
A.
Only argument I is strong
B.
Only argument II is strong
C.
Either I or II is strong
D.
Both I and II are strong
4(D) Clearly, encouraging the young entrepreneurs
will open up the field for the establishment of new industries. Thus, it shall
help in industrial development and not only employ the entrepreneurs but create
more job opportunities for others as well. So, both the arguments hold strong.
5. Statement:
Should Indian scientists working abroad be called back to India
Arguments: (I) Yes, They must serve the motherland
first and forget about discoveries, honours, facilities and all. (II) No, We
have enough talent; let them stay where they want.
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
5(D) Clearly, every person must be free to work
wherever he wants and no compulsion should be made to confine one to one's own
country. So, argument I is vague. However, talented scientists can be of great
benefit to the nation and some alternatives as special incentives or better
prospects may be made available to them to retain them within their motherland.
So, argument II also does not hold.
6. 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.
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
6(B) Clearly, argument I is vague because at present
too, many fields are open to all after graduation. However, eliminating the
post-graduate courses would abolish higher and specialized studies which lead
to understanding things better and deeply. So, argument II is valid.
7. Statement: Should high chimneys be installed in
industries?
Arguments: (I) Yes, It reduces pollution at ground
level. (II) No, It increases pollution in upper atmosphere.
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
7(A) Pollution at ground level is the most hazardous
in the way of being injurious to human and animal life. So, argument I alone
holds.
8. Statement:
Should the railways in India
Arguments: (I) Yes, This is the only way to bring in
competitiveness and provide better services to the public. (II) No, This will
pose a threat to the national security of our country as multinationals will
enter into the fray.
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
8(D) Privatization would no doubt lead to better
services. But saying that this is the 'only way' is wrong. So, argument I does
not hold. Argument II also seems to be vague.
Exercise
1. Statement:
Should internal assessment in colleges be abolished?
Arguments: (I) Yes, This will help in reducing the
possibility of favouritism. (II) No, teaching faculty will lose control over
students.
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
2. Statement:
Is buying things on installments profitable to the customer?
Arguments: (I) Yes. He has to pay less. (II) No,
paying installments upsets the family budget.
A. Only argument I is strong
B. Only argument II is strong
C. Either I or II is strong
D. Both I and II is strong
3. Statement:
Should Government close down loss-making public sector enterprises?
Arguments: (I) No, All employees will lose their
jobs, security and earning, what would they do? (II) Yes, in a competitive
world the rule is 'survival of the fittest'.
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
4. Statement: Should government jobs in rural areas
have more incentives?
Arguments: (I) Yes. Incentives are essential for
attracting government servants there.
(II) No, Rural areas are already cheaper, healthier
and less complex than big cities. So why offer extra incentives?
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
5. Statement: Should 'computer knowledge' be made a
compulsory subject for all the students at secondary school level?
Arguments: (I) No, our need is 'bread' for everyone,
we cannot follow western models.
(I) Yes, We cannot compete in the international
market without equipping our children with computers.
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
6. Statement: Should India
Arguments: (I) Yes. This is the only way to reduce
the cross border terrorism and stop loss of innocent lives. (II) No.
Neighbouring countries cannot be relied upon in such matters, they may still
engage in subversive 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
7. 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
8. 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
9. Statement: Should family planning be made
compulsory in India
Arguments: (I) Yes, Looking to the miserable
conditions in India
(II) No, In India
A. Only argument II is strong
B. Either I or II is strong
C. Neither I nor II is strong
D. Both I and II are strong
10. 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. Both I and II are strong
11. Statement: Should children be legally made
responsible to take care of their parents during their old age?
Arguments: (I) Yes, Such matter can only be solved
by legal means. (II) Yes, Only this will bring some relief to poor parents.
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
12. Statement: Should there be reservation in
Government jobs for candidates from single child family?
Arguments: (I) No, This is not advisable as the jobs
should be offered to only deserving candidates without any reservation for a
particular group. (II) Yes. This will help reduce the growing population in India
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
13. Statement: Are nuclear families better than
joint families?
Arguments: (I) No, Joint families ensure security
and also reduce the burden of work.
(II)Yes, Nuclear families ensure greater freedom.
A. Only argument I is strong
B. Only argument II is strong
C. Neither I nor II is strong
D. Both I and II are strong
14. Statement: Should there be compulsory medical
examination of both the man and the woman before they marry each other?
Arguments: (I) No. This is an intrusion to the
privacy of an individual and hence cannot be tolerated. (II) Yes. This will
substantially reduce the risk of giving birth to children with serious
ailments.
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
15. Statement: Should there be a ban on product
advertising?
Arguments: (I) No. It is an age of advertising.
Unless your advertisement is better than your other competitors, the product
will not be sold. (II) Yes. The money spent on advertising is very huge and it
inflates the cost of the product.
A. Only argument I is strong
B. Only argument II is strong
C. Either I or II is strong
D. Both I and II are strong
16. Statement: Should persons convicted of criminal
offences in the past be allowed to contest elections in India
Arguments: (I) No, Such persons cannot serve the
cause of the people and country.
(II)Yes, It is democracy - let people decide whom to
vote.
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
17. Statement: Should there be a restriction on the
migration of people from one state to another state in India
Arguments: (I) No. Any Indian citizen has a basic
right to stay at any place of his/her choice and hence they cannot be stopped.
(II) Yes. This is the way to effect an equitable distribution of resources
across the states in India
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
18. Statement: Should all refugees, who make
unauthorized entry into a country, be forced to go back to their homeland?
Arguments: (I) Yes. They make their colonies and
occupy a lot of land. (II) No. They leave their homes because of hunger or some
terror and on human grounds, should not be forced to go back.
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
19. Statement: Should students take part in
politics?
Arguments: (I) Yes, It inculcates in them qualities
of leadership. (II) No, They should study and build up their career.
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
20. Statement: Should the education at all levels be
offered only in vernacular medium?
Arguments: (I) Yes, This is the only way to enhance
performance of the students.
(II) No, This will severely affect acquiring
knowledge for want of good text books in vernacular medium.
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
21. 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.
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
22. Statement: Should the educated unemployed youth
be paid "unemployment allowance" by the Government?
Arguments: (I) Yes. It will provide them some
monetary help to either seek employment or to kick-start some 'self-employment'
venture. (II) No. It will dampen
their urge to do something to earn their livelihood and thus promote idleness
among the unemployed youth.
A. Only argument I is strong
B. Only argument II is strong
C. Either I or II is strong
D.Both I and II are strong
23. Statement: Should India
Arguments: (I) No. This is not just possible as we
do not have the technical know how. (II) Yes, this will greatly help the entire
country by effectively channelizing the excess water to the areas having
shortage.
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
24. Statement: Should India
Arguments: (I) Yes, It will bring efficiency and
accuracy in the work. (II) No, It will be
an injustice to the monumental human resources which are at present
underutilized. (III) No, Computerization demands a lot of money. We should not
waste money on it. (IV) Yes, when advanced countries are introducing computers
in every field, how can India
A. Only I is strong
B. Only I and II are strong
C. Only I and III are strong
D. Only II and III are strong
25. Statement: Should trade unions be banned
completely?
Arguments: (I) Yes, Workers can concentrate on
production. (II) No, This is the only way through which employees can put their
demands before the management. (III) Yes, Employees get their illegal demands
fulfilled through these unions. (IV) No, Trade unions are not banned in other
economically advanced countries.
A. Only I is strong
B. Only II is strong
C. Only I and II are strong
D. Only I, II and III are strong
26. Statement: Should there be a complete ban on
genetically modified imported seeds?
Arguments: (I) Yes. This will boost the demand of
domestically developed seeds.
(II) No. This is the only way to increase production
substantially. (III) Yes. Genetically modified products will adversely affect
the health of those who consume these products.
A. Only I and II are strong
B. Only II is strong
C. Only II and III are strong
D. Only I and III are strong
27. Statement: Should the income generated out of
agricultural activities be taxed?
Arguments: (I) No. Farmers are otherwise suffering
from natural calamities and low yield coupled with low procurement price and
their income should not be taxed. (II) Yes. Majority of the population is
dependent on agriculture and hence their income should be taxed to augment the
resources. (III) Yes. Many big farmers earn much more than the majority of the
service earners and they should be taxed to remove the disparity.
A. Only I is strong
B. Only I and II are strong
C. Only II and III are strong
D. All are strong
28. Statement: Should "literacy" be the
minimum criterion for becoming a voter in India
Arguments: (I) No. Mere literacy is no guarantee of
political maturity of an individual.
(II) Yes. Illiterate people are less likely to make
politically wiser decisions of voting for a right candidate or party. (III) No.
Voting is the constitutional right of every citizen.
A. None is strong
B. Only I and II are strong
C. Only III is strong
D. All are strong
29. Statement: Should all those who are convicted
for heinous crimes like murder or rape, beyond all reasonable doubts be given
capital punishment or death penalty?
Arguments: (I) No, The death penalty should be given
only in very rare and exceptional cases. (II) Yes. This is the only way to
punish such people who take others' lives or indulge in inhuman activities.
(III) Yes. Such severe punishments only will make people refrain from such heinous
acts and the society will be safer.(IV) No. Those who are repentant for the
crime they committed should be given a chance to improve and lead a normal
life.
A. Only II and IV are strong
B. All are strong
C. Only III is strong
D. Only II and III are strong
30. Statement: Should the government ban all forms
of protests including strikes and processions?
Arguments: (I) Yes. This is the only way to teach
discipline to the employees. (II) No. Government cannot deprive its citizens of
their basic rights. (III) Yes. This is the only way to ensure maximum
productivity without disruption of work.
A. None is strong
B. Only I and II are strong
C. Only II and III are strong
D. Only I and III are strong
31. Statement: Should mercy death be legalized,
i.e., all those who are suffering from terminal diseases be allowed to end
their lives if they so desire?
Arguments: (I) No. Nobody should be allowed to end
his/her life at his/her will as this goes against the basic tenets of humanity.
(II) Yes. Patients undergoing terrible suffering and having absolutely no
chance of recovery should be liberated from suffering through mercy death.(III)
No. Even mercy death is a sort of killing and killing can never be legalized.
A. None is strong
B. Only I and II are strong
C. Only II and III are strong
D. All are strong
32. Statement: Should administrative officers be
transferred after one or two years?
Arguments: (I) Yes. They get friendly with local
people and are manipulated by them.
(II) No. By the time their policies and schemes
start taking shape, they have to leave.
(III) No. This will create a lot of administrative
hassles and cause a lot of inconvenience to the officers.
A. Only II is strong
B. Only I and II are strong
C. Only II and III are strong
D. Only I and III are strong
Solution
1(A) Abolishing the internal assessment would surely
reduce favouritism on personal grounds because the teachers would not be
involved in examination system so that they cannot extend personal benefits to
anyone. So, argument I holds strong. But it will not affect the control of
teaching faculty on students because still the teachers would be teaching them.
So, argument II is vague.
2(D) In buying things on installments, a customer
has to pay more as the interest is also included. So, argument I does not hold.
Moreover, one who buys an item on installments maintains his future budget
accordingly as he is well acquainted with when and how much he has to pay,
beforehand. So, argument II is also not valid.
3(A) Closing down public-sector enterprises will
definitely throw the engaged persons out of employment. So, argument I holds.
Also, closing down is no solution for a loss-making enterprise. Rather, its
causes of failure should be studied, analyzed and the essential reforms
implemented. Even if this does not work out, the enterprise may be privatized.
So, argument II is vague,
4(A) Clearly, government jobs in rural areas are
underlined with several difficulties. In lieu of these, extra incentives are
needed. So, only argument I holds strong.
5(B) Nowadays, computers have entered all walks of
life and children need to be prepared for the same. So, argument II is strong.
Argument I holds no relevance.
6(A) Clearly, peaceful settlement through mutual
agreement is the best option, whatever be the issue. So, argument I holds
strong. Moreover, the problem indicated in II can be curbed by constant check
and vigilance. So, II seems to be vague.
7(C) 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.
8(A) 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.
9(D) 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.
10(D) 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.
11(D) Taking care of the parents is a moral duty of
the children and cannot be thrust upon them legally, nor such a compulsion can
ensure good care of the old people. So, none of the arguments holds strong.
12 (D) The Government has already made provisions
for reservation of jobs for the economically backward sections, which is a
must. So, abolishing the practice of reservation altogether has no meaning.
Thus, argument I is vague. Also, more reservations would lead to
non-recruitment of many more deserving candidates. Besides, such a reservation,
if implemented, will cater to the job requirements of only a small section of
population and not a major part of it. So, argument II also does not hold
strong.
13 (D) Clearly, with so many people around in a
joint family, there is more security. Also, work is shared. So, argument I
holds. In nuclear families, there are lesser number of people and so lesser
responsibilities and more freedom. Thus, II also holds.
14(B) Clearly, such a step would help to prevent the
growth of diseases like AIDS. So, only argument II is strong.
15(D) Clearly, it is the advertisement which makes
the customer aware of the qualities of the product and leads him to buy it. So,
argument I is valid. But at the same time, advertising nowadays has become a
costly affair and the expenses on it add to the price of the product. So,
argument II also holds strong.
16(A) Clearly, persons with criminal background
cannot stand to serve as the representatives of the common people. So, they
should not be allowed to contest elections. Thus, only argument I holds, while
II does not.
17(A) Clearly, argument I holds strong, while
argument II is vague.
18(B) Clearly, refugees are people forced out of
their homeland by some misery and need shelter desperately. So, argument II
holds. Argument I against the statement is vague.
19(C) Clearly, indulgement in politics trains the
students for future leadership but It sways them from the studies. So, either
of the arguments I or II can hold.
20(B) Teaching in vernacular medium would surely
make it easy for students to grasp. But the use of 'only' in argument I makes
if invalid. Also, teaching in international language would open up more avenues
for students - in procuring books and study material, in going abroad for
studies as well as taking up jobs which require interaction with people of
different nationalities. So, argument II holds strong,
21(B) Clearly, the variety of news helps people to
develop their own views. So, argument I is vague. Also, controlled news shall
be a partial produce. So, it loses credibility Thus, argument II holds.
22 (D) Young people, who do not get employment due
to the large number of applicants in all fields, must surely be given allowance
so that they can support themselves. So, argument I is valid. However, such
allowances would mar the spirit to work, in them and make them idle. So,
argument II also holds.
23 (B) A single network of all the rivers in the
country would surely enable a good distribution of water to all areas, So,
argument II holds strong. Also, a policy beneficial to the nation cannot be
hindered owing to lack of know how. Ways can be devised to build up such a
network. So, argument 1 is vague.
24(A) Clearly, the need of today is to put to better
use the underutilized human resources. Computers with better and speedy
efficiency can accomplish this. So, argument I holds, while II does not.
Computerization is a much beneficial project and investment in it is not at all
a waste. So, III is not strong. Further, development in a new field is not a
matter of merely following up other countries. So, IV also does not hold
strong.
25(B) Clearly, trade unions provide a common
platform for the workers to voice their demands and protests and thus ensure
that they are not subdued or exploited. So, argument II holds strong, while I
and III do not. Besides, the idea of imitation of other countries in the
implementation of a certain policy holds no relevance. So, argument IV also does
not hold strong.
26(B) Genetically modified imported seeds have been
specially formulated to increase the yield and quality of produce. So, argument
II is strong. Besides, increase in production holds much more significance than
the sale of domestically produced seeds. Thus, argument I does not hold. Also,
the genetically modified seeds result in a producer of finer quality which is
no way harmful to the consumer. So, III also does not hold strong.
27(C) Clearly, if the income of farmers is not
adequate, they cannot be brought under the net of taxation as per rules
governing the Income Tax Act. So, I is not strong. Besides, a major part of the
population is dependent on agriculture and such a large section, if taxed even
with certain concessions, would draw in huge funds, into the government
coffers. Also, many big landlords with substantially high incomes from
agriculture are taking undue advantage of this benefit. So, both arguments II
and III hold strong.
28 (D) Clearly, illiterate people lack will power
and maturity in thoughts. They may easily be misled into false convictions or
lured into temptations to vote for a particular group. So, argument II holds.
However, a person is literate does not mean that he is conscious of all
political movements, which requires practical awareness of everyday events.
Thus, I also holds strong. Besides, Constitution has extended the right to vote
equally to all its citizens. Hence, III also holds.
29(C) Clearly, a person committing a heinous crime
like murder or rape should be so punished as to set an example for others not
to attempt such acts in future. So, argument III holds strong. Argument I is
vague while the use of the word 'only' in argument II makes it weak. Also, it
cannot be assured whether a criminal is really repentant of his acts or not, he
may also exhibit so just to get rid of punishment. So, argument IV also does
not hold.
30(C) Clearly, strike is not a means of indiscipline
but only a practice in which the workers exercise their fundamental right to voice
their protest against the atrocities of the management. So, argument I is vague
while II holds. Also, the option of resorting to strikes often aggravates petty
issues and disrupts work for long periods, thus affecting productivity. So, III
also holds strong.
31(D) Clearly, mercy death will serve as a
liberation to those to whom living is more difficult and painful. But then, it
is an inhuman act and does not appeal. So, both arguments II and III hold
strong. Besides, it becomes our moral duty to encourage such people to live
their lives to the fullest and support them through the crisis/and not
demoralize them by allowing them to die if they wish to. Hence, argument I also
holds strong.
32(C) Clearly, the acquaintance of administrative
officers with the local people poses no harm. So, argument I is vague. However,
both II and III hold strong, because making transfers too often would neither
give them enough time to settle down comfortably in a new place, nor enable
them to formulate and implement their policies in toto. This would also be
administratively impossible.
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