9-Parajumbles-09-Aug-2018 - Reference Material I - Comprehension and Logic - 2

COMPREHENSION AND LOGIC
COMPREHENSION AND LOGIC - 2

• Premise and conclusion
• Assumption and Inference
• Strengthening and weakening an argument
INTRODUCTION
Critical reasoning questions test your ability to

analyse logical arguments. The arguments
cover a range of topics and situations which
average GMAT-takers would be expected to be
able to understand, even if they are not very
familiar with the subject area.
Critical reasoning questions are designed to test
the reasoning skills involved in:
1. Making arguments
2. Evaluating arguments
3. Formulating or evaluating a plan of
action.
Critical reasoning is generally an argument and
it is broken down into four parts generally
KEY POINTS
Argument Construction
Questions in this category may ask you to
recognize such things as the basic structure of
an argument, properly drawn conclusions,
underlying assumptions, well-supported
explanatory hypotheses, and parallels between
structurally similar arguments.
Argument Evaluation
These questions may ask you to analyse a given
argument and to recognize such things as
factors that would strengthen or weaken the
given argument; reasoning errors committed in
making that argument; and aspects of the
method by which the argument proceeds.
Formulating and Evaluating a Plan of

Action
This type of question may ask you to recognize
such things as the relative appropriateness,
effectiveness, or efficiency of different plans of
action; factors that would strengthen or weaken
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the prospects of success of a proposed plan of

action; and assumptions underlying a proposed
plan of action.
PRACTICE PROBLEMS (EXPLANATORY ANSWERS AT THE END)
Premise and conclusion:

Example 1:
Statement:
Ahmedabad has a lower population and hence
is a safer place to live.
Conclusions:
1. A city which has less population is a better
place to live.
2. Ahmedabad has lower number of crimes
than Bombay.
Example 2:
Statement:
All students of my class have a bright chance in
their examination.
Conclusions
1. I teach them the whole syllabus thoroughly.
2. All the students are intelligent.
Example 3
Statement:
Anyone who manages an engineering
organisation like Tata Motors can only be
successful if he has the knowledge of the
professional work that is carried on in the
organisation.
Conclusions:
1. If you want to run any company, it is
essential that you should know the
professional work associated with it.
2. In order to manage an engineering
organisation like Tata Motors, it is essential
to have an engineering education
background.
Example 4
Statement:
According to Baba Ramdev “Values, integrity
and peace of mind are essential for a beautiful
life.”
Conclusions:
1. Baba Ramdev believes that each of values,

integrity and peace of mind are essential for
a beautiful life.
2. Baba Ramdev believes that materialistic
persons can not have a beautiful life.
Example 5
Statement:
India won the second test match against
Pakistan by one innings and two hundred and
three runs. The greatest contribution was from
the bowlers.
Conclusions:
1. Most of the Indian players are bowlers.
2. It was India’s biggest win against Pakistan.
Assumptions and inference:

Directions:
(a) If only assumption I is implicit.
(b) If only assumption II is implicit.
(c) If both I and II are implicit.
(d) If neither I nor II is implicit.
1. Statement
UPSC is tougher than MPPSC. So, I will appear
in MPPSC.
Assumptions
I. Every graduate should appear in MPPSC.
II. One should avoid tougher things because
one might fail in them and failure might lead to
a loss of time. On the other hand if something
is easy the chances of succeeding are high.
2. Statement
Rahim is a tall boy
Assumptions
I. Rahim’s father’s height is 6 feet 7 inches.
II. Any height above 6 feet is tall.
3. Statement
What is the distance of my home from my
office?
Assumptions
I. My home is at the centre of the city.
II. My office is 10 km away from the park, which
is 1 km away from my home.
4. Statement
A says to B “Refer to the Cambridge dictionary
instead of the Oxford dictionary to be good at
English.”
Assumptions
I. B wants to be good at English.
II. A is a good advisor.
5. Statement
Narayan the CEO of the company says to his
employee, “Achieve the targets we have set for
you or I will fire you.”
Assumptions
I. With Narayan’s statement, the employee will
work hard to achieve his targets.
II. All bosses are in the habit of intimidating
their employees.
6. Statement
In the last year, Lucknow University has
launched a number of management courses for
the better future of its students.
Assumptions
I. These courses may attract students.
II. Lucknow University is conscious about the
future of students.
Strengthening and weakening argument:

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 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 and
(E) If both I and II are strong.
1. Statement: Should India encourage exports,

when most things are insufficient for internal
use itself?
Arguments:
Yes. We have to earn foreign exchange to pay
for our imports.
No. Even selective encouragement would lead
to shortages.
2. Statement: Should all the drugs patented

and manufactured in Western countries be
first tried out on sample basis before giving
licence for sale to general public in India?
Arguments:
Yes. Many such drugs require different doses
and duration for Indian population and hence it
is necessary.
No. This is just not feasible and hence cannot be
implemented.
3. Statement: Should government stop

spending huge amounts of money on
international sports?
Arguments:
Yes. This money can be utilized for upliftment of
the poor.
No. Sports persons will be frustrated and will
not get international exposure.
4. Statement: Should the railways immediately

stop issuing free passes to all its employees?
Arguments:
No. The employees have the right to travel free.
Yes. This will help railways to provide better
facility.
5. Statement: Should there be compulsory

medical examination of both the man and
the woman before they marry each other?
Arguments:
No. This is an intrusion to the privacy of an
individual and hence cannot be tolerated.
Yes. This will substantially reduce the risk of
giving birth to children with serious ailments.
SOLUTION WITH EXPLNATORY ANSWER
Premise and conclusion

Solution 1:
Both the conclusions do not follow. The first
conclusion statement is in fact an assumption
on which the argument statement is based. It is
not a conclusion which can be derived from the
statement. Similarly, we have no information
about crime rates in Bombay in the statement
and hence conclusion II also does not follow.
Hence, option (d) is correct.
Solution 2:
A teacher can claim that his students have a
bright chance in the examination only if he
teaches the syllabus thoroughly. However, this
is an assumption that must be valid for the
statement to be made (and is not a conclusion).

Hence conclusion I is valid. Conclusion II is also
invalid because the ‘students’ who are being
referred to are not defined clearly. Hence,
option (d) is correct.
Solution 3:
The statement particularly talks about
engineering organisations like Tata Motors. The
first conclusion is generalising the statement
and is hence not valid as a conclusion. The
second conclusion follows. Hence option (b) is
correct.
Solution 4:
Conclusion I follow. since that is what is meant
by the statement. Materialism is generally anti
values and integrity and hence we can draw the
second conclusion. Hence option (c) is correct.
Solution 5:
Both conclusions are invalid. Hence, option (d)
is correct.
Assumptions and inferences:
1. Only Assumption II is relevant here as it

justifies the argument in the statement of
going for easier things rather than tougher
things.
2. Both assumptions are invalid and not
implied. Hence, option (d) is correct.
3. Neither assumptions are valid. Hence, option
(d) is correct.
4. This advice will only be given if Assumption
I is true. We cannot assume anything about
A’s advisory skills hence assumption II is not
necessary for the statement.
5. Assumption I is implied as the boss would
want (and assumes) this reaction from the
employee. The second assumption is invalid.
6. Assumption I is an assumption since the
University has launched the courses with this
intention. Assumption II is also valid since
the launching of these courses shows that
the Lucknow University is conscious about
the future
Strengthening and weakening arguments:
Answer 1: Option A
Explanation:
Clearly, India can export only the surplus and
that which can be saved after fulfilling its own
needs, to pay for its imports. Encouragement to
export cannot lead to shortages as it shall
provide the resources for imports. So, only
argument I holds.
Answer 2: Option A
Explanation:
Clearly, health of the citizens is an issue of
major concern for the Government. So, a
product like drugs, must be first studied and
tested in the Indian context before giving
licence for its sale. So, only argument I holds
strong.
Answer 3: Option B
Explanation:
Clearly, spending money on sports cannot be
avoided merely because it can be spent on
socio-economic problems. So, argument I does
not hold. Also, if the expenses on sports are
curtailed, the sports persons would face lack of
facilities and training and our country will lag
behind in the international sports competitions.
So, II holds.
Answer 4: Option D
Explanation:
The free passes given to railway employees is a
privilege for them, not their right. So, argument
I does not hold. Argument II seems to be vague.
Answer 5: Option B
Explanation:
Clearly, such a step would help to prevent the
growth of diseases like AIDS. So, only argument
II is strong.

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COMPREHENSION AND LOGIC

COMPREHENSION AND LOGIC - 2

Critical reasoning questions test your ability to

Formulating and Evaluating a Plan of

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the prospects of success of a proposed plan of

PRACTICE PROBLEMS (EXPLANATORY ANSWERS AT THE END)

Premise and conclusion:

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1. Baba Ramdev believes that each of values,

Assumptions and inference:

Strengthening and weakening argument:

(A) If only argument I is strong

1. Statement: Should India encourage exports,

2. Statement: Should all the drugs patented

3. Statement: Should government stop

4. Statement: Should the railways immediately

5. Statement: Should there be compulsory

SOLUTION WITH EXPLNATORY ANSWER

Premise and conclusion

statement to be made (and is not a conclusion).

Assumptions and inferences:

1. Only Assumption II is relevant here as it

Strengthening and weakening arguments:

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