Statements and Arguments Practice Test 1 – Most Expected Questions for SSC and Banking Exams 2026

Directions: Kindly study the paragraph given below and answer the question that follows.

Recently, the Sensex 30 hurtled past 36,000 and the Nifty50 scaled 11000, voices of caution were drowned out by those celebrating the fastest 1000-point gain in the Sensex. Domestic market players continue to conjure up a variety of justifications for these gains — IMF’s bullish forecast, earnings revival, budget reforms, the January effect and surging domestic flows. But Indian investors still have the most to worry about a possible melt-up scenario, because with the Sensex 30 is one of the most expensive markets in the world and at the current levels, allows little margin of safety for disappointments. Inveterate bulls argue that this time it’s different because India’s stock rally in the last three years has been powered more by sticky domestic retail money, than fickle foreign flows.

Q) Which of the following weakens the claim that the stock rally would be a sustained one this time?

I. Market intermediaries and funds have everything to gain from ballooning assets.

II. The Sensex 30’s price-earnings ratio is at 25.2 times and is at a very steep valuation already.

III. Most of the domestic money flooding into equities now is not from patient or informed investors.

Direction: Each question given below consists of a statement, followed by two argument's numbered I and II. You have to decide which of the argument is a 'strong' argument and which is a 'weak' argument.

Q) Statement:
Should higher education be restricted to only those who can bear the expenditure?
Arguments:
I. Yes. Higher education is very costly, hence it should not be given free.
II. No. There are a large number of brilliant students who cannot afford to pay and they should be given higher education.

Directions: 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.
( e ) if both arguments I and II are strong.
Statement
Q)Should shifting agriculture be practiced?
Arguments:
I. No, it is a wasteful practice?
II. Yes, Modern methods of farming are too expensive.

Direction: Each question given below consists of a statement, followed by two argument's numbered I and II. You have to decide which of the argument is a 'strong' argument and which is a 'weak' argument.
Q) Statement:
Should the tuition fees in all postgraduate courses be hiked considerably?
Arguments:
I. Yes, This will bring in some sense of seriousness among the students and will improve the quality.
II. No. This will force the meritorious poor students to stay away from post-graduate courses.

Direction: Each question given below consists of a statement, followed by two argument's numbered I and II. You have to decide which of the argument is a 'strong' argument and which is a 'weak' argument.
Q) 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.

Directions: Read the statement and arguments carefully and choose the right answer.

There is a growing feeling amongst the larger Asian countries that the West is passé. The news coming out of there, especially since the 2008 financial crisis, is of declining populations, big layoffs and economic meltdowns in several countries of the European Union (EU), Italy being the latest. So much of bad news over an extended period gives the impression that the rise of the West has finally halted; that the West is now in cowering retreat.

Q) Which of the following weakens the argument provided in the passage above?
I. The Western media has contributed to perpetuating the news of the decline of the West.
II. The rich West hangs together, with a combined GDP several times than that of the rest of the world.
III. The U.S., has a growing population and remains the most productive and innovative in the world, as well as militarily the most powerful.

Directions: Kindly study the paragraph given below and answer the question that follows.

It is perhaps no surprise that political parties are deeply divided over the idea of holding simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and the State Assemblies. During consultations initiated by the Law Commission of India, nine parties opposed it, arguing that it went against the constitutional fabric and that it would be impractical. Four parties backed the concept.

Q) Which of the following strengthens the case for simultaneous elections?

I. A simultaneous poll, particularly in this era where news is easily and widely disseminated, will privilege national issues over regional ones even if, arguably, the reverse may happen too.

II. Assemblies can be bunched into two categories based on whether their terms end close to the 2019 or the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and then elections could be held for one group in 2019, and for another in 2024 so that subsequent elections could be synchronised.

III. Election expenditure will be drastically cut and ruling dispensations will be able to focus on legislation and governance rather than having to be in campaign mode forever.

Direction: Each question given below consists of a statement, followed by two argument's numbered I and II. You have to decide which of the argument is a 'strong' argument and which is a 'weak' argument.
Q) Statement:
Should Indian scientists working abroad be called back to India?
Arguments:
I. Yes. They must serve the motherland first and forget about discoveries, honors, facilities and all.
II. No. It encourages the kidnappers to continue their sinister activities.

Direction: In making decision 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 ?

Q) Statement
Should the government levy tax agricultural income also?
Arguments
I. Yes, that is the only way to fill government's coffer.
II. No, 80% of our population live in rural areas.

Directions: 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.
( e ) if both arguments I and II are strong.
Statement:
Q)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.