Statements and Arguments Practice Test 2 – Important Reasoning Questions with Solutions

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:
Should colleges be given the status of a university in India?
Arguments
I. Yes, colleges are in a better position to assess the student's performance and therefore the degrees will be more valid.
II. No, it is utopian to think that there will not be nepotism and corruption in awarding degrees by colleges.

 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)Is paying ransom tow 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: Kindly read the paragraph below and answer the question that follows:

In India, handloom art is in crisis. The textile ministry’s Handlooms Census (2010) shows there has been a 33 per cent drop in handloom employment since 1995-96. India’s handloom exports touched Rs 2,246 crore in 2014-15. However, this has been continually declining compared to the previous 4-5 years. Since India produces almost 85 per cent of the world’s handloom products, we can ill afford to let the handloom sector and handloom art to fall into decline.

Q) Which of the following statements weakens the importance of the handloom sector?

I. Only 4.3 million people are engaged in handloom weaving and allied activities now, against 6.5 million in 1995-96.

II. Handloom is the second largest unorganized set of economic activities in the country, after agriculture that supports rural areas.

III. Handloom art and weaving centres are clustered all over the country with many of these art genres being popular in international markets.

Direction: Study the following instructions carefully and then answer the questions that follow. In making decision about important questions it is desirable that a candidate should be able to distinguish between 'strong' and 'weak' arguments so far as they related to the questions and may be of minor importance or may be related to the trivial aspect of the question. Each question give below is followed by two arguments numbered I and II. You have decide which of arguments is a 'strong' argument and which open is 'weak' argument.

Q) Illustration 3.
Statement
Should computers be used in all possible sectors in India?
Arguments
I. Yes, it will bring efficiency and accuracy to the work.
II. No, it will be an injustice to the monumental human resources which are at present underutilised.

Direction: In this type of decision-making questions decisions about important questions, it is desirable to distinguish between 'strong' and 'weak' arguments. A 'strong' arguments must be both 'important and directly related to the question. A 'weak' arguments may not be directly related to the question and may be of minor importance or may be related to the 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 'strong' and which is 'weak'?

Q) Statement
Should young entrepreneurs be encouraged ?
Arguments
I. Yes, they will help in the industrial development of the country.
II.Yes, they will reduce the burden on the employment market.

Q) 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:
Should an organisation like UNO be dissolved?
Arguments
I. Yes, with the Cold War coming to an end such organisations have no role to play.
II. No, In the absence of such an organisation, there may be a world war.

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

India will soon become a nation producing world leading products developed by a large number of small local entrepreneurs.

Q) Which of the following is/are valid argument/arguments?

I. No. The true potential of entrepreneurship can be attained not by having too many startups but by ensuring that these startups grow into sizeable businesses.

II. Yes. Starting up a business is a hard task and growing it is much easier.

III. No. We support seeding of businesses but once these businesses are successful, our policies simply do not seem to help them.

Directions: Read the paragraph carefully and answer the question given below.

Shipping business is quite dirty. Burning heavy fuel oil, the industry produces 13% of the world’s sulphur emissions and 15% of its nitrogen oxides. And by 2050 ships will be producing 17% of all carbon emissions if left unregulated, according to research by the European Union.

Q) Which of the following, if true, weakens the argument in the passage above?

I. Shipping accounts for only around 1.2% of global carbon emissions.

II. Demand for low-sulphur fuel oil and marine diesel is expected to reduce in 2020.

III. As per rules brought in by the The International Maritime Organisation, the United Nations agency for shipping, ship owners have installed equipment to clean the dirty ballast water their ships suck in and discharge

Directions: Kindly read the sentence given below and answer the question that follows:

The withdrawal of the U.S. from the Human Rights Council (HRC) of the United Nations in June this year was the right decision. Other nations too have started to advocate on the same lines.

Q) Which of the following is a strong argument?

I. Yes. It is made up of states not known for their human rights records; that many are in fact egregious violators of human rights.

II. No. The overt manner in which a human rights agenda and the evolution of human rights norms have been facilitated is commendable and has resulted in states being more engaged.

III. No. By ceding a role at the HRC, a state reduces its ability to influence the agenda, and if it is so inclined, a genuine engagement in the monitoring of human rights.

Q) 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:
Is pen mightier than a sword?
Arguments:
I. Yes, writers influence the thinking of the people.
II. No, with the help of physical force one can conquer all.