Disjunction analysis: “Either CAT is tough or IIT JEE is easy.” Identify the pair of statements that can simultaneously be true without contradicting the given disjunction.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: (ii) and (iii)

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
We assess truth conditions of a disjunction: “Either CAT is tough or IIT JEE is easy.” In standard logic, “either … or …” is often read exclusively in puzzles, but the safe consistency check works for inclusive-or as well: the disjunction is true if at least one disjunct is true.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Statement S: (CAT tough) OR (IIT JEE easy).
  • Options reference: (ii) CAT is easy; (iii) IIT JEE is easy; (iv) IIT JEE is tough.


Concept / Approach:
We must find a pair that does not contradict S. If we pick CAT easy (ii) and IIT JEE easy (iii), S remains satisfied because “IIT JEE easy” makes the disjunction true. Pairs that force both “CAT not tough” and “IIT JEE not easy” would contradict S.


Step-by-Step Solution:

1) Let C_t = “CAT tough”; J_e = “IIT JEE easy”.2) S asserts C_t OR J_e is true.3) Pair (ii)&(iii): “CAT easy” (which says nothing about toughness) and “IIT JEE easy” (J_e true). S is satisfied.4) Pair (ii)&(iv): “CAT easy” with “IIT tough” makes J_e false and does not guarantee C_t true; this can contradict S.5) Pair (iii)&(iv): asserts J_e true and J_e false simultaneously, a contradiction.


Verification / Alternative check:
If we treat “either … or …” as exclusive, (ii)&(iii) still keeps S true (since the clause only requires at least one to make the original sentence consistent; exclusivity is not enforced by the option pair itself).


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • (ii) and (iv) can force both disjuncts false relative to S (no guarantee CAT is tough).
  • (iii) and (iv) is internally inconsistent.
  • “None of these” is wrong because (ii)&(iii) is consistent with S.


Common Pitfalls:
Assuming “CAT easy” implies “CAT not tough” with certainty. The prompt does not define “tough vs easy” as strict negations; even if treated as opposites, (iii) alone already satisfies S.


Final Answer:
(ii) and (iii)

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