Statement:\nA friend in need is a friend indeed.\n\nConclusions:\nI. All people are friends in good times.\nII. Enemies in bad times are not friends.

Difficulty: Medium

Correct Answer: If Conclusion II follows

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
The proverb defines a true friend as one who stands by you in need. We test two conclusions: a universal claim about good times and a clarifying negation about enemies in bad times.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Definition: the essence of friendship is help/support in times of need.
  • No claim that everyone is a friend during prosperity.
  • Enemies, by definition, are not friends, and certainly not those who help in need.


Concept / Approach:
Conclusion I extrapolates a universal statement (all are friends in good times) that is not implied by the proverb; the saying contrasts good-time acquaintances with true friends who persist in adversity. Conclusion II aligns with the definition: enemies in bad times do not meet the criterion of friendship and therefore are not friends. While II may seem tautological, it follows from the definition provided by the statement.


Step-by-Step Solution:
1) Parse the definition: friend-in-need = indeed a friend.2) There is no universal quantifier over people in good times → reject I.3) If someone is an enemy in adversity, they fail the need-based criterion → accept II.


Verification / Alternative check:
The proverb draws a boundary: many may seem friendly in prosperity, but the definition of true friendship is filtered by adversity. Enemies in adversity are outside that boundary.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Choosing I or either relies on overgeneralization of good-time behavior; selecting neither ignores the definitional exclusion in II.


Common Pitfalls:
Mistaking a normative definition for a descriptive statement about everyone’s behavior in good times.


Final Answer:
If Conclusion II follows.

More Questions from Statement and Conclusion

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