Statement — “The complaint of poor customer service is partly correct, and it certainly needs to be improved.” Conclusions — I. Poor customer service can be improved. II. The speaker knows about the company’s poor customer service.
Correct Answer: if both I and II follow
Introduction / Context:The speaker explicitly concedes partial validity of the complaint and states that improvement is needed. We test which conclusions necessarily follow from that assertion.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- The service is acknowledged to be poor in part.
- An improvement need is asserted, implying feasibility and intent.
- The speaker has enough knowledge to evaluate the complaint’s correctness.
Concept / Approach:“Needs improvement” logically entails “can be improved” (otherwise the prescription would be incoherent). Also, an evaluative claim about present service quality presupposes awareness/knowledge by the speaker.
Step-by-Step Solution:
From “needs to be improved” → capability/possibility exists → I follows.From “partly correct” + prescriptive stance → speaker has knowledge/context → II follows.Verification / Alternative check:If either were false (cannot be improved; or speaker lacks knowledge), the statement would be self-contradictory or baseless.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Only I/Only II/Either: omits one necessary inference.Neither: contradicts the explicit language.Common Pitfalls:Overthinking “can” as absolute certainty; here it is a normative feasibility implied by managerial language.
Final Answer:Both I and II follow.