Statement and Argument Questions

Statement–Argument — Should adulteration in foodstuff be treated as a serious crime? Arguments: I) Yes; adulteration harms health and can even cause death. II) No; substances mixed with food are not really poisonous. Identify the strong argument(s).

Statement–Argument — Should the private sector be permitted to operate telephone services? Arguments: I) Yes; private providers already operate successfully in many advanced countries. II) No; it is risky to place such services in private hands. Choose the strong argument(s).

Statement–Argument — Should political parties be banned? Arguments: I) Yes; it is necessary to teach a lesson to politicians. II) No; banning parties would end democracy. Identify the strong argument(s).

Statement–Argument — Should coal engines be replaced by electric engines in trains? Arguments: I) Yes; coal engines cause a lot of pollution. II) No; India does not produce enough electricity even for domestic needs. Choose the strong argument(s).

Statement–Argument — Do discussions lead to solutions of disputes? Arguments: I) Yes; weighing pros and cons in proper perspective leads to the right solution. II) No; no one is really convinced. Identify the strong argument(s).

Statement–Argument — Is the verdict of a judge always just and right? Arguments: I) Yes; judges are very learned and intelligent. II) No; tricky lawyers and false evidence can mislead the judge. Choose the strong argument(s).

Statement–Argument — Do thin clothes suit people who are overweight? Arguments: I) Yes; thin clothes cling and make one look less fat. II) No; in thin clothes bulges become more prominent. Determine the strong argument(s).

Statement–Argument — Is investing in insurance policies a wise step? Arguments: I) Yes; insurance ensures security and covers risks. II) No; by maturity the value of money falls considerably. Identify the strong argument(s).

Statement–Argument — Should parents play with their children? Arguments: I) Yes; it builds healthy and much-needed companionship between children and parents. II) No; children then treat parents like equals and distance is lost. Choose the strong argument(s).

Statement–Argument — Should cottage industries be encouraged in rural areas? Arguments: I) Yes; rural people are creative. II) Yes; it helps to solve unemployment to some extent. Identify the strong argument(s).

Statement–Argument — Do commoners who marry distinguished persons have a happy life? Arguments: I) Yes; they receive much honour and respect. II) No; their spouse and in-laws do not respect them and treat them with contempt. Select the strong argument(s).

Statement–Argument — Do children adopted from poor families love their new rich parents like their own? Arguments: I) Yes; they are loved, cared for, and provided with comforts. II) No; in the criminal world, they become selfish and hard-boiled. Choose the strong argument(s).

Statement–Argument — Should competitive job selection be through objective tests only? Arguments: I) Yes; objective-test assessment is reliable. II) No; the number of questions is always very large. Identify the strong argument(s).

Statement–Argument — Is it necessary that education should be job-oriented? Arguments: I) Yes; education aims to prepare people for earning. II) Yes; after education, a person should stand on their own feet. III) No; education should be for knowledge only. IV) No; one may take up agriculture where education is not necessary. Select the strong set.

Statement–Argument — Should all school teachers be debarred from giving private tuitions? Arguments: I) No; needy students would be deprived of these teachers’ expertise. II) Yes; this is an injustice to unemployed educated people who could earn via tuitions. III) Yes; only then will the quality of teaching in schools improve. IV) Yes; teachers’ salaries are now reasonable. Choose the strong set.

Statement–Argument — Should people over-qualified beyond job requirements be debarred from seeking those jobs? Arguments: I) No; it would aggravate educated unemployment. II) Yes; it creates complexes among employees and harms work. III) No; it goes against basic individual rights. IV) Yes; it will increase productivity. Identify the strong set.

Statement: Should there be reservation of jobs in private-sector organisations in India, similar to reservations in public-sector undertakings? Arguments: I. Yes. It would expand opportunities for historically weaker sections, supporting social mobility and narrowing the gap between affluent groups and the downtrodden. II. No. Private firms do not receive government assistance and therefore should not be bound by such policies. III. No. Nowhere else in the world is such a practice followed. IV. No. Private-sector managements would not agree to such compulsions. Select the option that best identifies the strong argument(s).

Statement: Should there be Board examinations for children in Class IV? Arguments: I. Yes. It motivates children to study harder and achieve higher marks, allowing more knowledge acquisition at a younger age. II. No. It will force children to study mechanically and reduce enjoyment of learning. III. Yes. In a competitive world, children should be prepared from the beginning to face rigorous examinations. IV. No. It will create undue pressure on tender-aged children and reduce their play time. Select the option that best identifies the strong argument(s).

Statement: Should the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) be brought under the direct control of the Cabinet Secretariat? Arguments: I. Yes. This would reduce partiality and make the CBI more meaningful and purposeful. II. No. It would empower the prime minister to harass coalition leaders who do not support him on issues. Select the option that best identifies the strong argument(s).

Statement: Should the law ministry institute a corrective mechanism to hold judges with “deviant behavior” more accountable? Arguments: I. Yes. A formal mechanism would check sagging standards and strengthen judicial accountability. II. No. Such a mechanism cannot succeed unless the executive collaborates with the judiciary. Select the option that best identifies the strong argument(s).