Statement and Assumption Questions

• Statement–Assumption (Long-Term Policy vs. Short-Term Remedies): Statement: “The long-term health of the nation and its democratic polity should be the primary concern of all political parties—short-term remedies are, at best, pain-killers.” Assumptions: I) Short-term policy helps political parties win elections. II) Only long-term democratic policy serves the nation’s best interests.
• Statement–Assumption (Civilised States and Minority Protections): Statement: “No civilised state today can deliberately violate international declarations, conventions, and covenants relating to minorities.” Assumptions: I) All civilised states enforce such international instruments equally. II) Minorities everywhere ought to receive protection from their governments.
• Statement–Assumption (Recognising Realities vs. Artificial Policies): Statement: “A statesman dealing with public affairs cannot ignore realities; non-recognition of realities leads to artificial policies and programmes.” — J. L. Nehru Assumptions: I) Artificial policies and programmes do not genuinely advantage the people. II) Those at the helm generally ignore realities and prefer populist measures.
• Statement & Assumption — In the present globalised scenario, it is time for a total overhaul of the system. Which assumptions are implicit? I. The prevailing system is not suitable for the necessities of a globalised economy. II. “Globalisation” is merely a buzzword of the new world order.
• Statement & Assumption — “The consumer is the focal point of liberalisation, globalisation, and reforms. Any manufacturing activity or service must satisfy the consumer to succeed.” Which assumptions are implicit? I. Very few companies care about consumer satisfaction. II. Consumer satisfaction is the best investment in a competitive economy.
• Statement & Assumption — “Develop a strategic plan for Internet adoption. Do not treat the Internet differently from any other crucial business decision,” says a manager at IBM India. Which assumptions are implicit? I. All crucial business decisions require a strategic plan to succeed. II. The Internet is the need of the hour.
• Statement & Assumption — “Nowadays some people have made it a business to organise rallies and demonstrations against big projects, citing environmental and social reasons.” Which assumptions are implicit? I. Big projects are necessary. II. Environmental and social reasons attract people towards rallies.
• Statement & Assumption — “Various state governments will compete to announce cash prizes they intend to give Olympic medal-winners.” Which assumptions are implicit? I. Such announcements will boost the morale of players. II. Winning an Olympic medal is a matter of pride for state governments.
• Statement & Assumption — “The textbook variety of the profession and practice of democracy has not worked in countries like India where ground realities are different.” Which assumptions are implicit? I. Democracy is not suitable for poor countries. II. Ground realities differ from one country to another.
• Statement & Assumption — “The days of ghazal can never be over,” says a singer. Which assumptions are implicit? I. Aspiring singers should concentrate on ghazal rather than pop. II. Many people have written off ghazal as passé.
• Statement & Assumption — “Railway wagons of Eastern Railway will carry your message,” says an advertisement by Eastern Railway. Which assumptions are implicit? I. Other railways already run such schemes profitably. II. This advertisement will elicit responses (i.e., advertisers will come forward).
• Statement & Assumption — “Order can be maintained only when law is enforceable. Law is a corpus of rules to be obeyed by all without exception.” Which assumptions are implicit? I. Acceptance of law by people is necessary for its effectiveness. II. There exists a section of people who act as a law unto themselves.
• Statement & Assumption — “Sanskrit is a ‘dead’ language and its study in school is obsolete.” Which assumptions are implicit? I. Sanskrit has no utility in day-to-day life. II. Schools should teach students only what relates directly to their future pursuits.
• Statement & Assumption — “In India, the wheels of justice hardly move,” says an American newspaper. Which assumptions are implicit? I. Judicial process in India is dilatory, expensive, and beyond the reach of common people. II. A civilised society needs a prompt judiciary.
• Statement & Assumption — “To India and Indians, monsoon can be a bringer of bounty as well as a harbinger of death.” Which assumptions are implicit? I. India’s economy and most people still depend significantly on rainfall. II. In India, almost every year some region or the other is ravaged by floods.
• Statement & Assumption — “So long as society remains caste-based, there is no harm in having caste-based organisations to look after caste welfare.” Which assumptions are implicit? I. There is nothing wrong with religious organisations spreading their ideals. II. Political parties cannot look after caste welfare as well as caste-based organisations can.
• Statement & Assumption — “After destroying the Kshatriya kings, Parashurama asked the gods for a way of penance.” Which assumptions are implicit? I. Parashurama considered the act of destroying the kings a sin. II. There exists a way of atonement even for ghastly acts.
• Statement & Assumption — “We grew up in joint families, which meant less space for the individual.” Which assumptions are implicit? I. Big houses were unknown in the past. II. Living in a joint family entails significant personal adjustment.
• Statement & Assumption — “Our urban youth are less at ease with their own language than with English!” Which assumptions are implicit? I. One generally feels most comfortable in one’s mother tongue. II. English-language books outsell vernacular books.
• Statement & Assumption — “The average American can afford hobbies that a typical middle-class Indian can only dream of.” Which assumptions are implicit? I. Material circumstances differ greatly between India and the US. II. Economic prosperity enables diverse interests to flourish.