1008171282034459217-225 Statement - Arguments

8/6/2019 1008171282034459217-225 Statement - Arguments

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In this type of questions, a statement isgiven folowed by two arguments. One argumentsupports the given statment by pointing out thepositive results of the statement and the otherargument is given against the statement bypointing out the negative features of it. A typicalquestion of statement argument is given below.

Directions : The question given below isfollowed by two arguments numbered I and II.You have to decide which of the arguments is a'strong' argument and which is a 'weak' argument.

Statement : Should there be a worldgovernment?

Arguments : I. Yes, It wil l hep ineliminating tensionsamong the nations.

II. No. Then only thedeveloped countries willdominate in the government.

(a) Only I is strong

(b) Only II is strong

(c) either I or II is strong

(d) Neither I nor II is strong

(e) both I and II are strong

To answer this question, first of all weshould determine whether an argument is strongor weak. For this, each argument should besubjected to the following tests.

1. If an argument is ambiguous, it is a weakargument. For example,

Statement : Should higher education bereserved for the deservingfew?

Argument : Yes, It wil l minimisewastage in highereducation.

2. If an argument is too simple, it is a weakargument. They are clearly related withthe statement. But due to lack of properargumentation, they are considered asweak arguments.

Statement : Should all the remote partsof a country be connectedby road ?

Argument : Yes, It must be doneimmediately.

This argument does not have anyargumentative substance and so it is a weakargument.

3. If an argument simply supports or deniesa given statement without giving a proper

analysis, it is a weak argument.Statement : Should election expenses

to central and stateligislatures be met by thegovernment ?

Argument : No, It is not good in anycountry.

4. Arguments which consists of a questionthrown back without any substance andargument is a weak argument.

Statement : Should fashionabledresses be banned ?

Argument : Yes, Why not ?5. If it is a scientifically established or

universally acknowledge fact, it is astrong argument. Otherwise it is weak.

Statement : Should religion be taughtin our School ?

Argument : Yes, Teaching religionhelps inculcate moralvalues among children?

This argument is a strong argumentbecause it is an established fact.

6. A argument that promotes or prohibits on the

basis of an example is a weak argument.

Statement : Should private sector bepermitted to operatetelephone services?

Argument : Yes, They are operated inadvanced western countries.

STATEMENT - ARGUMENTS

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This is a weak argument. Just becausetelephone services are operated in advanced westerncountries, it cannot be declared as pursuable.

7. If an argument has passed the abovementioned points, then we check thedesirability of the argument. For this, firstof all, we check whether the arguer is rightin saying that the course of action willbring the given positive or negativeconsequence. Next, we check whetherthis positive or negative conseqence isreally benefitial or harmful.

Statement : Should non - vegetarianfood be totally banned inour country ?

Argument : Yes, It is expensive andtherefore beyond the

means of most people inour country.

Logically this argument is probablebecause non - vegetarian food is expensive andtherefore it is beyond the means of most peoplein our country. But only for this reason, ban onnon vegetarian food is not desirable. So thisargument is weak.

8. A statement and an argument are said tobe properly related if the argumentemphasises the main issue involved. Alsoit should be a balanced option. That isreally beneficial or harmful. If they are

properly related the argument isconsidered as a strong argument.

Statement : Should there be compulsorymilitary training for all?

Argument : Yes, It will bring a senseof discipline in the people

It is true that military training will bring asense of discipline in the people. But compulsorymilitary training is too significant an action to betaken simply for this reason.

Solved Examples:

1. Statement : Should luxury hotels bebanned in India?

Argument : I , Yes, they are placesfrom where internationalcriminals operate.

II. No. Affluent foreigntourists will have no placeto stay.

I is not strong because only by imposinga ban on luxury hotels, success of internationalcriminals can not be put to an end. But argumentII is strong.

2. Statement : Should private sector bepermitted to operatetelephone services?

Argument : I. Yes, They are operated inadvanced western coutries.

II. No. It is risky to putthem in private hands.

Here both the arguments are weak. Apolicy cannot be followed in a developing countrylike india, merely on the reason that telephoneservices are operated in advanced westerncountries. II is not acceptable because permitting

the private sector to operate telephone servicesmay bring out greater efficiency. Hence Boththe arguments are weak.

PRACTICE TEST

Directions : Each question given below isfollowed by two arguments numbered I and IIyou have to decide which of the argument is a 'strong'argument and which is a ' weak' argument.

Give answer (a) If only argument I is strong, (b)if only argument II is strong, (c) If either I or II isstrong (d) if neither I nor II is strong and (e) ifboth I and II are strong.

1. Statement : Should one close relativeof a retiring governmentemployee be given a job ingovernment in India?

Arguments : I, Yes, where else will therelatives get a job like this?

II. No, it will close doorsof government service tocompetent and needy youth.

2. Statement : Should puchase of gold byindividulas be restricted inIndia to improve its foreign

exchange positions?

Arguments : I , Yes, interference oncustomer's right andfreedom is desirable.

II. No, buisness interesthas to be guarded first.



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3. Statement : Shoul d t each ing o f'Sanskrit' be madecompulsory at school levelin India?

Arguments : I No, where are the trainedteachers to teach thislanguage /

II Yes, we should be proudof our ancient language/

4. Statement : Should all education bemade free for girls andwomen of all ages of India?

Arguments : I, No, this will weaken ourpresent social structures.

II. Yes, this is the only wayto bring back glory to

Indian womenhood.5. Statement : Should private colleges

offering professionalcourses like EngineeringMedical, Management bebanned in India?

Arguments : I , Yes, such coursesshould be run byGovernment Colleges only

II. Yes, no other countryallows private colleges torun professional courses.

6. Statement : Should Doordarshan begiven autonomous status?

Arguments : I , Yes, I t wil l helpDoordarshan to have fairand impartial coverage ofall important events.

II. No, the coverage ofevents will be decided bya few who may not havehealthy outlook.

7. Statement : Should adult educationprogramme be givenpriority over compulsoryeducation programmes ?

Arguments : I, No, It will also help insuccess of compulsoryeducation programme.

II. Yes, it will help toeliminate the adultilliteracy.

8. Statement : Should India go in forcomputerisation in industry?

Arguments : I , No Computer isat ion

demands a lot of money.We should not wastemoney on it.

II. Yes, when advancedcoutries are introdusingcomputers in variousareas, how can India affordto log behind?

9. Statement : Should new big industriesbe started in Bombay ?

Arguments : I, Yes, It will create newjob opportunities.

II. No, It will further add tothe pollution of the city.

10. Statement : Should higher education becompletely stopped forsome time ?

Arguments : I, No, It will hamper thecoutry's future progress.

II. Yes, It will reduce theeducated unemployement.

11. Statement : Should slum dweller beprovided free houses in bigcities and metropolises?

Arguments : I, No, most of the slumdwellers are poor andilliterate.

II. Yes, providing food andshelter to evey citizen isthe responsibility of anywelfare state.

12. Statement : Should Polythene Bags bebanned in India?

Arguments : I, No, The polythene bagsare very cheap and are veryconvenient.

II. Yes, that is what manycountries are doing.

13. Statement : Should military service forshort duration be madecompulsory to all eligibleyouth in India?



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Arguments : I , yes, Indian defenceforces are badly in need of

jawans and officers.

II. Yes, it will inculcatediscipline and nationalpride in youth.

14. Statement : Should private sector bepermitted to operatetelephone services?

Arguments : I, Yes. They are operated inadvanced western countries.

II. No, It is risky to putthem in private hands.

15. Statement : Should there be only oneuniversity throughout India?

Arguments : I, Yes. This is the only wayto bring about uniformty inthe educational standards.

II. No. This is administrativelyimpossible.

16. Statement : Should telecasting featurefilms be stopped?

Arguments : I, Yes. Young children aremisguided by the featurefilms.

II. No. This is the only wayto educate the masses.

17. Statement : Should non- vegetarianfood be totally banned inour country?

Arguments : I. Yes. It is expensive andtherefore it is beyond themeans of most people inour country.

II. No. Nothing should bebanned is a democraticcountry like ours.

18. Statement : Should workers be allowedto participate in the manage-ment of factories in India?

Arguments : I. Yes. It is the presentmanagement theory.

II. No. Many workers areill iterate and so theircontributions will not be ofany value.

19. Statement : Shoul d smok ing beprohibited?

Arguments : I. Yes. It is wrong to smoke

away millions of money.II. No. It will throwthousands of workers inthe tobacco industry out ofemployement.

20. Statement : Should those who recievedowry, despite the lawprohibiting it, be punished?

Arguments : I. Yes. Those who violatethe law, must be punished.

II. No. Dowry system isfirmly rooted in the societysince time immemorial.

21. Statement : Should selection tests beof the objective rather thanof the descriptive type?

Arguments : I, Yes. The assessment ofanswers to objective typequestions is fair andimpartial.

II. No. The descriptive typetest is certainly a better toolthan the objective type test.

22. Statement : Should state lotteries bestopped ?

Arguments : I. Yes. Government shouldnot promote gamblinghabits.

II. No. Government will losea large amout of revenue.

23. Statement : Should India have nomilitary force at all?

Arguments : I, No. Other coutries in theworld do not believe in non-violence.

II. Yes. Many Indiansbelieve in non- violence.

24. Statement : Should personal tax beabolished in India?

Arguments : I , Yes. It wil l motivatepeople to earn more.

II. No. Individuals mustlearn to share their wealthwith other people.



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25. Statement : Should articles of onlydeserving authors beallowed to be published?

Arguments : I, Yes. It will save a lot ofpaper which is in shortsupply.

II. No . It is not possible todraw a line between thedeserving and theundeserving.

26. Statement : Should taxes on colourtelevision be furtherincreased?

Arguments : I. Yes. Colour television isa luxury item and only richpeople buy them

II. No. Televisions arebought by the poor too.

27. Statement : Should loyalty be the onlycriterion for promotion inany organisation?

Arguments : I . Yes. With out loyalmen, no organisation canfunction.

II. No. It leads to hypocrisyand partiality.

28. Statement : Should the political partiesbe banned?

Arguments: I. Yes. It is necessary to

teach a lesson to thepoliticians.

II. No. It will lead to an endof democracy.

29. Statement : Should fash ionabledresses be banned.

Arguments : I . Yes. Fashions keepchanging and henceconsumption of clothincreases.

II. No. Fashionable clothesare a person's selfexpressions and thereforehis/her fundamental right.

30. Statement : Should India manufactureatom bombs?

Arguments: I. Yes. It is imperative toprotect the sovereigntyand integrity of the country.

II. No. This will createimbalance in the power ofnations in this region.

31. Statement : Should election expensesto central and statelegislatures be met by theGovernment?

Arguments : I. Yes. It will put an end topolitical corruption.

II. No. It is not good in anycountry.

32. Statement: Shoul d al l news becontrolled by Governmentin a democracy?

Arguments : I.Yes. Variety of news onlyconfuses people.

II. No. Controlled newsloses credibility.

33. Statement : Should all the remote partsof a country be connectedby road?

Arguments : I . No. I t wi l l d isturbpeaceful simple life of thevillagers.

II. Yes. It must be doneimmediately.

34. Statement : Should a total ban be puton trapping wild animals?

Arguments: I . Yes. Trappers are

making a lot of money.II. No. Bans on hunting andtrapping are not effective.

35. Statement: Should India encourageexports, when most thingsare insufficient for internaluse itself.

Arguments: I. Yes. We have to earnforeign exchange to payfor our imports.

II. No. Even selectiveencouragement would leadto shortages.

36. Statement: Should incom tax beevaded by people?

Arguments: I. Yes. Taxes are excessivelyhigh.

II. No. It is anti-national todo so.



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37. Statement : Should retirement age forthe employees be reducedto 56 years?

Arguments : I . yes. I t wi l l provideemployment oppertunityto many unemployed.

II. Yes. It will provide goodoutput because averageage of employee isreduced.

38. Statement : Shoul d I nd ia si gncomprehensive Test BanTreaty(CTBT)?

Arguments: I. No. India will not be ableto protect her border if itdoes so.

II. Yes. This is the only wayto reduce tension in theAsian sub-continent.

39. Statement : Should Hindi language wemade compulsory atschool level in all thestates in India?

Arguments : I. No. Students should notbe forced to learn anylanguage.

II. Yes. It is the nationallanguage, so everybodymust learn.

40. Statement : Shoul d I nd ia adoptPresidential form ofGovernment?

Arguments : I. Yes. It is necessary toavoid political instability inthe country.

II. No. this will adverselyaffect our socio-culturalfabric.

41. Statement : Should convited personsbe banned to contestelections?

Arguments : I. Yes. they tend to disruptthe normal business of theGovernment.

II. No, every citizen has theright to contest elections.

42. Statement : Should degree be delinkedfrom job?

Arguments : I. Yes, this will check overcrowding in colleges.

II. No, every job required

certain minimumqualifications.

43. Statement : Should gender test duringpregnancy be banned?

Arguments : I. Yes, this is a seriouscrime against humanity.

II. No, the parents shouldhave liberty to allow thebirth of child of their choice.

44. Statement : Should number of holidaysof government employeesbe reduced?

Arguments : I. Yes. Our government

employees are havingmaximum number ofholidays among the othercountries of world.

II. Yes. It will result inincreased productivity ofgovernment officers.

45. Statement : Should the organisationlike the UN be abolished?

Arguments : I. Yes, because the era ofcold war is over and sothere is no role of suchorganisations.

II. No, in the absence ofthese organisations, therewill be a world war.

46. Statement : Will the new pollution-freepetrol result in clean air?

Arguments : I . No. Since i t i s notcompulsory to use the newpetrol, most vehicle usersare not doing so.

II. Yes, Motor vehiclesemission is responsible for30% of air pollution.

47. Statement : Should coal engines bereplaced by electricengines in trains?

Arguments : I . Yes, coal enginescauses a lot of pollution.

II. No. India does notproduce enough electricity



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to fulfil even the domesticneeds.

48. Statement : Do jails reform prisoners

by converting their mindagainst crime?

Arguments : I. Yes. they learn somework which would keep

them to earn their bread

and butter when they are

out of prison.

II. No.They will come in

contact with new and hard

boiled criminals and learn

new tricks of their old

profession.

49. Statement : Is sun-flower seed oil agood cooking medium for

heart patients?

Arguments : I. Yes. It does not increase

cholesterol .

II. No. It lacks natural

nourishment.

50. Statement : Should surnames revaling

caste be banned in favour

of forming a uniform

society?

Arguments : I. Yes. Such surnames

are so funny.

II. No. Such surnames

establish the identity of a

person.

ANSWERS & EXPLANATIONS

1 (b) 2 (d) 3 (d) 4 (d) 5 (d)

6 (a) 7 (b) 8 (d) 9 (e) 10 (a)

11 (b) 12 (d) 13 (a) 14 (d) 15 (b)

16 (a) 17 (d) 18 (d) 19 (d) 20 (a)

21 (a) 22 (e) 23 (d) 24 (a) 25 (b)

26 (d) 27 (b) 28 (b) 29 (b) 30 (d)

31 (a) 32 (b) 33 (d) 34 (d) 35 (e)

36 (b) 37 (a) 38 (a) 39 (a) 40 (b)

41 (a) 42 (b) 43 (a) 44 (b) 45 (b)

46 (a) 47 (e) 48 (e) 49 (a) 50 (d)

Explanations

1(b) Only argument II is strong I is in the formof a question thrown back. So it is a weak

argument2(d) None is strong. Both of them mention trival

aspects.

3(d) Argument I may or may not follow in

actual practice as it depends on one's

individual perception. Hence I is not

strong. It is true that we should be proudof our ancient language.But only for this

reason, it is not desirable to make

sanskrit compulsory at school level.

4(d) Neither I nor II is strong. There is nopossibility of weakening of our present

social structure if we give education togirls and women to India.II is also weak

because it is not the only way to bring

back glory to Indian womenhood.

5(d) None is strong. I is too simple. It simply

accepts the issues without giving any

reason.Second is based upon example.

6(a) If Doordarshan is given autonomous

status, it will be a step towards giving it

independence for an impartial coverage.

So I is strong.Autonomous stastus does

not mean that the coverage will be decided

by a few. So II is weak.

7(b) I is vague. The adult education programme

needs to be given priority because it shall

eliminate adulty illiteracy and thus help

in further spread of education.

8(d) None is strong. Investment of money in

computers is not a waste. II is based upon

examples.

9(e) Clearly, by starting big industries, new job

oppertunities will be created. So I is

strong.But pollution is always a big

problem with big industries. So II also

holds.

10(a) I is an established fact that higher

education promots country's

development. So I holds.II is weak

because higher education is not thecause of unemployment.



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11(b) I is not a proper reason not to provide slumdwellers with free houses. But II is a strongargument.

12(d) II is based upon example ; hence it is aweak argument. I argues about thecheaper cost and convenience ofpolythene bags. The harmful effectsassociated with the use of polythene bagsare more severe. So I is not acceptable.

13(a) Only argument I holds strong. Consideringthe changed scenario in the sub-continentmore javans and officers should beinducted. Argument II does not make amajor point.

14(d) None is strong.First is based on

example. So it is weak. Second is alsoweak because in a developing country, apolicy cannot be followed merely on thepretext that it is pursud in the westerncountries.

15(b) Only one university through out India isnot the only way to bring uniformity ineducational standards.Because we canhave many universities, all following thesame curricular and policies under oneboard.So I is weak. II is strong becausethe administration will become impossible.

16(a) Only I is strong because it is anestablished fact. II is weak because it isnot the only way to educate the masses.

17(d) I does not hold. A ban on people shouldnot be enforced on people because it isthere basic human rights to decide therediet. II is also weak because "nothingshould be banned" is not an acceptabletruth.

18(d) I does not provide a valid reason for thepursuarance of the policy. II is notdesirable because there are even someilliterate whose suggestions will be off

some value.

19(d) There is no need to prohibit smoking onlyto save money. So I is weak. II is notdesirable because a harzardous taskshould not be continued to provideemployment.

20(a) I is strong because persons who violatethe law need to be punished. Even ifdowary sytem is deep-rooted, it is still

illegal and needs to be ended.21(a) I is strong. Judgement in subjective tests

depends upon the individual who judgeswhile that in objective tests is fair andimpartial. So II is weak.

22(e) Both are strong. It is true that thegovernment should that promot gamblinghabits which it does through its lotteries.It is also true that the government wouldlose a major source of revenue if lotarieswere stopped.

23(d) To defend India against the threat of othermilitary powers in the world, it needs tohave military force. So both the argumentsdoes not holds strong.

24(a) I looks probable because abolishingpersonal taxes will motivate people to earnmore. But II is not desirable because thepersonal tax is not a way of sharing wealthwith other people.

25(b) I is not strong. II is desirable because itis not possible to analyse the deservingand the undeserving.

26(d) Both the arguments are vague.

27(b) I is not a proper reason to make loyaltythe only criterion for promotion. But II isstrong.

28(b) I does not give a strong reason. But II isstrong.

29(b) Imposing ban on fashinable dresses willbe restriction on the personal choice andhence the right to freedom of an individual.So only II is desirable.

30(d) In I , it is not directly stated , how thesovereignty and integrity of the cpountryis protected by manufacturing atombombs. II is also not strong.

31(a) If election expenses are met by thegovernment, then it will put an end topolitical corruption.But II is based onexample. So only I holds.

32(b) I is vague because veriety of news neverconfuses people and it helps people to



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develop their own views. II is strongbecause controlled news is partial andso it loses credibility.

33(d) Connecting remote parts of a country byroads cannot disturb peaceful simple lifeof the village, it only helps the peoplethere. II does not have any argumentativesubstance. So it is also weak.

34(d) Ban should be imposed not for the reasonthat trappers are making money, but forprotecting our natural environment. II isalso not strong because it does not giveany strong argument against it.

35(e) Both are strong. I is desirable becausethe argument is true. II is also strong

because in the statement, it is given thatthings are insufficient for internal use itself.So even selective encouragement wouldlead to shortages.

36(b) Tax rates are not excessively highbecause they are decided by our electedleaders. So I is not desirable. II is strongbecause the taxes are utilised only forthe welfare of the people. So it is anti-national.

37(a) Clearly, if retirement age for the employeeis reduced then it will create employmentoppertunity for many unemployed.

38(a) India will be in danger of invasion byneighbouring countries who possessatom bombs, long range missiles, it issigns CTBT. There is no tension in theAsian sub-continent due to CTBT. So I isstrong and II is vague.

39(a) It is not practical to make Hindi languagecompulsory at school level in all statesin India. Our country strives for unity indiversity. It is true that everybody shouldlearn Hindi because it is the nationallanguage. But for that purpose, it is not

desirable to make it compulsory at schoollevel in all states in India therefore onlyargument I is strong.

40(b) Only II is desirable. The adoption ofpresidentail form of political uncertainity.II is strong because it is not wise to take

such a major decision without taking intoaccount out socio-cultural milieu.

41(a) Only I holds. It is true that every citizens

has the right to context elections but atthe same time there should be certain

norms and minimum qualifications for the

contestants.

42(b) II is stong. It is necessary to have some

basic knowledge about the nature of job .

we can adopt certain other measures to

check over crowding in colleges such as

selective admission.

43(a) Only I holds because gender test during

pregnancy is a serious crime against

humanity.

44(b) I is not strong because it is based on

examples. II is strong as less number of

holidays would mean more hours of work

and hence increased in productivity.

45(b) The function of UN is not only to establish

peace and harmony amoung the

belligerent countries but also to develop

friendly and cordial relations among the

nations.Hence I is not strong. But II is

desirable.

46(a) I is strong because new pollution free

petrol has not been made compulsory for

vehicles. II is weak because after using

new petrol there will be less pollution, but

it will not result in clear air.

47(e) I states that coal engines cause a lot of

pollution and II states that India does not

produce enough electricity to fulfil even

the domestic needs. So both the

arguments are strong and directly related

to the statement.

48(e) Both arguments are strong. Though they

contradict each other, but independently

both of them hold.49(a) I is strong because it clearly mentions

how sun-flower seed oil is good for heart

patients. II is weak because it is not based

on known facts.

50(d) Both arguments are simple.

1008171282034459217-225 Statement - Arguments

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