STATEMENT & CONCLUSION (General Mental Ability) UPSC EPFO

Total Questions: 20

11. In each question below is given a statement followed by two conclusions numbered I and II. You have to assume everything in the statement to be true, then consider the two conclusions together and decide which of them logically follows beyond a reasonable doubt from the information given in the statement.

Statements: Government has spoiled many top ranking financial institutions by appointing bureaucrats as Directors of these institutions.
Conclusions:
I. Government should appoint Directors of the financial institutes taking into consideration the expertise of the person in the area of finance.
II. The Director of the financial institute should have expertise commensurate with the financial work carried out by the institute.

Correct Answer: (d) If both I and II follow.
Solution:

According to the statement, Government has spoiled financial institutions by appointing bureaucrats as Directors. This means that only those persons should be appointed as Directors who are experts in finance and are acquainted with the financial work of the institute. So, both I and II follow.

12. Statements:

Population increase coupled with depleting resources is going to be the scenario of many developing countries in days to come.
Conclusions:
I. The population of developing countries will not continue to increase in future.
II. It will be very difficult for the governments of developing countries to provide its people decent quality of life.

Correct Answer: (b) If only conclusion II follows
Solution:

The fact given in I is quite contrary to the given statement. So, I does not follow. II mentions the direct implications of the state discussed in the statement. Thus, II follows.

13. Statements:

Prime age school-going children in urban India have now become avid as well as more regular viewers of television, even in households without a TV. As a result there has been an alarming decline in the extent of readership of newspapers.
Conclusions: I. Method of increasing the readership of newspapers should be devised.
II. A team of experts should be sent to other countries to study the impact of TV. on the readership of newspapers.

Correct Answer: (c) If neither I nor II follows and
Solution:

The statement concentrates on the increasing viewership of TV and does not stress either on increasing the readership of newspapers or making studies regarding the same. So, neither I nor II follows.

14. Statements:

In Japan, the incidence of stomach cancer is very high, while that of bowel cancer is very low. But Japanese immigrate to Hawaii, this is reversed - the rate of bowel cancer increases but the rate of stomach cancer is reduced in the next generation. All this is related to nutrition - the diets of Japanese in Hawaii are different than those in Japan.
Conclusions:
I. The same diet as in Hawaii should be propagated in Japan also.
II. Bowel cancer is less severe than stomach cancer

Correct Answer: (c) If neither I nor II follows and
Solution:

The statement neither propagates the diet of any of the countries nor compares the two types of cancer. So, neither I nor II follows.

15. Statements:

Monitoring has become an integral part in the planning of social development programmes. It is recommended that Management Information System be developed for all programmes. This is likely to give a feedback on the performance of the functionaries and the efficacy with which services are being delivered.
Conclusions:
I. All the social development programmes should be evaluated.
II. There is a need to monitor the performance of workers.

Correct Answer: (d) If both I and II follow.
Solution:

According to the statement, monitoring and evaluation of social development programmes – their function, performance and efficiency – is absolutely essential. So, both I and II follow.

16. Statements:

In a highly centralised power structure, in which even senior cabinet ministers are prepared to reduce themselves to pathetic countries or yesmen airing views that are primarily intended to anticipate or reflect the Prime Minister's own performances, there can be no place for any consensus that is quite different from real or contrived unanimity of opinion, expressed through a well orchestrated endorsement of the leader's actions.
Conclusions:
I. The Ministers play safe by not giving anti-government views.
II. The Prime Minister does not encourage his colleagues to render their own views.

Correct Answer: (a) If only conclusion I follows
Solution:

According to the statement, even senior cabinet ministers are always ready to conform to the Prime Minister’s views. So, I follows. However, II contradicts the given statement and so does not follow.

17. Statements:

The eligibility for admission to the course is minimum second class Master's degree. However, the candidates who have appeared for the final year examination of Master's degree can also apply.
Conclusions:
I. All candidates who have yet to get their Master's degree will be there in the list of selected candidates.
II. All candidates having obtained second class Master's degree will be there in the list of selected candidates.

Correct Answer: (c) If neither I nor II follows and
Solution:

The statement mentions that the candidates who have obtained second class Master’s degree or have appeared for the final year examination of Master’s degree, can apply for admission. This implies that both types of candidates may be selected on certain grounds. Thus, some candidates of each type and not all candidates of any one type, may be selected. So, neither I nor II follows.

18. Statements:

Applications of applicants who do not fulfill eligibility criteria and/or who do not submit applications before last date will be summarily rejected and will not be called for the written test.
Conclusions:
I. Those who are called for the written test are those who fulfill eligibility criteria and have submitted their applications before last date.
II. Written test will be held only after scrutiny of applications.

Correct Answer: (d) If both I and II follow.
Solution:

The statement clearly mentions that fulfilling the eligibility criteria and submitting the application before the stipulated date are both essential to avoid rejection. So, I follows. Also, since it is given that the candidates whose applications are rejected shall not be called for written test, so II also follows.

19. Statements:

Applications of applicants who do not fulfill eligibility criteria and/or who do not submit applications before last date will be summarily rejected and will not be called for the written test.
Conclusions:
I. Those who are called for the written test are those who fulfill eligibility criteria and have submitted their applications before last date.
II. Written test will be held only after scrutiny of applications.

Correct Answer: (a) If only conclusion I follows
Solution:

The need for separate rating agency for IT companies clearly indicates that such assessment requires a separate set of skills. So, I follows. However, the statement indicates only the need or demand and neither the future course of action nor its after-effects can be judged. So, II does not follow.

20. Statements:

Wind is an inexhaustible source of energy and an aero-generator can convert it into electricity. Though not much has been done in this field, the survey shows that there is vast potential for developing wind as alternative source of energy.
Conclusions:
I. Energy by wind is comparatively newly emerging field.
II. The energy crisis can be dealt by exploring more in the field of aero-generation.

Correct Answer: (d) If both I and II follow.
Solution:

The phrase ‘not much has been done in this field’ indicates that wind energy is a comparatively newly emerging field. So, I follows. The expression ‘there is vast potential for developing wind as alternative source of energy’ proves II to be true.