SBI Reasoning Questions – Page 4

Directions (Q. 1 – 20): Each question given below is followed 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.
Give answer (a) if only argument I is strong
(b) if only argument II is strong
(c) if either I or II is strong
(d) if neither I nor II is strong; and
(e) if both I and II are strong.

1. Statement: Should a total ban be put on trapping wild animals?
Arguments: I. Yes. Trappers are making a lot of money.
II. No. Bans on hunting and trapping are not effective.

2. Statement: Should military service be made compulsory in our country?
Arguments: I. No. It is against the policy of non-violence.
II. Yes. Every citizen should protect his country.

3. Statement: Should all the remote parts of a country be connected by road?
Arguments: I. No. It will disturb peaceful simple life of the villagers.
II. Yes.It must be done immediately.

4. Statement: Should government jobs in rural areas have more incentives?
Arguments: I. Yes. Incentives are essential for attracting government servants there.
II. No. Rural areas are already cheaper, healthier and less complex than big towns. So, why offer extra incentives!

5. Statement: Should religion be taught in our schools?
Arguments: I. No.Ours is a secular state.
II. Yes. Teaching religion helps inculcate moral values among children.

6. Statement: Should non-vegetarian food be totally banned in our country?
Arguments: I. Yes. It is expensive and therefore beyond the means of
most people in our country.
II. No. Nothing should be banned in a democratic country.

7. Statement: Should films be included in the Concurrent List?
Arguments: I. Yes. It will give respect to the views of the states.
II. No. It will deteriorate the standards of films.

8. Statement: Should there be only one university throughout
India?
Arguments: I. Yes. This is the only way to bring about uniformity in educational standards.
II. No. This is administratively impossible.

9. Statement: Should mercy death be legalised?
Arguments: I. Yes. Patients undergoing terrible suffering and having
absolutely no chance of recovery should be liberated from suffering through mercydeath.
II. No. Even mercy death is a sort of killing and killing can never be legalised.

10. Statement: Should there be a world government?
Arguments: I. Yes. It will help in eliminating tensions among
the nations.
II. No. Then only the developed countries will dominate in the government.

11. Statement: Can pollution be controlled?
Arguments: I. Yes. If every one realizes the hazard if may create and
cooperates to be rid of it, pollution may be controlled.
II. No. The crowded highways, factories and industries and an ever-growing population eager to acquire more and more land for
constructing houses are beyond control.

12. Statement: Should there be no place for interview in selection?
Arguments: I. Yes. It is very subjective in assessment.
II. No. It is the only instrument to judge the candidates’ motives and personality.

13. Statement: Should private companies be allowed to operate air
services in India?
Arguments: I. Yes. Indian private managements usually give better
services.
II. No. We should not ape the western countries.

14. Statement: Should computers be used in all possible sectors in India?
Arguments: I. Yes. It will bring efficiency and accuracy in the work.
II. No. It will be an injustice to the monumental human resources which are at present under utilised.

15. Statement: Should India go in for computerisation in industry?
Arguments:I. No.Computerisationdemands a lot of money. We should not
waste money on it.
II. Yes. When advanced countries are introducing computers in various
areas, how can we afford to lag behind?

16. Statement: Should so much money be spent on games and sports?
Arguments: I. Yes. We are a rich nation and can easily spare any
amount of money for games and sports.
II. No. Our teams are unable to put up a good show in international competitions.

17. Statement: Should workers be allowed to participate in the management of factories in India?
Arguments: I. Yes. It is the present management theory.
II. No. Many workers are illiterate and, so, their contributions will not be of any value.

18. Statement: Should women be provided more job opportunities?
Arguments: I. No. They are entrusted with household world.
II. Yes. They should also go into the outside world.

KEY
1 –d, 2 – d, 3 – d, 4 – e, 5 – b, 6 – d, 7 –d, 8 – b, 9 – e, 10 – e,
11 – e,12 – e, 13 – a, 14 – e, 15 – d, 16 – d, 17 – d, 18 – b.

Answers with Explanations
1 – d, None is strong. If trappers make money, they should not be stopped solely on this ground. And if bans are not effective, then care should be taken to enforce them strictly instead of not banning at all.

2 – d, If non-violence is that strong a principle then we should not have any army either?! Second argument lacks proper relation. None is strong.

3 – d, None is strong. I is rejected because it may not happen. II is rejected because it is too simple and does not have argumentative
substance.

4 – e, Both are strong. Incentives do lure people. Second is also an established fact.

5 – b, Second is strong. First is not very clear. If the state is secular, it means it is against religious bias but not against religion as such. Second is in consonance with the prevailing notions of truth.

6 – d, Both are weak. It is for the people to decide whether they want to eat, expensive food. A ban should not be enforced upon them. Second is weak because if is not an acceptable truth. Nobody has said that “democratic” means a country where nothing could be banned, however, harmful it was.

7 –d, Both are weak. First is weak as it is not sure that including films in concurrent list would give respect to people’s views. Second will not follow, hence it is weak.

8 – b, Second is strong. First is weak because it is not correct. Second is perhaps correct,
on logical thinking.

9 – e, Both are strong. They mention a positive and a negative feature of mercy death; both these features are desirable/ harmful
respectively and both are related with important aspects of the topic of mercy death.

10 – e, Both are strong. On logical thinking both look probable, both are desirable and both touch significant aspects of the issue.

11 – e, Both are strong. Although both arguments contradict each other, yet both are based upon sound assumptions or facts and hence, independently, both are strong.

12 – e, I is strong as a subjective mode of selection is not desirable. II is of course, right.

13 – a, First is strong as it is based upon an established fact. Second is based upon example; hence it is a weak argument.

14 – e, Both are strong. Using computer does have the positive feature as mentioned in I but the negative feature as mentioned in II.

15 – d, None is strong. We do not ‘waste’ money if we invest in computers. The second is based upon example.

16 – d, None is strong. It is not true that we are a rich nation. Similarly, the reasons mentioned in the second are not sufficient
to put a stop on money-spending.

17 – d, None is strong. First is based upon example. Second says that many workers are illiterate. What about the remaining ones who are illiterate and whose suggestions will be of some value?

18 – b, Second is strong. First is not because it is not a sufficient reason to withhold them from going out.

Directions (Q. 1 – 10): In each question below is given a statement followed by two assumptions numbered I and II. An assumption is something supposed or taken for granted. You have to consider the statement and the following assumptions and decide which of the assumptions is implicit in the statement.
Give answer (a) if only assumption I is implicit
(b) if only assumption II is implicit
(c) if either assumption I or II is implicit
(d) if neither assumption I nor II is implicit; and
(e) if both I and II are implicit.

1. Statement: The boy is too honest not to speak the truth.
Assumptions: I. Very honest boys also tell lies.
II. Dishonest boys also speak the truth.

2. Statement: “X air-conditioner – the largestselling name with the largest range” – an advertisement.
Assumptions : I. X air-conditioner is the only one with wide variations.
II. There is a demand for air-conditioners in the market.

3. Statement: “To buy an X TV, contact Y, the sole agent of X TV.” – an advertisement.
Assumptions: I. People generally prefer to buy TV through sole agent.
II. The TV – producing companies do not sell their products directly.

4. Statement : Opening a library in Rambli will be a wastage.
Assumptions: I. In habitants of Rambli are illiterate.
II. Inhabitants of Rambli are not interested in reading.

5. Statement : It is through participative management policy alone that indiscipline in our industries can be contained and a quality of life ensured to the worker.
Assumptions: I. Quality of life in our industry is better.
II. Indiscipline results in a poor quality of life.

6. Statement: Please consult me before making any decision on exports from the company.
Assumptions: I. You may take a wrong decision if you don’t consult me.
II. It is important to take a right decision.

7. Statement: Warning : Cigarette smoking is injurious to health.
Assumptions: I. Non – smoking promotes health.
II. Really, this warning is not necessary.

8. Statement: Children are influenced more by their teachers nowadays.
Assumptions: I. The children consider teachers as their models.
II. A large amount of children’s time is spent at school.

9. Statement: Apart from the entertainment value of television, its educational value cannot be ignored.
Assumptions: I. People take television to be a means of entertainment
only.
II. The educational value of television is not realised properly.

10. Statement: “If you trouble me, I will slap you.” – A mother warns her child.
Assumptions: I. With the warning, the child may stop troubling her.
II. All children are basically naughty.

Directions (Q. 11 – 15): A statement is given followed by several assumptions. An assumption is something assumed or taken for granted. Read the statement carefully and decide which of the assumptions are implicit in the statement.

11. Statement: “If he does not mend his ways, I will call the police”.
Assumptions: I. He may mend his ways.
II.The police may help me.
III. He has been making hoax calls to me.
a) I and II are implicit
b) II and III are implicit
c) I and III are implicit
d) All are implicit
e) Only II is implicit

12. Statement: “Do not touch stray objects. They may be bombs.” – a notice by the City Police.
Assumptions: I. Stray objects are harmless.
II. Stray objects may be touched by people.
III. People will take notice of the warning.
a) I and II are implicit
b) I and III are implicit
c) II and III are implicit
d) I and either II or III are implicit
e) At least one of the above is implicit

13. Statement: “ I think that she has gone mad. Last night I saw her barking like a dog.” – A tells B about Madhu.
Assumptions : I. Madhu is a friend of A.
II. B knows Madhu.
III. Some people do not bark like dogs.
a) I and II are implicit
b) II and III are implicit
c) I and III are implicit
d) All are implicit
e) Either I or II and III are implicit

14. Statement: “The prices should fall after May. By that time the demand of foodgrains starts dropping.” – an economist
Assumptions : I. Price will not fall before May.
II. The economist is in link with farmers of the country.
III. A drop in demand (of foodgrains) will result in a drop in supply (of foodgrains).
a) Only I is implicit
b) Only II is implicit
c) Only III is implicit
d) II and III are implicit
e) None is implicit

15. Statement: “The Finance Commission must grant more funds to our state. After all, we are the biggest suppliers of ores to the rest of
India.” the CM of a state.
Assumptions : I. The Finance Commission is not in a mood to grant
more funds to the state.
II. More funds should be given to states that supply ores.
III. The Chief Minister has already written to the Finance Commission asking for more funds.
a) I and II are implicit
b) II and III are implicit
c) I and III are implicit
d) Only III is implicit
e) Only II is implicit

KEY
1 –d, 2 – b, 3 – a, 4 – d, 5 – d, 6 – e, 7 –d, 8 – a, 9 – e, 10 – a, 11 – a, 12 – c, 13 – b, 14 – a, 15 – e

Answers with Explanations

1 – d, None of them is implicit. The statement only implies that if a boy is very honest it would not be possible for him to speak a lie. But I is just the opposite of it. Assumption II is not implicit because the statement does not talk about ‘dishonest’ boys.

2 – b, X air-conditioner has the largest range. But this does not mean that it is the only brand to have a wide range. So I is not
implicit. But II is. If air-conditioners are being advertised, a demand for them must be existing.

3 – a, “Sole agent” is the highlight of the advertisement. So I is implicit. But II is not.

4 – d, None is implicit. The statement only says that opening a library in Rambli would be a wastage. But it does not say why? I and II are only guesses. Maybe, opening a library in Rambli is a wastage
because there is already a library there.

5 – d, 6 – e, 7 – d,

8 – a, Children must be considering their teachers as role models, otherwise there is no reason why they would be influenced by them. Hence I is implicit. II is not directly stated. It may or may not
be true.

9 – e,

10 – a, When mother gives warning to the child she must be assuming that her warning would be successful. II is not relevant to the statement made by the mother.

11 – a, The word ‘if’ implies that both are equally probable: he may mind his ways and he may not mind his ways. Also, the person is depending upon police, so he must be assuming that the police will help. III is not certain: it is not told as to exactly how he harasses the speaker.

12 – c, I is just the opposite of what the notice intends to say. Of course, the City Police must have assumed – while giving such a notice – that (i) people tend to touch stray objects and that (ii) they would hesitate in doing so after reading the notice.

13 – b, Since A is telling B about Madhu in a matter-of-fact tone, this much may be assumed that both of them know Madhu. But it is not certain whether this acquaintance is to the extent of friendship. Hence I is not implicit while II is. III, of course, is the whole logic on the basis of which A reaches his conclusion.

14 – a, When the economist says that prices should fall after May because then demand starts dropping, it appears as if demand remains heavy till then and, as if, therefore, prices might not drop before May. So, I is implicit. II again may or may not be true. And moreover, it has nothing to do with the statement. Similarly, III has nothing to do with the statement, although it may be true.

15 – e, II is of course the basis on which the CM is demanding more funds. I may or may not be true: enough indications are not given in the CM’s statement. The same is true of III as well.

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