Directions : In each of the following questions a statement is given, followed…
2024
Directions : In each of the following questions a statement is given, followed by two conclusions. Give answer :
Statement : Most of the Indian States existed before independence.
Conclusion :
I. Some Indian States existed before independence.
II. Some Indian States did not exist before independence.
- A.
Only conclusion I follows.
- B.
Only conclusion II follows.
- C.
Either I or II follows.
- D.
Neither I nor II follows.
Attempted by 2 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Concept
In statement–conclusion reasoning, the quantifier 'most' means a majority — more than half of the group. A conclusion 'follows' only when the statement guarantees it with certainty; a claim that is merely possible does not follow.
Applying it
Statement: 'Most of the Indian States existed before independence.'
Conclusion I — 'Some existed': a majority existing certainly includes at least a few, so this weaker claim is guaranteed and therefore follows.
Conclusion II — 'Some did not exist': 'most' only fixes the majority that did exist and asserts nothing definite about the remainder, which could also have existed; so this is possible but not guaranteed, and does not follow.
Cross-check
'Either I or II' applies only when neither conclusion is individually certain; here the first conclusion is certain, so this verdict does not fit.
'Neither follows' is ruled out because the first conclusion is definitely established.
Hence only the first conclusion is logically valid: Only conclusion I follows.