Directions for Questions: Below is given a passage followed by several…
2025
Directions for Questions: Below is given a passage followed by several possible inferences which can be drawn from the facts stated in the passage. You have to examine each inference separately in the context of the passage and decide upon its degree of truth or falsity.
Passage:
Economic liberalization and globalization have put pressures on Indian industry, particularly on the service sector, to offer quality products and services at low costs and with high speed.
Organizations have to compete with unequal partners from abroad. It is well recognized that developing countries like India are already behind other countries technologically, in many areas, although some of them particularly India, boast of huge scientific and technical manpower. In addition to this, if an entrepreneur or industrialist has to spend a lot of his time, money and energy in dealing with unpredictable services and in negotiating with the local bureaucracy, it can have a significant dampening effect on business.
Inference:
Official formalities are less cumbersome in almost all the countries except India.
- A.
If the inference is definitely true, i.e. it properly follows from the statement of facts given.
- B.
If the inference is ‘probably true’ though not ‘definitely true’ in the light of the facts given.
- C.
If the data are in adequate, i.e. from the facts given cannot say whether the inference is likely to be true or false.
- D.
If the inference is probably false, though not ‘definitely false’ in the light of the facts given.
Attempted by 2 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Concept:
In a Statement-and-Inference item, a claim can be called 'definitely true' or 'definitely false' only when the passage directly states or logically forces that exact conclusion. It is 'probably true/false' when the passage gives a leaning signal without full certainty. It is 'data inadequate' when the passage is simply silent on the specific point the inference makes -- neither confirming nor pointing away from it.
Application:
The passage discusses pressures on Indian industry from liberalization, competition with technologically stronger foreign partners, and the time, money, and energy an entrepreneur loses negotiating with India's own local bureaucracy. None of this states or implies anything about how official formalities work in any specific country other than India. The inference under test claims that formalities are less cumbersome in almost all countries except India -- a broad comparison across many other nations that the passage never makes.
Cross-check:
Even granting that Indian bureaucracy is shown to be burdensome, that is a statement about India alone; it gives no signal, positive or negative, about formalities elsewhere. Because the passage supplies no comparative information for the 'almost all other countries' claim, the inference can be judged as neither true nor false -- the data given is inadequate to decide it either way.