Assertion (A) : The purpose of higher education is to promote critical and…
2016
Assertion (A) : The purpose of higher education is to promote critical and creative thinking abilities among students. Reason (R) : These abilities ensure job placements. Choose the correct answer from the following code :
Answer: B. Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A). — ConceptAn assertion–reason item tests two separate questions: whether each statement is true, and, if both are true, whether the reason explains why the…
- A.
Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
- B.
Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
- C.
(A) is true but (R) is false.
- D.
(A) is false but (R) is true.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Concept
An assertion–reason item tests two separate questions: whether each statement is true, and, if both are true, whether the reason explains why the assertion holds.
A true reason is not automatically an explanation. The explanatory link must show that the reason is the basis or cause of the assertion, not merely a related outcome.
Application
The assertion identifies the development of critical and creative thinking as a purpose of higher education. That is a recognised intellectual aim of higher education.
The official final key treats the reason as true in the exam's intended sense: critical and creative thinking materially supports employability and placement outcomes. Read literally, however, ‘ensure’ is stronger than the evidence warrants because no ability alone guarantees a job. The keyed classification follows the official exam convention, and the reason still does not explain why higher education should cultivate these abilities.
Contrast
Treating the reason as the correct explanation confuses a possible employment outcome with the underlying purpose of cultivating higher-order thinking.
Treating the reason as false conflicts with the official key's acceptance of the employability link.
Treating the assertion as false conflicts with the recognised role of higher education in developing critical and creative thinking.
Cross-check
The official UGC NET July 2016 key accepts the truth-value combination in which both statements are true but the reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion.