Directions : Amid mounting pressure over the Centre to postpone the CBSE Board…
2023
Directions : Amid mounting pressure over the Centre to postpone the CBSE Board exams scheduled for next month, Prime Minister will hold a meeting with Education Minister and other important officials at 12 pm to discuss the issue. The government is likely to consider postponing the exams as Covid-19 cases continue to rise across states. Several state governments and Opposition leaders such as Arvind Kejriwal and Rahul Gandhi have been appealing to the Centre to postpone board exams.
Q. Which of the following substantiates the demand raised by Opposition leaders?
(I) Several crowded markets in many states have been closed after Covid-19 guidelines.
(II) Many state governments have postponed the state board exams for X and XII classes as cases of Covid 19 continue to rise.
(III) Cases has been rising but elections in many states are conducted.
Answer: C. Only I and II — ConceptTo "substantiate" a demand means to provide evidence or reasoning that strengthens and supports it. A valid supporting statement must point in the SAME…
- A.
Only II and III
- B.
Only III
- C.
Only I and II
- D.
Only I and III
- E.
All of these
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Concept
To "substantiate" a demand means to provide evidence or reasoning that strengthens and supports it. A valid supporting statement must point in the SAME direction as the demand; a statement that highlights a contradiction or offers a counter-example does not support the demand even if it is on the same topic.
The demand
The Opposition leaders are demanding that the CBSE board exams be postponed because Covid-19 cases are rising. So a supporting statement must give a reason WHY postponing the exams is justified.
Evaluating each statement
(I) Crowded markets have been closed under Covid-19 guidelines. This shows the authorities are already restricting large gatherings to curb the spread. Since an exam also gathers many students together, the same precaution justifies postponing it. This SUPPORTS the demand.
(II) Many state boards have already postponed the Class X and XII exams as cases rise. This is a direct precedent: if other boards postponed for the same reason, it strengthens the case for postponing the CBSE exams too. This SUPPORTS the demand.
(III) Cases are rising but elections in many states are still being conducted. This points to gatherings being permitted elsewhere; it raises a contradiction rather than backing the call to postpone exams. It does NOT support the demand to postpone.
Conclusion
Only statements (I) and (II) substantiate the demand to postpone the exams, so the supporting set is "Only I and II".