Directions: Two statements, I and II, are given below. These statements may be…
2025
Directions: Two statements, I and II, are given below. These statements may be either independent causes, or one statement may be the cause and the other its effect, or both statements may be effects of independent causes. Read both statements and decide which option correctly describes the relationship between them.
Statements:
I. The prices of petrol and diesel in the domestic market have remained unchanged for the past few months.
II. The crude oil prices in the international market have gone up substantially in the last few months.
- A.
Statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect
- B.
Statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect
- C.
Both the statements I and II are independent causes
- D.
Both the statements I and II are effects of independent causes
Attempted by 4 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Concept
In statement-based cause-and-effect reasoning, two given statements can relate in three ways — (1) one statement directly causes the other, (2) both statements are themselves independent causes, each producing some other, unstated effect, or (3) both statements are themselves effects produced by two separate, independent underlying causes, with neither statement causing the other.
Application
Domestic petrol and diesel prices staying unchanged over the past few months is the outcome of domestic pricing and policy factors, while crude oil prices rising substantially in the international market over the same months is the outcome of separate global supply-and-demand forces. Neither event produces the other: a flat domestic price cannot push up global crude, and a rising international price would normally raise domestic fuel prices rather than leave them unchanged — so this is not a direct cause-effect pair, and both statements are themselves effects.
Cross-check
Ruling out the other options confirms this:
Statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect — fails because a stagnant domestic price cannot drive up international crude prices.
Statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect — fails because a rising international price would normally raise domestic prices, not leave them unchanged.
Both statements I and II are independent causes — fails because this fits only when the statements are themselves the originating events with some other unstated effect; here each statement already describes an outcome, not an originating cause.
Since the domestic price freeze and the international price rise are each the outcome of separate, unrelated drivers, both statements I and II are effects of independent causes.