Consider the given statements true and decide which of the conclusions…
2024
Consider the given statements true and decide which of the conclusions logically follow(s) from the information given in the statement.
Statement:
1) Today higher education is very expensive.
2) Middle-class people are not willing to join in higher education.
Conclusions:
1) Government has taken prospective actions to regulate higher studies and make them reasonable for all.
2) Middle-class people do not need to study higher education.
- A.
Conclusion I follows
- B.
Conclusion II follows
- C.
Both conclusions I and II follow
- D.
Neither conclusion I nor II follows
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Concept: In Statement-and-Conclusion reasoning, a conclusion "follows" only when it is a direct logical implication of the given statements — using strictly the information stated, without assuming external facts, common knowledge, or hidden causes. A conclusion that introduces new information not present in the statements, or subtly changes the meaning of a statement's wording, does not follow.
Application:
Conclusion I introduces new information — that the "Government has taken prospective actions to regulate higher studies". This government-policy stance is not stated anywhere in Statement 1 or Statement 2, which only report that education is expensive and that middle-class people are unwilling to join it. So Conclusion I does not follow.
Conclusion II subtly changes the meaning of the statement. Statement 2 says middle-class people are "not willing to join" higher education — the reason for that unwillingness is not stated, and could plausibly be the expense noted in Statement 1. Concluding that they "do not need" higher education adds a reason (lack of need) that is never stated. So Conclusion II does not follow either.
Cross-check (each option, by value):
"Conclusion I follows" wrongly assumes an unstated government policy action.
"Conclusion II follows" wrongly reinterprets "unwillingness" as "no need".
"Both conclusions I and II follow" combines both unsupported assumptions above.
Since neither conclusion is a strict logical implication of the two statements, "Neither conclusion I nor II follows" is correct.
Additional tips:
If two or more sentences are used to frame a statement, the sentences must be interrelated, and there should be no mutual contradiction.
Do not look for real-world truthfulness — the information given in the statement is the only basis for answering; make no outside assumptions.
Read the statement carefully and look for keywords common between the statement and the conclusions.
If more than one conclusion applies to the statement, ensure the conclusions chosen are consistent with each other.