1. The head of the NCAER was quoted as saying that the Consumer Price Index (CL) will go
down next month because of a recent drop in the price of petrol and steel.
Which of the following cannot be inferred from the statement?
a) The cost of petrol and steel has gone down sharply.
b) Consumption of petrol and steel has gone up.
c) Petrol and steel are major items in the CPI.
d) The changes in the cost of petrol is reflected quickly in the CPI.
2. “There has been a high incidence of traffic accident related deaths last year.” Hence, the
chairman of the CBDT suggested that excise taxes on cars and automobiles should not be
reduced as planned by the government.
Which of the above statements weakens the argument above?
a) Although there was a high incidence of traffic accident related deaths last year, it was
not significantly higher than the previous years.
b) Compulsory insurance covered most physical damage to automobiles and property.
c) A Government of India report has shown that the demand for automobiles was highly
inelastic.
d) It was found in a study that an inadequate road network accounted for 30% of the
accidents last year.
3. The Incandescent brand fruit juice claims to be the most original fruit juice available on the
market today. To prove this claim, the company marketing Incandescent called 10 people and
asked them about their thoughts on fruit juices available on the market today. Nine of them
stated that they unequivocally drink Incandescent brand fruit juices on a regular basis because
it is closest to the taste of real fruits.
Which of the following would most weaken this argument?
a) The Incandescent brand fruit juice is highly addictive.
b) The 10 people called were related closely to top executives of the company.
c) Most people prefer cola drinks to fruit juices. Here, Incandescent is a poor third to Coke
and Pepsi.
d) The 10 people were selected at random.
4. For the above question, which of the options actually strengthen the argument?
a) (a) and (b)
b) (c) and (d)
c) (d) only
d) (a) and (d)
5. Chewing tobacco has many benefits. However, the primary benefits occur in the area of
mental health. The habit originates in a search for contentment. The life expectancy of our
people has increased greatly in recent years; it is possible that the relaxation and contentment
and enjoyment produced by tobacco chewing has lengthened many lives. Hence, Chewing
Tobacco is beneficial.
Which of the following, if true, would weaken the above conclusion?
a) The government earns millions of dollars from the sales of chewing tobaccos
b) The evidence cited in the statement covers only one example of the effects of tobacco
chewing
c) There is as yet no statistical evidence to prove a link between chewing and longevity.
d) None of these.
6. Which of the following if true would best support the above argument?
a)Chewing tobacco has proved to be less harmful than smoking.
b) In a survey of 100 people, it was found that people who chewed tobacco had longer
lives than people who drank Pepsi.
c) A study conducted by the National Institute of Health Research found a link between
chewing tobacco and longevity.
d) Chewing tobacco leads to happier individuals. Happiness is proven to be a cause for
longevity.
7. Many of the junk foods on the market today, doughnuts, burgers and pizza, have less nutrients
than natural foods, which were dominant a decade or two ago. Many nutritionists claim that
pizza and doughnuts give less nourishment than natural foods. A spokesman of a leading junk
food Company—Pizza House —stated recently that an examination of grade-school students
shows less nutritional deficiency than in their parents’ time. Hence, junk foods are not as bad
as made out to be.
Which of the following, if true, would tend to strengthen the view of the spokesman?
a) Grade school children reported eating no breakfast at all.
b) Fewer junk foods were available to the parents.
c) Adults claim to eat junk foods as well as natural foods.
d) Both (b) and (c).
8. My neighbour, Mr. Kohli’s dogs bark and howl every time he lets them outside. My class
teacher told me that dogs tend to bark and howl when they see other dogs eating biscuits
sitting in their owner’s laps. I personally believe they bark and howl because they enjoy
disrupting my meditations.
Which of the following can be inferred from the preceding passage?
a) Mr. Kohli lets out his dogs very often.
b) The dogs are always howling and barking to disturb neighbours.
c) The dogs enjoy being outside.
d) Mr. Kohli’s dogs bark and howl whenever they are outside.
9. The argument for liberalization which answers the worries of the left parties about the
possible trade deficits created by the opening up of the Indian economy goes thus: ‘In today’s
economic scenario, where there are many trading countries, the trade between two specific
countries need not be balanced. The differing demands of goods and services and the differing
productive capabilities of the same among different countries will cause a country like India
to have trade deficits with some countries and surpluses with other countries. On the whole,
the trade deficits and surpluses will balance out in order to give a trade balance’.
Which of the following conclusions best summarises the argument presented in the passage
above?
a) Left parties need not worry about trade deficits in India since its trade will always be in
balance even though it runs a deficit with a single country.
b) India’s trade deficits and surpluses with other countries always balance out.
c) The left parties in India should not be concerned about India’s trade deficits with
specific countries because they will balance out in the long run.
d) None of these.
10. Most citizens are very conscientious about observing a law when they can see the reason
behind it. For instance, there has been very little need to actively enforce the recentlyimplemented
law that increased the penalty for godmen duping people of their money by
playing with their emotions. This is because citizens are very conscientious about duping
someone in the name of religion, as it leaves their religious gurus with a bad name.
Which of the following statements would the author of this passage be most likely to believe?
a) The increased penalty alone is a significant motivation for most citizens to obey the law.
b) There are still too many inconsiderate citizens in the society.
c) Godmen should not be allowed to play with the emotions of the people.
d) Society should make an effort to teach citizens the reasons for its laws.