Tips on Cracking Reasoning Questions on Statements & Arguments

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3 TIPS on cracking Reasoning Questions on
Statements and Arguments
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Classification of Arguments

• Strong Argument Strong arguments are those which
  are directly related to the statement, do not
  make extra assumptions, are valid and hold true.
• Weak Argument Weak arguments are those which not
  related to the statement directly, may make
  unjustifiable assumptions, are false, vague or
  invalid.
• Example
• Statement Are nuclear families better than joint
  families?
• Arguments
• No. Joint families ensure security and also
  reduce the burden of work.
• Yes. Nuclear families ensure greater freedom.
• With so many people around in a joint family,
  there is more security. Also, work is shared.
  Again, in nuclear families, there are lesser
  number of people and so lesser responsibilities
  and more freedom. Both arguments are Strong.

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Tip 1 Arguments with unjustifiable assumptions
are weak
Statement Should the education at all levels be
offered only in vernacular medium? Arguments (I)
Yes. This is the only way to enhance performance
of the students. (II) No. This
will severely affect acquiring knowledge for want
of good text books in vernacular medium. A. Only
argument I is strong B. Only argument II is
strong C. Either I or II is strong D. Neither I
nor II is strong E. Both I and II are
strong Solution In (I) it is assumed that
offering education in vernacular is the only way
to enhance performance of the students. But, this
assumption is not justifiable. Hence (I) is weak.
Argument (II) is strong since offering books in
English or other languages would open up more
avenues for Students. So the correct answer is
B. Statement Should girls learn arts like judo
and karate? Arguments (I) Yes. It will enable
them to defend themselves from rogues and
ruffians. (II) No. They will lose their
feminine grace. Solution Learning martial arts
is necessary for girls for self defense. So,
argument (I) is strong. In argument (II), it is
assumed without justification that martial arts
will impact feminine grace. Thus, the answer will
be A.
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Tip 2 If an argument is not scientific or
contradicts your general knowledge or goes
against research by reputed organizations, it is
weak
Statement Should books by only deserving
authors be published? Arguments (I) Yes. It
will save a lot of paper which is in short
supply. (II) No. It is not possible to draw a
line between the deserving and the
undeserving. A. Only argument I is strong B.
Only argument II is strong C. Either I or II is
strong D. Neither I nor II is strong E. Both I
and II are strong Solution Argument (I) says
that paper is in short supply. But, this is not
something we have ever heard in the news. It is
contradictory to our general knowledge and is
therefore weak. Argument (II) is a strong
argument because establishing committees to
control the publishing of books would be against
freedom of speech. Such committees would also be
partial and have their own agendas. So the
correct answer is B.
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Tip 3 Arguments that are illogical and
unrelated to the statement are weak.

• Statement Should all the school teachers be
  debarred from giving private tuitions?
• Arguments
• No. The needy students will be deprived of the
  expertise of these teachers.
• Yes. This is an injustice to the unemployed
  educated people who can earn their living by
  giving tuitions.
• Yes. Only then the quality of teaching in schools
  will improve.
• Yes. Now salary of these teachers is reasonable.
• A. Only I and III are strong B. Only I, II and
  III are strong
• C .Only III and IV are strong D. Only II, III
  and IV are strong E. None of these
• Solution
• Argument (I) is weak because needy students will
  not be deprived of their education in schools, if
  those teachers also offer private tuitions on the
  side.
• Argument (II) is weak because other unemployed
  individuals can also hold private tuitions if
  they are capable of doing so.
• Argument (III) is strong. There could be a
  tendency for teachers to reduce their efforts in
  schools to encourage more students to join their
  private tuition classes.
• Argument (IV) is weak. By what standards can
  anyone decide to stop a worker from seeking
  further employment by deciding that their salary
  is already reasonable?
• Thus, the correct answer is E.

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