Each question given below consists of a statement, followed by two arguments numbered I and II. You have to decide which of the arguments is a 'strong' argument and which is a 'weak' argument.
Give answer:
Statement: Should the persons below the age of 18 years be allowed to join armed forces?
Arguments:
1. No. Persons below the age of 18 do not attain both physical and mental maturity to shoulder such burden.
2. Yes. This will help the country develop its armed forces which will serve the country for a longer time.
Answer: A
The armed forces must consist of physically strong and mentally mature individuals to take care of defence properly. So, argument I holds strong. Clearly, argument II holds no relevance
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Statement: Should all the infrastructural development projects in India be handed over to the private sector?
Arguments:
1. No. The private sector entities are hot equipped to handle such projects.
2. Yes. Such projects are handled by private sector in the developed countries
Answer: D
Clearly, such projects if handed over to the private sector shall be given to a competent authority. So, argument I is vague. Also, imitating a policy on the basis that it worked out successfully in other countries holds no relevance. Thus, argument II also does not hold strong
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Statement: Should the education at all levels be offered only in vernacular medium?
Arguments:
1. Yes. This is the only way to enhance performance of the students.
2. No. This will severely affect acquiring knowledge for want of good text books in vernacular medium.
Answer: B
Teaching in vernacular medium would surely make it easy for students to grasp. But the use of 'only' in argument I makes if invalid. Also, teaching in international language would open up more avenues for students - in procuring books and study material, in going abroad for studies as well as taking up jobs which require interaction with people of different nationalities. So, argument II holds strong
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Statement: Should there be only one rate of interest for term deposits of varying durations in banks?
Arguments:
1. No. People will refrain from keeping money for longer duration resulting into reduction of liquidity level of banks.
2. Yes. This will be much simple for the common people and they may be encouraged to keep more money in banks.
Answer: A
Clearly, the proposed scheme would discourage people from keeping deposits for longer durations (the rate of interest being the same for short durations) and not draw in more funds. So, only argument I holds
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Statement: Should all news be controlled by Government in a democracy?
Arguments:
1. Yes. Variety of news only confuses people.
2. No. Controlled news loses credibility.
Answer: B
Clearly, the variety of news helps people to develop their own views. So, argument I is vague. Also, controlled news shall be a partial produce. So, it loses credibility Thus, argument II holds.
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Statement: Should taxes on colour television be further increased?
Arguments:
1. Yes, Colour television is a luxury item and only rich people buy them.
2. No, Televisions are bought by the poor too
Answer: D
Clearly, taxes on an item cannot be increased or decreased on the basis of the financial position of the people who buy it. So, both arguments I and II do not hold strong
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Statement: Should girls learn arts like judo and karate?
Arguments:
1. Yes. It will enable them to defend themselves from rogues and ruffians.
2. No. They will lose their feminine grace
Answer: A
Learning martial arts is necessary for girls for self-defence. So, argument I holds. However, argument II is vague since a training in these arts has nothing to do with their feminine grace.
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Statement: Should India develop a national water grid by connecting all the rivers in the country?
Arguments:
1. No. This is not just possible as we do not have the technical knowhow.
2. Yes, this will greatly help the entire country by effectively channelizing the excess water to the areas having shortage.
Answer: B
A single network of all the rivers in the country would surely enable a good distribution of water to all areas, So, argument II holds strong. Also, a policy beneficial to the nation cannot be hindered owing to lack of knowhow. Ways can be devised to build up such a network. So, argument I is vague
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Statement: Should individuals/institutes having treasures of national significance like Nobel Prizes, hand them over to the Central Government for their safe custody?
Arguments:
1. Yes. The individuals or institutions do not have enough resources to protect them.
2. No. These are the property of the individuals/institutions who win them and should be in their custody
Answer: B
Clearly, the awards are given for individual excellence and perfection. So, only argument II holds strong.
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Statement: Should there be reservation of seats and posts on communal basis?
Arguments:
1. Yes. It will check most of the inter-communal biases.
2. No, ours is a secular state.
Answer: B
Clearly, reservations on communal basis will increase inter-communal biases. So, argument I is vague. Also it will be against the secular policy, according to which no communal group is given preference over the others. So, only argument II holds.
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