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: (A) If only argument I is strong (B) If only argument II is strong (C) If either I or II is strong (D) If neither I nor II is strong (E) If both I and II are strong.
Statement: Should higher education be completely stopped for some time?
Arguments:
1. No. It will hamper the country's future progress.
2. Yes. It will reduce the educated unemployment
Answer: A
Clearly, higher education is not the cause of unemployment. In fact, it has created greater job opportunities. So, argument II is vague. Also, higher education promotes the country's development. So, argument I holds
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Statement: Should colleges be given the status of a university in India?
Arguments:
1. Yes. Colleges are in a better position to assess the student's performance and therefore the degrees will be more valid.
2. No. It is Utopian to think that there will not be nepotism and corruption in awarding degrees by colleges.
Answer: D
Clearly, at the college level, all the students are assessed according to their performance in the University Exams and not on the basis of any criteria of a more intimate dealings with the students. So, argument I is vague. Also, at this level the awarding of degrees is impartial and simply based on his performance. So, argument II also does not hold
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Statement: Should adult education programme be given priority over compulsory education programme?
Arguments:
1. No. It will also help in success of compulsory education programme.
2. Yes. It will help to eliminate the adult illiteracy
Answer: B
Clearly, argument I gives a reason in support of the statement and so it does not hold strong against it. The adult education programme needs to be given priority because it shall eliminate adult illiteracy and thus help in further spread of education. So, only argument II is strong enough.
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Statement: Should the railways in India be privatized in a phased manner like other public sector enterprises?
Arguments:
1. Yes. This is the only way to bring in competitiveness and provide better services to the public.
2. No. This will pose a threat to the national security of our country as multinationals will enter into the fray
Answer: D
Privatization would no doubt lead to better services. But saying that this is the 'only way' is wrong. So, argument I does not hold. Argument II also seems to be vague
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Statement: Should there be no place of interview in selection?
Arguments:
1. Yes, it is very subjective in assessment.
2. No. It is the only instrument to judge candidates' motives and personality.
Answer: A
Clearly, besides interview, there can be other modes of written examination to judge candidates' motives. So argument II is not strong enough. However, the interview is a subjective assessment without doubt. So, argument I holds.
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Statement: Does India need so many plans for development?
Arguments:
1. Yes. Nothing can be achieved without proper planning.
2. No. Too much time, money and energy is wasted on planning
Answer: A
Before indulging in new development programme it is much necessary to plan the exact target, policies and their implementation and the allocation of funds which shows the right direction to work. So, argument I holds strong. Also, planning ensures full utilization of available resources and funds and stepwise approach towards the target. So, spending a part of money on it is no wastage. Thus, argument II is not valid
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Statement: Should 'computer knowledge' be made a compulsory subject for all the students at secondary school level?
Arguments:
1. No, our need is 'bread' for everyone, we cannot follow western models.
2. Yes. We cannot compete in the international market without equipping our children with computers
Answer: B
Nowadays, computers have entered all walks of life and children need to be prepared for the same. So, argument II is strong. Argument I holds no relevance
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Statement: Should religion be banned?
Arguments:
1. Yes. It develops fanaticism in people.
2. No, Religion binds people together
Answer: C
Religion binds people together through the name of God and human values. But at the same time it may create differences and ill-will among people. So, either of the arguments holds strong.
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Statement: Should India encourage exports, when most things are insufficient for internal use itself?
Arguments:
1. Yes. We have to earn foreign exchange to pay for our imports.
2. No. Even selective encouragement would lead to shortages.
Answer: A
Clearly, India can export only the surplus and that which can be saved after fulfilling its own needs, to pay for its imports. Encouragement to export cannot lead to shortages as it shall provide the resources for imports. So, only argument I holds.
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Is paying ransom or agreeing to the conditions of kidnappers of political figures, a proper course of action?
Arguments:
1. Yes. The victims must be saved at all cost.
2. No. It encourages the kidnappers to continue their sinister activities.
Answer: E
Both the arguments are strong enough. The conditions have to be agreed to, in order to save the life of the victims, though actually they ought not to be agreed to, as they encourage the sinister activities of the kidnappers.
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