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: Is pen mightier than a sword?
Arguments:
1. Yes. Writers influence the thinking of the people.
2. No. With the help of physical force one can conquer all.
Answer: A
Physical force can accomplish a task by compulsion, while the influential writings can mould the thinking of an individual and change his discretion into accomplishing the task wilfully. So, only argument I holds strong
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Statement: Should the sex determination test during pregnancy be completely banned?
Arguments:
1. Yes. This leads to indiscriminate female foeticide and eventually will lead to social imbalance.
2. No. People have a right to know about their unborn child
Answer: A
Parents indulging in sex determination of their unborn child generally do so as they want to only a boy child and do away with a girl child. So, argument I holds. Also, people have a right to know only about the health, development and general well-being of the child before its birth, and not the sex. So, argument II does not hold strong
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Statement: Should India create a huge oil reserve like some Western countries to face difficult situations in future?
Arguments:
1. No. There is no need to block huge amount of foreign exchange and keep the money idle.
2. Yes. This will help India withstand shocks of sudden rise in oil prices due to unforeseen circumstances
Answer: B
Oil, being an essential commodity, our country must keep it in reserve. So, argument I is vague, while argument II holds as it provides a substantial reason for the same
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Statement: Should there be more than one High Court in each state in India?
Arguments:
1. No. This will be a sheer wastage of taxpayers' money.
2. Yes. This will help reduce the backlog of cases pending for a very long time
Answer: B
Clearly, an increase in the number of High Courts will surely speed up the work and help to do away with the pending cases. So, argument II holds strong. In light of this, the expenditure incurred would be 'utilization', not 'wastage' of money. So, argument I does not hold
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Statement: Should the vehicles older than 15 years be rejected in metros in India?
Arguments:
1. Yes. This is a significant step to lower down the pollution level in metros.
2. No. It will be very difficult for vehicle owners to shift to other parts in country because they will not get suitable job for their very existence.
Answer: A
Clearly, 15 year old vehicles are not Euro-compliant and hence cause much more pollution than the recent ones. So, argument I holds. Argument II is vague since owners of these vehicles need not shift themselves. They might sell off their vehicles and buy new ones - a small price which every citizen can afford for a healthy environment
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Statement: Should the tuition fees in all post-graduate courses be hiked considerably?
Arguments:
1. Yes. This will bring in some sense of seriousness among the students and will improve the quality.
2. No. This will force the meritorious poor students to stay away from post-graduate courses.
Answer: B
A hike in fees is no means to make the students more serious in studies. So, argument I is vague. However, with the increase in fees, poor meritorious students would not be able to afford post-graduate studies. So, argument II holds.
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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 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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