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 judiciary be independent of the executive?
Arguments:
1. Yes. This would help curb the unlawful activities of the executive.
2. No. The executive would not be able to take bold measures
Answer: A
Clearly, independent judiciary is necessary for impartial judgement so that the Executive does not take wrong measures. So, only argument I holds
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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 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 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 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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