Statement, Conclusion & Course of Action Quiz: Reasoning Practice

Spoilers! These are the Starter quiz’s answers. Easy, Medium, Hard and Mixed rounds show their own answers when you finish.

1. Statement: All students who score above 90% in the board examination will get a scholarship from the state. Neha scored 94% in the board examination. Conclusions: I. Neha will get the state scholarship. II. Neha is the topper of her school.

   • Only I follows
   • Only II follows
   • Neither I nor II follows
   • Both I and II follow

   Answer: Only I follows. I follows directly from the rule and Neha's score. Nothing is said about other students' marks, so II goes beyond the data.

2. Statement: From next month, metro trains will run every 4 minutes instead of every 8 minutes during peak hours, to reduce crowding. Conclusions: I. Metro trains are crowded during peak hours at present. II. The number of metro trips in peak hours will increase from next month.

   • Only I follows
   • Only II follows
   • Neither I nor II follows
   • Both I and II follow

   Answer: Both I and II follow. The stated purpose (to reduce crowding) tells us the trains are crowded now, and halving the gap between trains doubles the trips in the same hours. Both follow.

3. Statement: Several cases of dengue have been reported from a residential colony in the past two weeks. Courses of action: I. The municipal body should carry out fogging and clear stagnant water in the colony. II. All residents of the colony should be shifted to another area.

   • Only I follows
   • Only II follows
   • Neither I nor II follows
   • Both I and II follow

   Answer: Only I follows. I attacks the cause (mosquito breeding) and is practical. II is an extreme, impractical reaction, so it does not follow.

4. Statement: The weather department has forecast very heavy rainfall in the coastal districts for the next three days. Courses of action: I. Fishermen should be advised not to go out to sea during this period. II. District authorities should keep rescue teams and relief shelters ready.

   • Only I follows
   • Only II follows
   • Neither I nor II follows
   • Both I and II follow

   Answer: Both I and II follow. Both are practical, preventive steps that reduce the risk to life from the forecast rain. Both follow.

5. Statement: Some of the mobile phones launched this year have foldable screens. Conclusions: I. Foldable phones are costlier than other phones. II. Most buyers prefer phones with foldable screens.

   • Only I follows
   • Only II follows
   • Neither I nor II follows
   • Both I and II follow

   Answer: Neither I nor II follows. The statement only says such phones exist. Price and buyers' preferences are not mentioned, so neither conclusion follows.

6. Statement: Of the 200 candidates who appeared for the interview, only 40 were selected. Conclusions: I. The interview was very difficult. II. 160 of the candidates who appeared were not selected.

   • Only I follows
   • Only II follows
   • Neither I nor II follows
   • Both I and II follow

   Answer: Only II follows. II is simple arithmetic from the statement. The low number could be due to limited vacancies rather than difficulty, so I is not a valid conclusion.

7. Statement: Onion prices have risen sharply in many cities because unseasonal rain damaged the crop. Courses of action: I. The government should ban the sale of onions until prices come down. II. The government should release onions from its buffer stock into the market.

   • Only I follows
   • Only II follows
   • Neither I nor II follows
   • Both I and II follow

   Answer: Only II follows. Releasing buffer stock adds supply and eases prices — a practical step. A sale ban would hurt both buyers and farmers and does not solve the shortage.

8. Statement: A few passengers complained that the food served on a long-distance train was stale. Courses of action: I. The railways should stop serving food on all trains. II. The catering contracts of all trains in the country should be cancelled at once.

   • Only I follows
   • Only II follows
   • Neither I nor II follows
   • Both I and II follow

   Answer: Neither I nor II follows. Both are extreme reactions to a few complaints about one train. A sensible step would be an inquiry and action against that caterer, so neither follows.

9. During a festival week, the queue at the cash counter of a bank branch becomes very long and customers start complaining. Which is the most suitable decision for the branch manager?

   • Close the branch early on crowded days
   • Ask customers to come back after the festival week
   • Stop accepting cash deposits for the week
   • Open an extra cash counter and guide customers to ATMs and digital banking

   Answer: Open an extra cash counter and guide customers to ATMs and digital banking. It cuts the waiting time without denying anyone service. The other choices turn customers away or stop a basic banking service.

10. A company selects a management trainee only if the candidate (i) is a graduate with at least 60% marks, (ii) is not more than 28 years old, and (iii) has cleared the written test. If a candidate meets all conditions except (i) but has a postgraduate degree with at least 65% marks, the case is referred to the HR head. Riya, aged 26, graduated with 58% marks, completed her postgraduation with 70% marks and has cleared the written test. What should be done?

    • She should be selected
    • She should be rejected
    • Her case should be referred to the HR head
    • The data given is not enough to decide

    Answer: Her case should be referred to the HR head. Riya misses condition (i) with 58% but meets (ii) and (iii), and her 70% in postgraduation satisfies the exception. So the case goes to the HR head.