English Competitive: How to Solve Statement and Argument Strong vs Weak

Introduction Mastering Statement and Argument can fetch you 20-30 marks in competitive exams, making it a game-changer for your verbal score.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW FIRST To tackle Statement and Argument questions, you need to be familiar with:

1. Common prepositions: Know the difference between 'in', 'on', 'at', and 'during'.
2. Subject-verb agreement: Understand the rules for singular and plural subjects.
3. Tense chart: Familiarize yourself with the present, past, and future tenses.

CRYSTAL‑CLEAR METHOD (Step‑by‑Step) To solve Statement and Argument questions, follow these steps:

1. Read the question carefully: Understand what is being asked.
2. Identify the statement: Note down the statement given in the question.
3. Identify the argument: Note down the argument given in the question.
4. Determine the relationship: Decide if the statement is a strong or weak argument.
5. Choose the correct option: Select the correct option based on your analysis.

ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE Suppose the question is: "The statement 'All students are intelligent' is a strong argument because it is supported by the fact that most students in our school are intelligent."

• Step 1: Read the question carefully.
• Step 2: Identify the statement: "All students are intelligent".
• Step 3: Identify the argument: "It is supported by the fact that most students in our school are intelligent".
• Step 4: Determine the relationship: The statement is a strong argument because it is supported by evidence.
• Step 5: Choose the correct option: The correct option is the one that says the statement is a strong argument.

WORKED EXAMPLES

Example 1 – Easy

Question: "The statement 'All dogs are animals' is a strong argument because it is supported by the fact that cats are animals."

• Step 1: Read the question carefully.
• Step 2: Identify the statement: "All dogs are animals".
• Step 3: Identify the argument: "It is supported by the fact that cats are animals".
• Step 4: Determine the relationship: The statement is a strong argument because it is supported by evidence.
• Step 5: Choose the correct option: The correct option is the one that says the statement is a strong argument.

Tip to remember: A strong argument is one that is supported by evidence.

Example 2 – Medium

Question: "The statement 'All students who study hard will pass the exam' is a weak argument because it is not supported by the fact that some students who study hard fail the exam."

• Step 1: Read the question carefully.
• Step 2: Identify the statement: "All students who study hard will pass the exam".
• Step 3: Identify the argument: "It is not supported by the fact that some students who study hard fail the exam".
• Step 4: Determine the relationship: The statement is a weak argument because it is not supported by evidence.
• Step 5: Choose the correct option: The correct option is the one that says the statement is a weak argument.

Tip to remember: A weak argument is one that is not supported by evidence.

Example 3 – Exam‑Style

Question: "The statement 'All countries that are members of the United Nations are democratic' is a strong argument because it is supported by the fact that most countries that are members of the United Nations are democratic."

• Step 1: Read the question carefully.
• Step 2: Identify the statement: "All countries that are members of the United Nations are democratic".
• Step 3: Identify the argument: "It is supported by the fact that most countries that are members of the United Nations are democratic".
• Step 4: Determine the relationship: The statement is a strong argument because it is supported by evidence.
• Step 5: Choose the correct option: The correct option is the one that says the statement is a strong argument.

Tip to remember: A strong argument is one that is supported by evidence.

Common Mistakes

MISTAKE → WHY IT HAPPENS → CORRECT APPROACH 1. Mistaking a weak argument for a strong one: You might do this if you don't carefully analyze the evidence provided. Correct approach: Always look for evidence to support the argument. 2. Not considering alternative perspectives: You might do this if you don't think about different viewpoints. Correct approach: Consider multiple perspectives before making a decision. 3. Not reading the question carefully: You might do this if you rush through the question. Correct approach: Read the question carefully and understand what is being asked. 4. Not identifying the statement and argument clearly: You might do this if you don't separate the statement from the argument. Correct approach: Identify the statement and argument clearly before analyzing them. 5. Not choosing the correct option: You might do this if you don't carefully analyze the options. Correct approach: Choose the option that best matches your analysis.

EXAM TRAPS

Trap → How to Spot it → How to Avoid it 1. Trap: Assuming a statement is true without evidence: You might fall for this if you don't carefully analyze the evidence provided. How to spot it: Look for evidence to support the statement. How to avoid it: Always look for evidence to support the statement. 2. Trap: Not considering the context: You might fall for this if you don't think about the context of the statement. How to spot it: Consider the context of the statement. How to avoid it: Always consider the context of the statement. 3. Trap: Not analyzing the argument carefully: You might fall for this if you don't carefully analyze the argument. How to spot it: Analyze the argument carefully. How to avoid it: Always analyze the argument carefully.

TIME‑SAVING SHORTCUTS

1. Eliminate options that are clearly incorrect: If an option is clearly incorrect, eliminate it to save time.
2. Look for keywords: Keywords like "strong" and "weak" can help you identify the correct option.
3. Use the process of elimination: Eliminate options that don't match your analysis to save time.
4. Read the question carefully: Reading the question carefully can help you avoid mistakes and save time.

1‑MINUTE RECAP Hey there, it's the morning of the exam, and you're feeling confident. Remember, mastering Statement and Argument can fetch you 20-30 marks. To solve these questions, follow these steps: read the question carefully, identify the statement and argument, determine the relationship, and choose the correct option. Don't make common mistakes like mistaking a weak argument for a strong one or not considering alternative perspectives. Watch out for exam traps like assuming a statement is true without evidence or not considering the context. Use time-saving shortcuts like eliminating options that are clearly incorrect and looking for keywords. You got this!