Reasoning: How to Solve Statement and Argument - Strong vs Weak, Based on Policy-Decision

Introduction This topic typically carries 20-30 marks in competitive exams, and it's a must-master because it tests your ability to analyze complex situations, identify patterns, and make logical conclusions.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW FIRST To solve Statement and Argument questions, you need to know the following basic concepts:

1. Direction Chart: A direction chart is a visual representation of the relationships between different statements. It helps you identify the direction of the argument and the relationships between the statements.
2. BODMAS: BODMAS is a mnemonic device that helps you remember the order of operations: Brackets, Orders, Division, Multiplication, Addition, and Subtraction.
3. Sitting Arrangement Conventions: Sitting arrangement conventions refer to the rules that govern the seating arrangement of people in a room. These conventions are often used in Statement and Argument questions to create complex scenarios.

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

1. Read the question carefully: Read the question carefully and understand what is being asked.
2. Identify the statements: Identify the statements and the argument being made.
3. Create a direction chart: Create a direction chart to visualize the relationships between the statements.
4. Analyze the argument: Analyze the argument and identify the conclusion being drawn.
5. Check for strong and weak arguments: Check if the argument is strong or weak based on the statements provided.
6. Draw a conclusion: Draw a conclusion based on the analysis.

DEMO USING A SIMPLE EXAMPLE Suppose we have the following statements:

Statement 1: All students who attend the exam are eligible for a scholarship. Statement 2: John attended the exam. Conclusion: John is eligible for a scholarship.

To solve this question, we would create a direction chart as follows:

• Statement 1 → All students who attend the exam are eligible for a scholarship.
• Statement 2 → John attended the exam.
• Conclusion → John is eligible for a scholarship.

Based on the direction chart, we can see that the conclusion is logically drawn from the statements.

WORKED EXAMPLES

Example 1 – Easy Suppose we have the following statements:

Statement 1: All students who attend the exam are eligible for a scholarship. Statement 2: John attended the exam. Statement 3: John is not eligible for a scholarship.

Conclusion: John is eligible for a scholarship.

To solve this question, we would create a direction chart as follows:

• Statement 1 → All students who attend the exam are eligible for a scholarship.
• Statement 2 → John attended the exam.
• Statement 3 → John is not eligible for a scholarship.

Based on the direction chart, we can see that the conclusion is not logically drawn from the statements. Therefore, the argument is weak.

What we learned: Always check if the conclusion is logically drawn from the statements.

Example 2 – Medium Suppose we have the following statements:

Statement 1: All students who attend the exam are eligible for a scholarship. Statement 2: John attended the exam. Statement 3: John is a foreign student. Statement 4: Foreign students are not eligible for a scholarship.

Conclusion: John is eligible for a scholarship.

To solve this question, we would create a direction chart as follows:

• Statement 1 → All students who attend the exam are eligible for a scholarship.
• Statement 2 → John attended the exam.
• Statement 3 → John is a foreign student.
• Statement 4 → Foreign students are not eligible for a scholarship.

Based on the direction chart, we can see that the conclusion is not logically drawn from the statements. Therefore, the argument is weak.

What we learned: Always consider all the statements when analyzing the argument.

Example 3 – Exam‑Style Suppose we have the following statements:

Statement 1: All students who attend the exam are eligible for a scholarship. Statement 2: John attended the exam. Statement 3: John is a foreign student. Statement 4: Foreign students are not eligible for a scholarship. Statement 5: However, John has a special scholarship.

Conclusion: John is eligible for a scholarship.

To solve this question, we would create a direction chart as follows:

• Statement 1 → All students who attend the exam are eligible for a scholarship.
• Statement 2 → John attended the exam.
• Statement 3 → John is a foreign student.
• Statement 4 → Foreign students are not eligible for a scholarship.
• Statement 5 → However, John has a special scholarship.

Based on the direction chart, we can see that the conclusion is logically drawn from the statements. Therefore, the argument is strong.

What we learned: Always consider all the statements and the special conditions when analyzing the argument.

Common Mistakes

MISTAKE → WHY IT HAPPENS → CORRECT APPROACH

1. Mistake: Assuming the conclusion is logically drawn from the statements. WHY IT HAPPENS: This mistake happens when we don't analyze the argument carefully. CORRECT APPROACH: Always create a direction chart and analyze the argument carefully.

2. Mistake: Not considering all the statements. WHY IT HAPPENS: This mistake happens when we are in a hurry or don't read the question carefully. CORRECT APPROACH: Always read the question carefully and consider all the statements.

3. Mistake: Not identifying the special conditions. WHY IT HAPPENS: This mistake happens when we don't analyze the argument carefully. CORRECT APPROACH: Always identify the special conditions and consider them when analyzing the argument.

4. Mistake: Assuming the argument is strong when it's not. WHY IT HAPPENS: This mistake happens when we don't analyze the argument carefully. CORRECT APPROACH: Always analyze the argument carefully and check if the conclusion is logically drawn from the statements.

5. Mistake: Not using a direction chart. WHY IT HAPPENS: This mistake happens when we are in a hurry or don't know how to use a direction chart. CORRECT APPROACH: Always use a direction chart to visualize the relationships between the statements.

EXAM TRAPS

Trap → How to Spot it → How to Avoid it

1. Trap: The question is too complex. How to Spot it: This trap happens when the question has too many statements and special conditions. How to Avoid it: Always break down the question into smaller parts and analyze each part carefully.

2. Trap: The question is too simple. How to Spot it: This trap happens when the question has too few statements and special conditions. How to Avoid it: Always read the question carefully and consider all the statements.

3. Trap: The question has a special condition that is not mentioned. How to Spot it: This trap happens when we don't read the question carefully. How to Avoid it: Always read the question carefully and consider all the statements.

TIME‑SAVING SHORTCUTS

1. Elimination Trick: Eliminate the statements that are not relevant to the conclusion.
2. Diagram Hack: Use a direction chart to visualize the relationships between the statements.
3. Special Condition Trick: Identify the special conditions and consider them when analyzing the argument.

1‑MINUTE RECAP Hey there, it's the night before the exam, and you're feeling confident. You've mastered the Statement and Argument topic, and you're ready to tackle it with ease. Remember, the key to solving these questions is to analyze the argument carefully and use a direction chart to visualize the relationships between the statements. Don't assume the conclusion is logically drawn from the statements, and always consider all the statements and special conditions. Use the elimination trick, diagram hack, and special condition trick to save time and boost your confidence. You got this!