Statement and Arguments, Assertion and Reason

Reasoning papers of SSC, banking, railways and other examinations have a group of questions based on logical thinking about sentences: statement and arguments, assertion and reason, and cause and effect. They test whether you can judge the strength of a reason, see the link between two statements and separate the cause from the result. They do not need any calculation, but they need a clear method and a practical mind. This note explains the three types, the rules to decide quickly, solved examples with explanations, common traps and practice questions, in simple language.

Part 1: Statement and Arguments

In this type, a statement is given in the form of a question, usually beginning with "Should...?", followed by two or three arguments for or against it. You have to decide which argument is strong and which is weak. Remember that you must judge the arguments only on their merit, and not on the basis of your own opinion.

What Makes an Argument Strong or Weak?

Solved Examples

1. Statement: Should the use of plastic bags be banned? I. Yes, they harm the environment and block the drains. II. No, the shopkeepers will lose their business. Argument I is strong, because it gives a serious and general harm. Argument II is weak, since it concerns a limited group and alternatives are available. Answer: Only I is strong.
2. Statement: Should computer education be compulsory in all schools? I. Yes, computer skills are essential for modern jobs. II. No, the children will lose interest in other subjects. I is strong; II is a guess without a basis and so it is weak. Answer: Only I is strong.
3. Statement: Should advertisements of tobacco be banned? I. Yes, they encourage a harmful habit. II. No, the advertising industry will lose revenue. I is strong because it is about public health; II is weak, since a private loss cannot be the reason to allow a harm. Answer: Only I is strong.

Tips

• Ask: Is the argument about the statement itself? Is it important? Is it a fact or only a fear?
• An argument that only repeats the statement in other words is weak.
• When two arguments are both strong, or both weak, check each one separately and do not compare them with each other.

Part 2: Assertion and Reason

In this type, an assertion (A) and a reason (R) are given. You must decide whether each is true, and whether the reason explains the assertion. The standard options are:

Method

1. First check whether A is true or false from your knowledge.
2. Then check whether R is true or false on its own.
3. If both are true, ask: "Does R answer the question why A happens?" Use the word "because": "A, because R". If it sounds right and logical, R explains A.

Solved Examples

1. A: The Moon has no atmosphere. R: The gravity of the Moon is too weak to hold the gases. Both are true, and R explains A. Answer: (A).
2. A: Plants make their food by photosynthesis. R: Plants take in oxygen for respiration. Both are true, but the second does not explain the first. Answer: (B).
3. A: Iron rusts when exposed to moist air. R: Rusting is a physical change. A is true, but R is false (rusting is a chemical change). Answer: (C).
4. A: Diamond is a good conductor of electricity. R: Graphite is a good conductor of electricity. A is false, and R is true. Answer: (D).

Part 3: Cause and Effect

In these questions, two statements, I and II, are given, and you must find out the relationship between them. The common options are: (a) I is the cause and II is its effect; (b) II is the cause and I is its effect; (c) both are effects of independent causes; (d) both are effects of the same (common) cause; and (e) both are independent causes.

Method

1. Read the two statements and ask: "Which one can happen because of the other?"
2. Use the word test: "I happened because of II" or "II happened because of I".
3. If neither can be the result of the other, but both look like results of some hidden event, choose the common cause or the independent causes, as per the options.

Solved Examples

1. I. The prices of vegetables have risen sharply. II. Heavy rains have damaged the crops in many areas. The damage to crops leads to the rise in prices. Answer: II is the cause and I is its effect.
2. I. The government has increased the price of fuel. II. The transport costs have gone up. Answer: I is the cause and II is its effect.
3. I. Many roads in the city are waterlogged. II. Several flights have been cancelled. Neither causes the other, but heavy rain can cause both. Answer: Both are effects of the same cause.
4. I. The number of tourists in a hill station has fallen. II. The price of milk has gone up in the country. The two events are unrelated. Answer: Both are effects of independent causes.

Common Traps in All Three Types

• Bringing your own opinion or political view in judging the arguments.
• Marking an argument as strong only because it is emotional or loud.
• In the assertion and reason questions, choosing (A) merely because both statements are true, without testing the explanation.
• Confusing the order of time with the cause: an event that happened first is not always the cause of the later one.
• Treating a common cause as a direct cause between the two statements.

Exam Strategy for These Questions

These questions can be answered in 30 to 40 seconds each if you follow a routine. For statement and arguments, first read the statement, then judge each argument separately as strong or weak, and select the option. For assertion and reason, decide the truth of A and R first, because many questions can be solved just by finding that one of them is false. For cause and effect, quickly make the "because" sentence in both directions. If you are not sure, remove the wrong options and make a careful guess only when the negative marking is low. Practise two sets of each type every day for a week, and keep a notebook of the arguments that you judged wrongly, so that you can understand the pattern of the setters.

Practice Questions With Answers

• Q1. Should the school hours be reduced? I. Yes, the children get more time for play and rest. II. No, the teachers will get less time to teach. Answer: I is strong; II is weak (a limited reason, and the schedule can be adjusted). Only I is strong.
• Q2. A: The sea water is salty. R: Rivers carry the salts from the land to the sea. Answer: (A); both are true, and R explains A.
• Q3. A: Camels can live in deserts. R: Camels store water in their humps. Answer: (C); A is true, but R is false (the hump stores fat).
• Q4. I. Many students have scored low marks. II. The question paper was very difficult. Answer: II is the cause and I is its effect.

Practise these along with our notes on statement and assumptions and syllogism.

Quick Revision

• Strong argument: relevant, factual and of public importance; weak: vague, personal or limited.
• Assertion and reason: check A, check R, then test "A because R".
• Cause and effect: use the "because" test; decide between a direct cause, common cause and independent causes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is a strong argument in reasoning?

A strong argument is relevant to the statement, based on facts or the public interest, and important.

What makes an argument weak?

An argument is weak if it is vague, irrelevant, based only on personal opinion, or concerns a very small group.

Should I use my own opinion in the statement and argument questions?

No. Judge each argument only on its merit and relevance.

What is an assertion and a reason?

The assertion is a claim, and the reason is the statement that is given to explain it.

What does option A mean in assertion and reason questions?

It means both the assertion and the reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.

How do I check if the reason explains the assertion?

Join them with the word because and see whether the sentence is logical.

What is the difference between a cause and an effect?

The cause is the event that makes something happen, and the effect is the result of it.

What is a common cause?

A common cause is one event that produces two different effects.

What are independent causes?

They are two unrelated causes that may lead to similar or related results.

Can the event that happened first be assumed to be the cause?

No. The order in time does not by itself prove that one event caused the other.

How can I speed up these questions?

Apply the method of the because test and the strong-weak checklist, and practise a few sets daily.

Are these topics important for exams?

Yes. They appear regularly in the reasoning sections of SSC, banking and other competitive exams.