Statement and Conclusions — SSC CGL Reasoning

This family of questions tests one habit: derive only what the statement supports, nothing more. Your real-world knowledge is a liability here — a conclusion that's obviously true in life still fails if the statement doesn't back it. Learn to reject extreme conclusions (all, only, never), accept direct restatements, and for assumptions, apply the negation test: if denying it collapses the statement, it's assumed.

1. What SSC actually asks

Tier 1: 1–2 Q · Tier 2: 1–2 Q. Sub-types: Statement–Conclusion (does it logically follow?), Statement–Assumption (what's taken for granted?), and occasionally Statement–Course of Action (what step should follow?) or Statement–Argument (strong vs weak). Format: one or two conclusions, answer "only I / only II / both / neither / either".

2. Conclusions — the rules

A conclusion follows only if the statement directly and definitely supports it.

• No outside knowledge. However true in reality, if it isn't in the statement, it doesn't follow.
• Direct restatements follow. "Reading improves vocabulary and knowledge" → "Books are a source of knowledge" ✓.
• Reject extremes. "Many roads were waterlogged" does not give "all roads were flooded".
• Implied facts follow. "Petrol price increased by ₹5" → "the price was lower before" ✓ (increase presupposes a lower starting point).

3. Assumptions — the negation test

An assumption is an unstated thing taken for granted for the statement to make sense. Test it:

$\text{Negate the assumption}\to \text{if the statement now falls apart, the assumption follows.}$

• "Take this medicine to cure your cold." Assumption: the medicine affects colds. Negate it — the medicine does nothing — and the advice is pointless. So it follows.
• Advertisements assume people want the benefit offered ("use our shampoo for silky hair" assumes people desire silky hair) — but not that it's the only product that works (too extreme).

4. Course of action and arguments (lighter)

• Course of action follows if it's practical and addresses the problem. "Many students fail due to weak English" → "improve English teaching" ✓; "expel failing students" ✗ (impractical, doesn't solve the cause).
• Strong argument: directly relevant and substantial. Weak argument: trivial, ambiguous, or tangential. Judge relevance, not which side you agree with.

5. The decision checklist

1. Read the statement as the only source of truth.
2. For each conclusion: is it directly supported (✓), extreme/unsupported (✗), or a restatement (✓)?
3. For assumptions: negate and check if the statement breaks.
4. Either–or rarely applies here (unlike syllogism) — most answers are only-I, only-II, both, or neither.

6. Solved PYQ-style examples

Q1. Statement: The government increased the price of petrol by ₹5. Conclusions: I. People will use petrol less. II. The price of petrol was lower earlier. Solution. II follows (an increase presupposes a lower earlier price); I is a behavioural guess. Only II follows.

Q2. Statement: Visit our restaurant for the best food in town! Assumptions: I. People are attracted by good food. II. The claim may bring customers. Solution. An advertisement assumes both — people want good food, and the claim will draw them. Both I and II are assumed.

Q3. Statement: Heavy rain lashed the city and many roads were waterlogged. Conclusions: I. All roads were flooded. II. There was heavy rain in the city. Solution. II is stated; I over-extends "many" to "all". Only II follows.

Q4. Statement: Many students fail because they cannot understand English. Courses of action: I. English teaching should be strengthened. II. Failing students should be expelled. Solution. I is practical and targets the cause; II is punitive and ignores it. Only I follows.

Q5. Statement: Reading books improves vocabulary and knowledge. Conclusions: I. Books are a source of knowledge. II. Vocabulary can be improved by reading. Solution. Both restate the statement directly. Both I and II follow.

7. Exam protocol

1. Treat the statement as the sole truth — quarantine your real-world knowledge.
2. Kill extreme conclusions ("all/only/never") unless the statement says so.
3. Accept direct restatements and clearly implied facts.
4. Assumptions: negate; if the statement collapses, it follows.
5. Course of action must be practical and address the stated problem.