UPSC Prelims 2012 · CSAT
Question 16: Logical Reasoning and Mental Ability
Consider the following statements :
- 1.All artists are whimsical.
- 2.Some artists are drug addicts.
- 3.Frustrated people are prone to become drug addicts.
From the above three statements it may be concluded that
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).
Since all artists are whimsical, any artist who is also a drug addict is both whimsical and an addict. Statement 2 says some artists are drug addicts, so some drug addicts are whimsical. The other conclusions need links the statements do not give: nothing says artists or whimsical people are frustrated, and statement 3 says frustrated people are prone to addiction, not that all are addicts. Remember: from 'all A are B' and 'some A are C', you can conclude 'some C are B'.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Wrong. No statement links artists to frustration.
- (b) Right. The artists who are drug addicts are whimsical, so some drug addicts are whimsical.
- (c) Wrong. Being prone to addiction does not make all frustrated people addicts.
- (d) Wrong. Nothing connects whimsical people with frustration.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2012, General Studies Paper II (CSAT), Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.