UPSC Prelims 2012 · CSAT
Question 21: Logical Reasoning and Mental Ability
Ten new TV shows started in January — 5 sitcoms, 3 drama and 2 news magazines. By April, only seven of the new shows were still on, five of them being sitcoms. Based on the above information, four conclusions, as given below, have been made. Which one of these logically follows from the information given above ?
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (c).
Seven shows are still on and five of them are sitcoms; there were only five sitcoms, so every sitcom survived. The other two shows still on come from the 3 dramas and 2 news magazines, so three of those five were discontinued. Because there are only two news magazines, at least one of the three discontinued shows must be a drama. How many dramas or news magazines remain is not fixed, and nothing says what viewers prefer.
How you could have got this
No shortcut here: in a “how many” question, ruling out options doesn’t help. Every statement has to be judged.
Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Wrong. Both news magazines could be on, or neither; it is not fixed.
- (b) Wrong. The two surviving non-sitcoms could include no, one or two dramas.
- (c) Right. Three non-sitcoms ended and there are only two news shows, so at least one ended show is a drama.
- (d) Wrong. Viewer preference is not given.
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.