UPSC Prelims 2017 · CSAT
Question 34: Logical Reasoning and Mental Ability
Consider the given statement and the two conclusions that follow : Statement : Morning walk is good for health. Conclusions :
- 1.All healthy people go for morning walk.
- 2.Morning walk is essential for maintaining good health.
What is/are the valid conclusion/conclusions?
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (d).
The statement only says morning walks benefit health. Conclusion 1 turns this around, claiming all healthy people take morning walks, which does not follow: people can be healthy by other means. Conclusion 2 says morning walk is essential for good health, but being good for health is not the same as being necessary. Neither follows. Beware of conclusions that convert a benefit into a requirement or a universal rule.
- 1. Reverses the statement and over-generalises: healthy people may stay fit in other ways.
- 2. Good for health does not mean essential for health.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 1 is not correct, (a) and (c) go: each of them includes 1.
What you needed to know: Reverses the statement and over-generalises: healthy people may stay fit in other ways.
- Then, if you were sure statement 2 is not correct, (b) goes: it includes 2.
What you needed to know: Good for health does not mean essential for health.
Only (d) is left. This one needs every statement.
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) Conclusion 1 over-generalises from the statement.
- (b) Conclusion 2 turns beneficial into essential, which is not stated.
- (c) Neither conclusion is supported, so both cannot be valid.
- (d) Correct: neither conclusion follows.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2017, General Studies Paper II (CSAT), Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.