Verbal Reasoning: Assertion, Conclusion and Courses of Action Quiz

In assertion–reason questions, option "Both A and R are true and R explains A" is chosen when:

• A) A happens because of R ✔
• B) Only A is true
• C) Only R is true
• D) Both are false

Why: Choose 'both true and R explains A' only when both statements are true and R is the actual reason why A happens. Ask: 'A, because R' — does it make sense?

A: Iron rusts in moist air. R: Rust forms when iron reacts with oxygen and water. The answer is:

• A) Both true; R explains A ✔
• B) Both true; R does not explain A
• C) A true; R false
• D) A false; R true

Why: Both are true, and R gives the cause: iron reacts with oxygen and water to form rust (hydrated iron oxide). So R explains A.

A: The sun rises in the east. R: The earth is round. The answer is:

• A) Both true; R does not explain A ✔
• B) Both true; R explains A
• C) A true; R false
• D) A false; R true

Why: Both are true, but the sun rises in the east because the earth rotates from west to east, not because it is round. So R does not explain A.

A: Water boils at 100°C at sea level. R: Water is a liquid. The answer is:

• A) Both true; R does not explain A ✔
• B) Both true; R explains A
• C) A false; R true
• D) Both false

Why: Both are true, but being a liquid does not explain why the boiling point is exactly 100 °C; that depends on air pressure. So R does not explain A.

A: Plants need sunlight. R: Plants make food by photosynthesis using light. The answer is:

• A) Both true; R explains A ✔
• B) Both true; R does not explain A
• C) A true; R false
• D) A false; R true

Why: Both are true, and R explains A: plants need light because photosynthesis, their way of making food, uses light energy.

A: Kathmandu is the capital of India. R: Kathmandu is in Nepal. The answer is:

• A) A false; R true ✔
• B) A true; R false
• C) Both true
• D) Both false

Why: A is false because India's capital is New Delhi, while R is true (Kathmandu is in Nepal). So the answer is 'A false, R true'.

A: Ice floats on water. R: Ice is heavier than water. The answer is:

• A) A true; R false ✔
• B) Both true
• C) A false; R true
• D) Both false

Why: A is true, but R is false: ice is less dense (lighter for the same volume) than water, which is why it floats.

A: Nepal is a landlocked country. R: Nepal has no coastline. The answer is:

• A) Both true; R explains A ✔
• B) Both true; R does not explain A
• C) A false; R true
• D) Both false

Why: Both are true, and R explains A: 'landlocked' means having no sea coast, which is exactly what R says.

The first step in solving an A–R question is to check whether:

• A) The assertion is true ✔
• B) The options are long
• C) The reason is short
• D) The answer is (a)

Why: First check whether A and R are each true. Only when both are true do you then ask whether R explains A.

A conclusion follows from a statement only if it is:

• A) Definitely true from the statement ✔
• B) Probably true from outside knowledge
• C) Popular opinion
• D) Long

Why: A conclusion follows only if it must be true from the statement alone, without using outside facts or guesses.

Statement: Some students in the class are good at maths. Which conclusion follows?

• A) At least one student is good at maths ✔
• B) All students are good at maths
• C) No student is weak
• D) Only girls are good at maths

Why: 'Some' means at least one, so 'at least one student is good at maths' must be true. 'All' or 'none' would go beyond the statement.

Conclusions with words like "all", "always" or "never" usually:

• A) Do not follow unless the statement says so ✔
• B) Always follow
• C) Are always correct
• D) Are assumptions

Why: Extreme words like all, always or never usually claim more than the statement says, so they do not follow unless the statement itself is that strong.

Statement: The government has increased the price of petrol. Which conclusion follows?

• A) Petrol now costs more ✔
• B) Everyone will stop driving
• C) The government is always wrong
• D) Petrol is free

Why: If the price was increased, petrol now costs more. That follows directly. Guesses about reasons or effects do not.

An assumption is:

• A) Something taken for granted but not stated ✔
• B) A written fact in the statement
• C) A conclusion
• D) An action

Why: An assumption is something the speaker takes for granted without saying it. Without it, the statement would make no sense.

Statement: "Use Brand X soap for soft skin." Which assumption is implicit?

• A) People want soft skin ✔
• B) Brand X is the only soap in the world
• C) Soap is harmful
• D) Nobody uses soap

Why: The advert only makes sense if people want soft skin, so that is the hidden assumption.

Statement: "Please bring your citizenship card for verification." Which assumption is implicit?

• A) Applicants have a citizenship card ✔
• B) Nobody has a card
• C) Cards are not needed
• D) Verification is impossible

Why: Asking people to bring a citizenship card assumes that applicants have one. Otherwise the request would be pointless.

A good course of action should be:

• A) Practical and related to the problem ✔
• B) Extreme
• C) Impossible
• D) Unrelated

Why: A good course of action is practical, legal and directly reduces the problem. Extreme or unrelated steps do not follow.

Problem: Many people fell ill after drinking village tap water. Which action follows?

• A) Test and clean the water supply ✔
• B) Close all taps in the country
• C) Ignore the problem
• D) Ban drinking water forever

Why: The likely cause is the water, so testing and cleaning the supply tackles the problem directly and is practical.

Problem: Students are failing in maths in a school. Which action follows?

• A) Arrange extra classes and review teaching ✔
• B) Close the school
• C) Remove maths from all schools
• D) Punish all parents

Why: Extra classes and a review of teaching address the cause of failure. Closing the school or removing maths would be extreme.

Problem: Road accidents increase on a highway during fog. Which action follows?

• A) Install warning signs and control speed in foggy areas ✔
• B) Close the highway permanently
• C) Ban all vehicles in Nepal
• D) Do nothing

Why: Warning signs and speed control in foggy stretches reduce accident risk practically. Closing the highway permanently would be extreme.

Problem: There is a shortage of fertiliser in the planting season. Which action follows?

• A) Import and distribute fertiliser on time ✔
• B) Stop all farming
• C) Ban fertiliser use
• D) Blame farmers

Why: The problem is shortage at a critical time, so importing and distributing fertiliser on time solves it.

Which course of action is NOT acceptable?

• A) Dismissing all staff of an office because one staff took a bribe ✔
• B) Investigating the staff who took a bribe
• C) Strengthening monitoring
• D) Encouraging complaints

Why: Punishing everyone for one person's wrongdoing is unfair and extreme. The right step is to act against the guilty person under the law.

(A) Heavy rain fell in the hills for three days. (B) Rivers in the Tarai flooded. The relation is:

• A) A is the cause, B is the effect ✔
• B) B is the cause, A is the effect
• C) Both are independent
• D) Both are effects of a common cause

Why: Rain in the hills runs down into rivers that flood the Tarai, so A (rain) is the cause and B (flood) is the effect.

(A) The price of vegetables rose. (B) Many roads were blocked by landslides. The relation is:

• A) B is the cause, A is the effect ✔
• B) A is the cause, B is the effect
• C) Independent
• D) Both are causes

Why: Landslides blocked roads, so less supply reached markets and prices rose. B is the cause, A the effect.

(A) Schools were closed. (B) Offices were closed. Both happened during a general strike. The relation is:

• A) Both are effects of a common cause ✔
• B) A caused B
• C) B caused A
• D) Independent with no link

Why: Neither closure caused the other; both were caused by the general strike. So both are effects of a common cause.

Reasoning from a general rule to a particular case is:

• A) Deduction ✔
• B) Induction
• C) Analogy
• D) Coding

Why: Deduction goes from a general rule to a particular case, for example 'All metals conduct; copper is a metal; so copper conducts.'

Reasoning from many particular cases to a general rule is:

• A) Induction ✔
• B) Deduction
• C) Classification
• D) Ranking

Why: Induction goes from many observations to a general rule, for example noticing many cases and concluding a pattern.

"All men are mortal; Ram is a man; so Ram is mortal" is an example of:

• A) Deduction ✔
• B) Induction
• C) Assumption
• D) Course of action

Why: This applies a general rule (all men are mortal) to one case (Ram), so it is deduction. The conclusion is certain.

"Every crow I have seen is black, so all crows are black" is an example of:

• A) Induction ✔
• B) Deduction
• C) Assertion
• D) Cause and effect

Why: This generalises from observations to a rule, so it is induction. The conclusion is only probable, since an unseen crow could differ.

In deduction, if the premises are true, the conclusion is:

• A) Certain ✔
• B) Probable only
• C) Always false
• D) Unrelated

Why: In valid deduction, true premises guarantee a true conclusion, so it is certain.

In induction, the conclusion is:

• A) Probable, not certain ✔
• B) Always certain
• C) Always false
• D) Not a conclusion

Why: Inductive conclusions are probable, not certain, because a new case could break the pattern.

In comprehension questions, answers should be based on:

• A) The passage only ✔
• B) Outside knowledge
• C) Guesswork
• D) The title only

Why: Answer only from the passage, even if you know other facts. The question tests your reading, not general knowledge.

A useful method for comprehension is to:

• A) Read the questions first, then the passage ✔
• B) Skip the passage
• C) Read only the last line
• D) Guess all answers

Why: Reading the questions first tells you what to look for, so you can read the passage with a purpose and save time.

Statement: All employees must reach the office by 10 am. Conclusion: Punctuality is expected. This:

• A) Follows ✔
• B) Does not follow
• C) Is an assumption only
• D) Is a course of action

Why: A rule that everyone must arrive by 10 am clearly means punctuality is expected, so the conclusion follows.

Statement: Some fruits are sweet. Conclusion: All fruits are sweet. This:

• A) Does not follow ✔
• B) Follows
• C) Is certain
• D) Is an assertion

Why: 'Some' does not mean 'all'. Some fruits being sweet does not prove that all are, so the conclusion does not follow.

Statement: No bird is a dog. Conclusion: No dog is a bird. This:

• A) Follows ✔
• B) Does not follow
• C) Is uncertain
• D) Is false

Why: A universal negative ('No A is B') can be reversed: 'No B is A'. If no bird is a dog, then no dog is a bird.

A: Deforestation causes floods. R: Trees hold soil and slow water runoff. The answer is:

• A) Both true; R explains A ✔
• B) Both true; R does not explain A
• C) A true; R false
• D) Both false

Why: Both are true, and R explains A: tree roots hold soil and forests slow runoff, so cutting them leads to faster runoff and floods.

A: Mt Everest is the highest peak in the world. R: Mt Everest lies in Nepal. The answer is:

• A) Both true; R does not explain A ✔
• B) Both true; R explains A
• C) A false; R true
• D) A true; R false

Why: Both are true, but being in Nepal does not explain why Everest is the highest. So R does not explain A.

A: Metals conduct electricity. R: Metals have free electrons. The answer is:

• A) Both true; R explains A ✔
• B) Both true; R does not explain A
• C) A true; R false
• D) Both false

Why: Both are true, and R explains A: free electrons move through the metal and carry the current.

A: Lightning is seen before thunder is heard. R: Light travels faster than sound. The answer is:

• A) Both true; R explains A ✔
• B) Both true; R does not explain A
• C) A false; R true
• D) A true; R false

Why: Both are true, and R explains A: light travels about 3 lakh km per second, far faster than sound (about 340 m per second).

A: Plastic is good for the environment. R: Plastic does not decompose easily. The answer is:

• A) A false; R true ✔
• B) Both true
• C) A true; R false
• D) Both false

Why: A is false. R is true, and it is the reason plastic harms the environment: it does not decompose easily. So the answer is 'A false, R true'.

Problem: Citizens complain of long queues at a passport office. Which action follows?

• A) Introduce online appointments and more counters ✔
• B) Stop issuing passports
• C) Close the office
• D) Ignore complaints

Why: Online appointments and more counters directly reduce waiting time, so they are a practical course of action.

Problem: A rare animal species is declining in a national park. Which action follows?

• A) Strengthen anti-poaching and protect its habitat ✔
• B) Open the park for hunting
• C) Remove the park
• D) Do nothing

Why: Anti-poaching patrols and habitat protection tackle the main causes of decline, so this course of action follows.

Statement: "The office will remain closed on Saturday." Which assumption is implicit?

• A) People might come to the office on Saturday otherwise ✔
• B) The office never opens
• C) Saturday does not exist
• D) Staff dislike the office

Why: A notice is issued because otherwise people might come on Saturday. That is the hidden assumption.

Statement: "Wear a helmet while riding." Which assumption is implicit?

• A) Helmets reduce head injuries ✔
• B) Helmets are decorative
• C) Nobody rides motorcycles
• D) Helmets cause accidents

Why: The advice assumes helmets reduce head injuries; otherwise there would be no reason to give it.

(A) Many students passed with distinction. (B) The school introduced extra classes earlier this year. The likely relation is:

• A) B is the cause, A is the effect ✔
• B) A is the cause, B is the effect
• C) Both are independent
• D) Both are causes

Why: The extra classes (B) came earlier and likely improved results (A), so B is the cause and A the effect.

Which of the following is NOT a type covered under verbal reasoning?

• A) Profit and loss calculation ✔
• B) Analogy
• C) Coding–decoding
• D) Assertion–reason

Why: Profit and loss is a numerical (quantitative) topic. Verbal reasoning covers assertion–reason, conclusions, assumptions, courses of action and cause–effect.

In statement–conclusion questions, you should:

• A) Accept the statement as true even if it seems odd ✔
• B) Reject the statement if you disagree
• C) Use only outside facts
• D) Ignore the statement

Why: Treat the statement as true even if it sounds strange in real life. Judge only what follows from it.

A course of action that solves the problem only in the long run but is practical:

• A) Can still follow ✔
• B) Never follows
• C) Is always extreme
• D) Is an assumption

Why: A practical step can follow even if it works slowly. What matters is that it is realistic and reduces the problem.

The word "courses of action" in Nepali exams is often called:

• A) कार्यदिशा / उपयुक्त कदम ✔
• B) निष्कर्ष
• C) पूर्वानुमान
• D) कारण

Why: Courses of action are called कार्यदिशा or उपयुक्त कदम: the sensible steps to take to solve a stated problem.