⏱ 4 min read
📗 Nayab Subba syllabus: Paper I, General Mental Ability, Unit 2.1 · Open the full Nayab Subba course
Verbal reasoning (unit 2.1) has many types. Series, analogy, classification, coding, direction and ranking are covered in other notes (see Related notes). This note covers the logic-based types: assertion and reason, statement and conclusion, assumptions, courses of action, cause and effect, and induction–deduction.
1. Assertion and Reason (A–R)
Two statements are given: Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Standard options:
| Option | Meaning |
|---|---|
| a | Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A |
| b | Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A |
| c | A is true, R is false |
| d | A is false, R is true |
| e | Both are false (sometimes given) |
Method: first check if A is true, then if R is true, then ask “Does A happen because of R?“
- Example: A: Iron rusts in moist air. R: Rust forms when iron reacts with oxygen and water. → Both true and R explains A (option a).
- Example: A: The sun rises in the east. R: The earth is round. → Both true, but R does not explain A (option b); the real reason is that the earth rotates from west to east.
2. Statement and Conclusion
- A conclusion follows only if it is definitely true from the statement, without outside assumptions.
- Avoid conclusions with extreme words (all, only, always, never, best) unless the statement says so.
- Example: “Some students in this class are good at maths.” Conclusion I: All students are good at maths (does not follow). Conclusion II: At least one student is good at maths (follows).
3. Statement and Assumption
- An assumption is something taken for granted by the speaker; it is not written but must be true for the statement to make sense.
- Example: “Use Brand X soap for soft skin” (advertisement). Assumption: people want soft skin, and advertisements influence people (implicit).
- Check: if the assumption were false, would the statement still make sense? If not, it is implicit.
4. Courses of Action
- A problem is stated; you decide which suggested action is practical, reasonable and solves or reduces the problem.
- A good course of action is practical, within reach, not extreme, and directly linked to the problem.
- Example: “Many people fell ill after drinking water from the village tap.” Action I: The local body should test and clean the water supply (follows). Action II: All taps in the country should be closed (extreme, does not follow).
5. Cause and Effect
- Decide whether one event is the cause of the other, or both are effects of a common cause, or they are independent.
- Example: (A) Heavy rain fell in the hills for three days. (B) Rivers in the Tarai flooded. → A is the cause, B is the effect.
6. Induction and Deduction
- Deduction: from a general rule to a particular case (if the premises are true, the conclusion must be true). All men are mortal; Ram is a man; so Ram is mortal.
- Induction: from many particular cases to a general rule (probable, not certain). The sun has risen every day; so it will rise tomorrow.
- Syllogism questions are covered in Analytical Reasoning and Syllogism.
7. Comprehension and vocabulary tips
- Read the questions first, then the passage; answer only from the passage, not from outside knowledge.
- Learn common synonyms and antonyms (see Synonyms, Antonyms and One-word Substitution).
📌 Key points to remember
- A–R: check A, check R, then ask whether A happens because of R.
- A conclusion must follow directly from the statement; avoid extreme words.
- An assumption is unstated but necessary for the statement to make sense.
- A good course of action is practical, related to the problem and not extreme.
- Deduction: general → particular (certain); induction: particular → general (probable).
📝 Quiz
Test yourself: Verbal Reasoning
50 questions check what you read about Assertion and Reason (A–R), Courses of Action and Comprehension and vocabulary tips. Each attempt picks 25 at random.
Loading quiz...