What Statement & Conclusion Questions Test
- Conclusions that follow directly from a statement
- Implicit assumptions behind a statement
- Strong vs weak arguments
- Appropriate courses of action
Question bank coverage by sub-pattern
How Statement & Conclusion Appears in SSC CPO
Statement & Conclusion is part of the General Intelligence & Reasoning section (25% of the SSC CPO syllabus).
Statement & Conclusion Solved Examples for SSC CPO
12 exam-pattern statement & conclusion questions from the practice bank, each with a full solution.
Statement: Should private universities be allowed in India? Argument I: Yes, because it will help to increase the literacy rate. Argument II: No, because education will become more expensive, and only the rich will have access to it.
- A.Only argument I is strong
- B.Only argument II is strong
- C.Both arguments I and II are strongCorrect
- D.Neither argument I nor II is strong
Solution
Argument I is strong because increasing the literacy rate is a desirable goal. Argument II is also strong because the potential for increased cost and unequal access is a significant concern. Both arguments are relevant and directly address the statement.
Statement: "The government has decided to provide free textbooks to all students up to high school." Assumption:
- A.Many students cannot afford textbooks.
- B.Free textbooks will improve the quality of education.
- C.Textbooks are essential for education.Correct
- D.The government has enough funds to provide free textbooks.
Solution
The decision to provide free textbooks assumes that textbooks play a crucial role in the education of students. Without this assumption, the policy would be ineffective.
Notice: "All residents are requested to keep the park clean." Assumption: I. Residents use the park. II. Residents are responsible for keeping the park clean.
- A.Only assumption I is implicitCorrect
- B.Only assumption II is implicit
- C.Both assumptions I and II are implicit
- D.Neither assumption I nor II is implicit
Solution
The notice assumes that residents use the park, otherwise there would be no need to address them. It doesn't explicitly state that residents are *responsible* for the park's cleanliness, just that they are requested to keep it clean.
Statement: "A recent study suggests that coffee consumption may reduce the risk of certain diseases."
- A.Coffee definitely prevents diseases.
- B.Coffee probably reduces the risk of certain diseases.Correct
- C.Coffee has no effect on disease risk.
- D.Coffee increases the risk of all diseases.
Solution
The statement uses the phrase 'may reduce', indicating a possibility but not a certainty. Therefore, 'probably reduces' is the most accurate assessment of the conclusion's truth value.
Statements: All pens are books. All books are copies. Conclusions: I. All copies are pens. II. Some copies are pens.
- A.Only conclusion I follows
- B.Only conclusion II followsCorrect
- C.Both I and II follow
- D.Neither I nor II follows
Solution
Given statements: All pens are books (A→B), All books are copies (B→C). Combining these, we get: All pens are books are copies (A→B→C). Conclusion I: All copies are pens is incorrect because the reverse is not necessarily true. Conclusion II: Some copies are pens is correct because since all pens are copies, some copies are definitely pens. Hence, only conclusion II follows.
Statement: "A stitch in time saves nine."
- A.Sewing is important for saving money.
- B.Delaying action leads to bigger problems.Correct
- C.Nine stitches are better than one.
- D.Time is more valuable than stitches.
Solution
The proverb implies that addressing a problem promptly prevents it from escalating into a larger, more difficult issue. Option 2 captures this implied meaning.
Statement: "The company's new policy focuses on employee well-being."
- A.The company was previously unconcerned about its employees.
- B.The company expects increased productivity as a result.Correct
- C.All employees will be satisfied with the new policy.
- D.The company is facing financial difficulties.
Solution
While not explicitly stated, a focus on employee well-being often implies an expectation of improved productivity, motivation, and retention. The other options are not directly implied by the statement.
Statement: The price of petrol has increased by 10% in the last month.
- A.Conclusion: People will stop using cars.
- B.Conclusion: People will switch to public transport or fuel-efficient vehicles.Correct
- C.Conclusion: The government is deliberately increasing petrol prices.
- D.Conclusion: The economy will collapse.
Solution
The most direct and logical inference is that consumers, facing higher petrol prices, will seek alternatives to mitigate the increased cost. Switching to public transport or fuel-efficient vehicles is a reasonable response to the price increase. The other options are too extreme or unsupported by the statement.
Statements: 1. Some cats are dogs. 2. All dogs are animals. 3. No animal is a plant. Conclusions: I. Some cats are animals. II. No dog is a plant. III. Some plants are cats. Which of the conclusions logically follow?
- A.Only I and II followCorrect
- B.Only II and III follow
- C.Only I and III follow
- D.All I, II and III follow
Solution
Let's analyze each conclusion: I. Some cats are animals: Since some cats are dogs and all dogs are animals, it follows that some cats are animals. (TRUE) II. No dog is a plant: Since all dogs are animals and no animal is a plant, it follows that no dog is a plant. (TRUE) III. Some plants are cats: There is no direct or indirect relation between plants and cats. (FALSE) Therefore, only conclusions I and II logically follow.
Statement: "Hard work is the key to success."
- A.Success is guaranteed with hard work.
- B.Only intelligent people can achieve success.
- C.Some people can achieve success without hard work.
- D.Hard work increases the chances of success.Correct
Solution
The statement implies that hard work is a significant factor in achieving success, but it does not guarantee it. It suggests that hard work improves the likelihood of success. Option 1 is too strong, option 2 is irrelevant, and option 3 is a possible but not necessarily implied conclusion.
Statement: The government has decided to provide tax benefits to companies investing in renewable energy projects.
- A.Conclusion: This will significantly reduce pollution levels.
- B.Conclusion: This will attract more investment in renewable energy sector.Correct
- C.Conclusion: All companies will now invest only in renewable energy.
- D.Conclusion: The government is against fossil fuels.
Solution
The statement directly implies that tax benefits are intended to incentivize investment in renewable energy. Therefore, it's a direct inference that this decision will attract more investment in the renewable energy sector. The other options are not directly supported by the statement.
Statement: "The government's investment in education is expected to improve the country's economic growth."
- A.Education is the only factor affecting economic growth.
- B.The country's economic growth will definitely improve.
- C.The investment in education is likely to contribute to economic growth.Correct
- D.The government is neglecting other sectors of the economy.
Solution
The statement suggests a likely positive impact of the investment on economic growth. It doesn't guarantee improvement or exclude other factors. Option 3 is the most reasonable inference.
Statement & Conclusion — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the golden rule for conclusion questions?
Use only what the statement says — no outside knowledge, however true. A conclusion "follows" only if the statement makes it necessarily true, not merely plausible.
How do I judge strong vs weak arguments?
Strong arguments are specific, feasible and tied to the issue's core; weak ones are generic, extreme or address a side issue. Emotional appeals without mechanism are weak by definition.
How many Statement & Conclusion practice questions does Parikshala have for SSC CPO?
120 exam-pattern Statement & Conclusion questions for SSC CPO Reasoning, each with a step-by-step solution. Practice is free — no sign-up needed to start.