In each question below is given a statement followed by three courses of action numbered I, II and III. You have to assume everything in the statement to be true, then decide which of the three given suggested courses of action logically follows for pursuing.
16.
Statement: Incessant rain for the past several days has posed the problem of overflowing and flood as the river bed is full of silt and mud.
Courses of Action:
The people residing near the river should be shifted to a safe place.
The people should be made aware about the imminent danger over radio/television.
The silt and mud from the river bed should be cleared immediately after the receding of the water level.
Statement: Some strains of mosquito have become resistant to chloroquine - the widely used medicine for malaria patients.
Courses of Action:
Selling of chloroquine should be stopped.
Researchers should develop a new medicine for patients affected by such mosquitoes.
All the patients suffering from malaria should be checked for identification of causal mosquito.
Clearly, chloroquine can still be used to get rid of the non-resistant varieties, and new medicines developed for the resistant varieties. The patients can then be treated accordingly by performing tests for the causal mosquito. So, only II and III follow.
Statement: Many private sector banks have reduced interest rate on housing loans in comparison to public sector banks.
Courses of Action:
The case should be raised before the regulatory authority for investigation by the public sector banks as they cannot follow such reduction.
Public sector banks must adopt such policy to remain in competition.
The public sector banks should advertise their special feature repeatedly so that they do not lose their future customers.
Clearly, the private sector banks have done so to attract more and more customers of public sector banks. Thus, public sector banks should either reduce the rate of interest to match with that of private sector banks or highlight those features which make them stand apart from private sector banks. So, either II or III follows.
Statement: The Deputy Mayor of city Z has proposed to install a plant of mineral water and to supply citizen's mineral water bottles at Rs. 6 per litre as against Rs. 10 per litre being sold by local private companies.
Courses of Action:
The local private companies of city Z will have to close their operation.
The Corporation of city Z will have to provide for losses in this project in its budget.
The tap water schemes of city Z will have to be stopped.
The Corporation has planned to install its plant so as to achieve cost-effective production of mineral water. Had there been a loss, it could also acquire water from private companies. So, II does not follow. Besides, the local private companies can survive by cutting costs or by extending their sales network to other cities. Thus, I does not follow. Lastly, the Corporation seeks to provide healthy drinking water to the residents. Water for general use would still be delivered through taps. Hence, III also does not follow.
Statement: The meteorological department has issued a notification forecasting less rainfall during next year's monsoon.
Courses of Action:
The government should immediately set up a water authority for proper management of water resources.
The water supply authorities should be asked to implement reduction in regular water supply to tackle the situation.
The farmers should be advised to cultivate alternate crops which require less water during the coming months.
Getting the information well in advance clearly suggests that adequate water be saved for the crisis by proper management and moderate cuts in water supply. Cultivating alternate crops may not prove viable for the farmers. So, only I and II follow.
