Each question given below consists of a statement, followed by two arguments numbered I and II. You have to decide which of the arguments is a 'strong' argument and which is a 'weak' argument.
Give answer:
(A) If only argument I is strong
(B) If only argument II is strong
(C) If either I or II is strong
(D) If neither I nor II is strong and
(E) If both I and II are strong.
26.
Statement: Should the tuition fees in all post-graduate courses be hiked considerably?
Arguments:
Yes. This will bring in some sense of seriousness among the students and will improve the quality.
No. This will force the meritorious poor students to stay away from post-graduate courses.
A hike in fees is no means to make the students more serious in studies. So, argument I is vague. However, with the increase in fees, poor meritorious students would not be able to afford post-graduate studies. So, argument II holds.
Statement: Should the persons below the age of 18 years be allowed to join armed forces?
Arguments:
No. Persons below the age of 18 do not attain both physical and mental maturity to shoulder such burden.
Yes. This will help the country develop its armed forces which will serve the country for a longer time.
The armed forces must consist of physically strong and mentally mature individuals to take care of defence properly. So, argument I holds strong. Clearly, argument II holds no relevance.
Statement: Should all the infrastructural development projects in India be handed over to the private sector?
Arguments:
No. The private sector entities are hot equipped to handle such projects.
Yes. Such projects are handled by private sector in the developed countries.
Clearly, such projects if handed over to the private sector shall be given to a competent authority. So, argument I is vague. Also, imitating a policy on the basis that it worked out successfully in other countries holds no relevance. Thus, argument II also does not hold strong.
Statement: Should all the colleges in India be allowed to devise their own curriculum and syllabus for the vocational courses promoting self-employment?
Arguments:
Yes. This is an important step to generate employment opportunities.
No. This will affect the quality of education due to lack of uniformity in syllabus.
Clearly, colleges, if given a free hand, would through individual efforts come up with fresh, competent courses to draw in more students. This would open up new avenues for employment. So, argument I holds strong. In the light of this, argument II appears to be vague.
Statement: Should agriculture in rural India be mechanized?
Arguments:
Yes. It would lead to higher production.
No. Many villagers would be left unemployed.
Clearly, mechanization would speed up the work and increase the production. So, argument I is strong enough. Argument II is vague because mechanization will only eliminate wasteful employment, not create unemployment.
