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Logical Reasoning &

Analytical Ability

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When we examine things then we seek to explain why the things happened the

way they did. We categorize these questions as cause and effect reasoning. The

strong points behind any reason are known as ‘cause’ and the impact of the cause

is known as ‘effect’.

Usually in such questions the candidates are asked to determine whether a given

event is the cause or the effect of some other event. Clearly, the cause must occur

before the effect and the effect happens at same point of time after the cause. This

test is step to test candidates’ ability to analyse a pair of given statements and to

correlate them of cause and effect. There may be several necessary conditions for

the occurrence of an event and that they must all be included in the sufficient

condition. Further going on practice first we should learn some rules. These are

Rule 1: The cause will always occur before the effect. Hence, if two events

are given then the effect that is chronologically antecedent to the other can

only be regarded as a possible cause.

Cause and Effect

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Rule 2: A necessary condition for the occurrence of a specified event is a

circumstance in whose absence the event cannot occur.

Rule 3: A sufficient condition for the occurrence of an event is a circumstance

in whose presence the event must occur.

Rule 4: Both the events express generalized results that may not be backed by

any specific cause but may influence certain other factors.

Rule 5: The effects in both the given statements may be caused or triggered by

a third unmentioned event which may thus be called the common cause of the

given events.

Basic Question Format:

In such questions, two statements numbered I and II are given. There may be the

cause and effect relationship between the two statements. These two statements

may be the effect of the same cause or independent causes. These statements may

be independent causes without having any relationship. Read both the statements in

each question and mark your answer accordingly. Give answer

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(a) If statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect

(b) If statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect

(c) If both the statements I and II are independent causes

(d) If both the statements I and II are effects of independent

causes

‘Smart’ Facts

Let us learn how we can easily solve these problems using ‘smart’ facts

(a) If first event I is in present perfect tense and II is in future tense.

Eliminate choice (a) and (c). As event II cannot be a cause or event I.

(b) If event I is in present perfect and event II is in present continuous, so

event I occurs before II. Thus eliminate choice (a) and (c).

(c) Event I is in present perfect tense and event II is in present continuous,

so event I occurs before event II. Hence, event II cannot be a cause. Thus

eliminate choices (a) and (c).

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Example: In each of the following questions two statements numbered I and II

are given. These may be cause and effect relationship between the two

statements. These two statements may be the effect of the same cause or

independent causes. These statements may be independent causes without

having any relationship. Read both the statements in each question and mark

your answer as.

(a) If statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect

(b) If statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect

(c) If both the statements I and II are independent causes

(d) If both the statements I and II are effects of independent

causes

Example 1

I. The local co-operative credit society has decided to stop giving loans to

farmers with immediate effect

II. A large number of credit society members have withdrawn major part of

their deposits from the credit society

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Solution.

Clearly, withdrawn of funds by society members is bound to reduce the lending

power of the society. So, option (b) is our answer.

Example 2

I. The police authority has recently caught a group of house breakers

II. The citizens group in the locality have started playing cricket in the area

Solution.

Clearly both the statements are independent causes and have no casual relation

between them. So, option (c) is our answer.

Example 3

I. A peace accord was signed between the government and the ultras and

a popular government was democratically established in Mizoram.

II. Mizoram is peaceful now.

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Solution.

Event I is past tense and event II is in present tense. So, event II must be an

effect. Obviously II is caused by an agreement of Peace (Peace accord) and the

democratic execution of the agreement. So, option (a) is our answer.

Example 4

I. The government has decided to make all the information

related to primary education available to the general public.

II. In the past, the general public did not have access to all these

information related to primary education.

Solution.

The government must have seen the unawareness of the people as a strong

factor in the primary education programme being not successful. The steps

indicated in I must, thus have been sought for as a remedy for the same. So,

option (b) is our answer.

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