Statement & Conclusion
🔒 Log in to trackStatement and conclusions
🔒 Log in to trackA conclusion follows only if it is definitely true on the basis of the statement alone (plus universal common sense). You are not asked whether it is true in real life — only whether the statement forces it.
A conclusion follows when it:
- restates the statement in other words,
- is a direct, necessary consequence (arithmetic from given data counts), or
- is the obvious intended implication ('may', 'some', 'likely' conclusions often pass).
A conclusion fails when it:
- uses extreme words (only, all, always, never, best, must) the statement never used,
- brings in outside facts or a cause/effect the statement does not mention,
- overgeneralises one case to 'every time' or 'everyone',
- confuses a necessary condition with a sufficient one ('only those with X are eligible' does not make everyone with X eligible).
Detailed notes
What is a statement-conclusion question?
You get a short statement (a news line, a rule, a notice, a fact with numbers) and two or three conclusions. A conclusion follows only if the statement alone makes it definitely true, or makes it the clear, intended meaning. You are not asked whether the conclusion is true in real life. You are asked: does this statement force it?
Think of yourself as a strict judge. The statement is the only evidence. Anything the statement does not say is not evidence, even if it is common knowledge.
When a conclusion follows
- Restatement. It says the same thing in other words. "The library is closed on all Sundays" → "A visitor on a Sunday will find it closed."
- Direct consequence. It follows by simple logic or arithmetic. "360 km in 4.5 hours" → "average speed 80 km/h".
- Clear, soft implication. Words like some, may, likely, at least one make a conclusion modest. "A 5% rebate is offered for early payment" → "Some owners are likely to pay early" follows.
When a conclusion fails
| Trap | What it looks like | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Extreme word | only, all, always, never, best, must, completely | "Exercise is the only way to control BP" |
| Overgeneralisation | one case turned into every case | one festival month → "every year in festival months" |
| Outside cause | a reason the statement never gave | "sales rose" → "because prices fell" |
| Future guess | what will happen next time | "the metro will cut fares again" |
| Average as limit | average read as maximum or minimum | average 80 km/h → "never exceeded 80" |
| Necessary vs sufficient | "only X are eligible" read as "every X gets it" | ten years' service → "she will get the award" |
The "only" and "every" rules
These two words are opposite gates and exams love them.
- "Only X can get Y" means X is necessary. It tells you who is out (the non-X). It does not say every X gets Y. Kiran scored 55% and only those with 60% are called → Kiran is not called ✓. Someone with 70% will be selected ✗.
- "Every X gets Y" means X is sufficient. If Arun is an X, Arun gets Y ✓. But it does not say only X get Y.
Data statements
When the statement has numbers, do the arithmetic. Data conclusions are either forced or contradicted — rarely in between.
- Percentage change: (new − old) ÷ old × 100. ₹40 → ₹50 is 25%; ₹10 → ₹15 is 50%. A bigger rupee rise can be a smaller percentage rise.
- Average × count = total. An average of ₹30,000 for 5 people gives a total of ₹1,50,000, but it does not mean each person earns ₹30,000.
- Sales revenue is not profit — cost is unknown unless given.
Worked example
Statement: The new flyover cut travel time between the station and the bus stand from 40 minutes to 15 minutes. I. Travel time fell by 25 minutes — arithmetic, follows. II. The flyover was very costly — never mentioned, fails. III. Commuters between the two places now save time — clear implication, follows. Answer: only I and III.
Quick revision
- Only the statement is evidence. Real-life truth does not matter.
- Follows: restatement, arithmetic consequence, soft clear implication.
- Fails: new extreme word, overgeneralisation, outside cause, future guess, average read as a limit.
- "Only X" = gate (non-X are out). "Every X" = guarantee for each X.
- With numbers, always compute; revenue ≠ profit; average ≠ each value.
Types of questions asked
Every way this subtopic shows up in exams — how to recognise it, the formula or logic to use, and a solved example.
Type 1: Extreme word, overgeneralisation or outside causevery common2 practice Q
The conclusion adds only / all / always / every year / because of, or predicts the future, while the statement is about one limited fact.
- Underline the key claim of the statement.
- Check the conclusion for new extreme words, a wider scope, a new cause or a future prediction.
- Any such addition means it does not follow; a plain restatement or 'at least one' version does.
Why it works: the statement is the only evidence, so anything wider than it is unsupported.
Example: Statement: Metro ridership rose after fares were cut last month. Conclusion: The fare cut is the only reason ridership rose.
'Only reason' is a new extreme claim — other causes are not ruled out. Does not follow.
Type 2: Data-based conclusion (compute and compare)common3 practice Q
The statement gives numbers — prices, counts, speeds, averages — and the conclusions state a difference, a percentage or a comparison.
- Compute exactly what the conclusion claims (difference, % change, total = average × count).
- If it matches, it follows; if it clashes, it fails.
- Reject claims about quantities not given (profit when only sales are known, maximum when only the average is known).
Why it works: arithmetic either forces or contradicts a numeric claim.
Example: Statement: The average monthly salary of 5 employees is ₹30,000. Conclusions: I. Total salary is ₹1,50,000. II. Each earns ₹30,000.
Total = 5 × 30,000 = ₹1,50,000 → I follows. An average says nothing about each person → II fails. Only I.
Type 3: 'Only X' and 'Every X' rule applied to a personcommon2 practice Q
A rule with 'only those who…' or 'every … who…', then a named person and a conclusion about that person.
- 'Only X get Y' = X is necessary: non-X are out, but X are not guaranteed Y.
- 'Every X gets Y' = X is sufficient: any X gets Y.
- Place the named person against the rule and read off what is certain.
Why it works: necessary and sufficient conditions run in opposite directions.
Example: Statement: Only students scoring at least 60% will be called for interview. Kiran scored 55%. Conclusion: Kiran will not be called.
Kiran is below the gate, so she is out. Follows.
Type 4: Restatement and clear implication (including three conclusions)common2 practice Q
Conclusions that repeat the statement in other words or state its obvious purpose; sometimes three conclusions with pair options.
- Accept a conclusion that says the same thing in different words.
- Accept a soft, obvious implication (some, likely, can now).
- For three conclusions, judge each alone, then pick the matching combination.
Why it works: a restatement cannot be false if the statement is true.
Example: Statement: The school will stay closed tomorrow due to a heavy-rain warning from the weather department. Conclusions: I. Students need not come to school tomorrow. II. The weather department has warned of heavy rain.
Both repeat parts of the statement. Both follow.
Shortcut tricks
⚡ Extreme-word filter
Circle words like only, all, always, never, surely, best, entire, must. If the conclusion has one and the statement doesn't, it almost always fails.
Example: Q. Statement: Regular exercise helps control blood pressure. Conclusion: Exercise is the only way to control blood pressure.
Sol. 'Only' is new — the statement says exercise helps, not that nothing else works. Does not follow.
New extreme word = reject.
⚡ Necessary vs sufficient
'Only X can do Y' means X is required, not that X guarantees Y. Check which direction the conclusion runs.
Example: Q. Statement: Only graduates can apply for the post. Riya is a graduate. Conclusion: Riya will be selected.
Sol. Being a graduate is necessary to apply, not sufficient for selection. Does not follow.
'Only' fixes a gate, not a guarantee.
Where students lose marks
Accepting a conclusion because it is true in real life, though the statement is silent.
Reading 'only those with X' as 'everyone with X'.
Rejecting soft conclusions ('may', 'some') that the statement clearly supports.
Treating an average as a maximum or minimum in data statements.
Practice sets — 19 questions
Sets of 10, mixed across the question types above. Each answer comes with a step-by-step explanation.
Topic test · 10 questions
Suggested time 8 min · wrong answers go to your mistake notebook automatically.