Statement Based Questions (Verbal Reasoning)

1. What It Is

  • Statement-based questions test your ability to analyze, infer, and reason from given statements.
  • Usually, a statement or set of statements is given, and you are asked whether a conclusion follows, or to determine truth, sequence, or logic.

Key Idea:

  • Statements → Known facts.
  • Conclusion → What logically follows?
  • Verbal reasoning = deduction + interpretation of text-based statements.

2. How to Approach

  1. Read the statements carefully – identify facts and conditions.
  2. Read the conclusion/question – what are you supposed to find?
  3. Check each statement independently – does it support or contradict the conclusion?
  4. Combine statements if needed – see if together they support the conclusion.
  5. Avoid assumptions beyond the given information.

3. Rules & Key Points

  • Conclusion must follow logically – don’t assume extra info.
  • Negatives are tricky → “not,” “cannot,” “never,” etc.
  • All statements together may be needed to reach the conclusion.
  • Standard answers for most reasoning exams:
    1. Conclusion definitely follows
    2. Conclusion probably follows
    3. Conclusion does not follow
    4. Data inadequate

4. Tricks & Shortcuts

  1. Underline key facts in statements.
  2. Paraphrase conclusions in your own words.
  3. Use direct inference first → if obvious, pick answer.
  4. Combine statements only when necessary.
  5. For multiple statements → Venn diagrams, flowcharts, or tables can help visualize.

5. Types of Statement-Based Questions

  1. Direct conclusion from statements – simple logical inference.
  2. Cause and Effect – determine which statement causes the other.
  3. Assumptions – implicit assumptions behind a statement.
  4. Strengthen / Weaken statements – decide if additional info supports or opposes.
  5. Course of Action / Decision Making – choose correct action based on statements.

6. Stepwise Solving Strategy

  1. Identify what is asked – conclusion, assumption, action, etc.
  2. Check statement 1 alone → supports or not?
  3. Check statement 2 alone → supports or not?
  4. Combine statements → final decision.
  5. Select most logical and direct answer.

7. Practice Questions – Easy Examples

1. Direct Conclusion

Statements:

  1. All cats are animals.
  2. Some animals are not dogs.

Conclusion: Some cats are not dogs.

Solution:

  • From statement 1 → all cats are animals ✅
  • From statement 2 → some animals not dogs (cats may be included or not) ❌
  • Conclusion does not necessarily follow → Answer: Does not follow

2. Cause and Effect

Statement: Heavy rainfall occurred in the city. Traffic was disrupted.

Question: Does the rainfall cause traffic disruption?

Solution:

  • Heavy rain can logically cause traffic problems → effect is likely
  • Answer: Effect follows → Definitely/Probably follows

3. Assumption

Statement: The government increased the price of petrol.

Question: Which assumption is implicit?

  • People will try to reduce petrol consumption.
  • Petrol companies will reduce supply.

Solution:

  • Increase in price assumes people may reduce consumption
  • Answer: First assumption follows

4. Strengthen / Weaken

Statement: Students perform poorly because they study less.

Question: Which strengthens the statement?

  • A survey shows students spend only 1 hour/day studying. ✅ strengthens
  • Students eat junk food daily ❌ irrelevant

Answer: Statement strengthened by first option

5. Course of Action

Statement: A shopkeeper finds counterfeit currency in his shop.

Question: What should he do?

  • Report to police ✅ correct
  • Ignore and continue ❌ incorrect

8. Difficult Practice Questions

6. Direct Conclusion

Statements:

  1. All roses are flowers.
  2. Some flowers fade quickly.

Conclusion: Some roses fade quickly.

Solution:

  • Cannot conclude → some flowers may fade but not necessarily roses
  • Answer: Conclusion does not follow

7. Assumption

Statement: A company plans to provide free lunch for employees.

Question: Which assumption is implicit?

  • Employees will appreciate free lunch ✅
  • Employees will work less ❌

Answer: Employees will appreciate → assumption follows

8. Cause & Effect

Statement: A heavy storm struck the coastal area, causing power outages.

Question: Is the storm the cause of power outages?

Solution:

  • Direct logical link → storm is cause
  • Answer: Effect follows

9. Strengthen / Weaken

Statement: Regular exercise reduces stress.

Question: Which strengthens the statement?

  • A study shows participants exercising daily report less stress ✅
  • Watching TV daily reduces stress ❌

Answer: First strengthens

10. Course of Action

Statement: Traffic congestion has increased in the city.

Question: Suggested action?

  • Build more roads ✅
  • Encourage walking & cycling ✅

Answer: Both actions are logical

✅ Summary Tips for Statement-Based Questions

  1. Identify type of question first – conclusion, assumption, cause-effect, etc.
  2. Underline key words in statements.
  3. Avoid extra assumptions not given in text.
  4. Check statements individually and together.
  5. Practice with varied examples → reasoning gets faster.