Statement & Conclusion
🔒 Log in to trackStatement and conclusions
🔒 Log in to trackYou get a short statement and some conclusions. A conclusion follows only if the statement alone forces it. Real-life truth does not matter. Use only the statement as evidence.
What the question asks
You get a short statement: a news line, a rule, a notice or a fact with numbers. Then you get two or three conclusions.
A conclusion follows if the statement alone makes it definitely true, or makes it the clear meaning. You are not asked if it 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 it does not say is not evidence, even if everyone knows it.
When a conclusion follows
- Restatement. It says the same thing in other words. "The library is closed on all Sundays" gives "A visitor on a Sunday will find it closed."
- Direct consequence. It comes from simple logic or arithmetic. "360 km in 4.5 hours" gives "average speed 80 km/h".
- Soft, clear implication. Words like some, may, likely keep a conclusion modest. "A 5% rebate for early payment" gives "Some owners are likely to pay early".
When a conclusion fails
| Fault | What it looks like | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Extreme word | only, all, always, never, best, must | "Exercise is the only way to control BP" |
| Too general | one case becomes every case | one festival month becomes "every year" |
| Outside cause | a reason the statement never gave | "sales rose" becomes "because prices fell" |
| Future guess | what will happen next time | "the metro will cut fares again" |
| Average as limit | an average read as a maximum | average 80 km/h becomes "never above 80" |
| Wrong direction | "only X can" read as "every X will" | ten years' service becomes "she will get the award" |
The rules for only and every
These two words are opposite gates. Exams use them often.
Rule: "Only X can get Y" means X is needed. It tells you who is out: everyone who is not X. It does not say every X gets Y.
Rule: "Every X gets Y" is a guarantee for each X. If Arun is an X, Arun gets Y. It does not say only X get Y.
Kiran scored 55%, and only those with 60% are called. So Kiran is not called. But a student with 70% is not sure to be called.
Data statements
When the statement has numbers, do the sums. Data conclusions are usually forced or contradicted.
- Percentage change: (new − old) ÷ old × 100. From ₹40 to ₹50 is 25%. From ₹10 to ₹15 is 50%. A bigger rupee rise can be a smaller percentage rise.
- Average and total: an average of ₹30,000 for 5 people gives a total of ₹1,50,000. It does not mean each person earns ₹30,000.
- Revenue and profit: sales are not profit. The cost is unknown unless it is given.
Soft words and hard words
Some, may, likely and at least one are safe. All, only, always and never are risky. A soft conclusion passes if it is a fair reading. A hard word passes only if the statement used it too.
A worked example
Statement: The new flyover cut the travel time between the station and the bus stand from 40 minutes to 15 minutes.
- I. Travel time fell by 25 minutes. This is arithmetic, so it follows.
- II. The flyover was very costly. The statement never says so, so it does not follow.
- III. Commuters now save time. This is a clear implication, so it follows.
Answer: only I and III.
Question types you will see
Each type: how to recognise it, the method step by step, and one question to try.
Extreme word, over-general claim or outside cause
The conclusion has words like only, all, always or never. Or it gives a reason the statement did not give.
Underline the strong words in the conclusion.
Check if the statement uses the same words.
If the conclusion adds a new reason or a new extreme, it fails.
A statement gives limited evidence. A new extreme or a new cause goes beyond it.
Statement: Metro ridership rose after fares were cut last month. Conclusion: The fare cut is the only reason ridership rose.
Show solutionHide solution
The statement says ridership rose after the fare cut.
'Only reason' is a new extreme claim.
Other causes are not ruled out.
Does not follow
Data-based conclusion
The statement has numbers, such as an average, a percentage or a total.
Do the sum the conclusion needs.
Compare your result with the conclusion.
An average gives a total but not each value.
Numbers force some conclusions and leave others open.
Statement: The average monthly salary of 5 employees is ₹30,000. Conclusions: I. The total salary is ₹1,50,000. II. Each employee earns ₹30,000.
Show solutionHide solution
Total = 5 × 30,000 = ₹1,50,000. So I follows.
An average says nothing about each person. So II fails.
Only I follows
The only-rule applied to a person
The statement says 'only those who...' and then names a person.
Write the gate: only X can get Y.
Check if the person passes or fails the gate.
A person who fails the gate is out. A person who passes is not sure to get Y.
An only-rule fixes who is out, not who is in.
Statement: Only students scoring at least 60% will be called for interview. Kiran scored 55%. Conclusion: Kiran will not be called.
Show solutionHide solution
The gate is a score of 60% or more.
Kiran scored 55%, so she is below the gate.
She is out.
Follows
Restatement and clear implication
The conclusion repeats part of the statement, or gives the plain meaning of it.
Read the statement once.
Check if each conclusion says the same thing in other words.
Mark the ones that add nothing new as following.
A conclusion that adds nothing new cannot go beyond the statement.
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.
Show solutionHide solution
I is the plain meaning of 'the school will stay closed'.
II repeats a part of the statement.
Both follow
Percentage change and comparison
The statement gives an old value and a new value, and the conclusions give the rise or the percentage.
Find the change: new − old.
Divide by the old value for the percentage.
Compare with each conclusion.
Percentage change always uses the old value as the base.
Statement: The price of petrol rose from ₹80 to ₹92 in one year. Conclusions: I. The price rose by ₹12. II. The price rose by 15%. III. The price rose by 20%.
Show solutionHide solution
Rise = 92 − 80 = ₹12. So I follows.
12 ÷ 80 = 15%. So II follows.
III is wrong. 20% of 80 is ₹16, not ₹12.
I and II follow
A future guess
The conclusion says what 'will' happen later, but the statement is only about now.
Find the time in the statement.
Find the time in the conclusion.
If the conclusion looks ahead further than the statement, it fails.
A statement about today does not force what happens later.
Statement: The city announced a fare cut on the metro from next month. Conclusions: I. Metro fares will be lower from next month. II. The metro will cut fares again next year.
Show solutionHide solution
I repeats the announcement.
II talks about next year, which the statement never mentions.
Only I follows
The every-rule and the wrong direction
The statement gives a guarantee: every X gets Y. The conclusion turns it round.
Write the rule as: X gives Y.
A person with X gets Y. That follows.
A person with Y must have X? That does not follow.
A guarantee runs one way only. The reverse is a separate claim.
Statement: Every employee with ten years of service gets an award. Arun has ten years of service. Conclusions: I. Arun gets an award. II. Every employee with an award has ten years of service.
Show solutionHide solution
Arun has ten years, so the rule gives him the award. I follows.
The rule does not say others cannot get an award. II does not follow.
Only I follows
Soft words against hard words
One conclusion uses 'some' or 'likely' and another uses 'all' or 'every'.
Mark each conclusion soft or hard.
A soft conclusion is a fair reading. It usually follows.
A hard conclusion needs the statement to say it. Otherwise it fails.
A statement rarely gives enough evidence for 'all' or 'always'.
Statement: The bank offers 1% extra interest to senior citizens on fixed deposits. Conclusions: I. Some senior citizens are likely to prefer this bank. II. All senior citizens will move their deposits to this bank.
Show solutionHide solution
I says 'some' and 'likely'. It is a fair reading of the offer.
II says 'all' and 'will'. The statement gives no such force.
Only I follows
Shortcuts that save time
Circle words like only, all, always, never, surely, best, entire and must. If the conclusion has one and the statement does not, it almost always fails.
Statement: Regular exercise helps control blood pressure. Conclusion: Exercise is the only way to control blood pressure. Does it follow?
Show solutionHide solution
The conclusion has the word 'only'. The statement does not.
The statement says exercise helps. It does not say nothing else works.
Does not follow
'Only X can do Y' means X is required. It does not mean X is enough. Check which way the conclusion runs.
Statement: Only graduates can apply for the post. Riya is a graduate. Conclusion: Riya will be selected. Does it follow?
Show solutionHide solution
Being a graduate is needed to apply.
It does not guarantee selection.
Does not follow
Mistakes to avoid
Where most students lose marks on this subtopic.
Judging the conclusion by what is true in real life.
Judge it only by the statement. Real-life facts are not evidence.
Accepting a conclusion because it sounds sensible.
Ask if the statement forces it. Sensible is not enough.
Reading 'only X can' as 'every X will'.
Only-X tells you who is out. It does not tell you who is in.
Reading an average as a limit or as each value.
An average gives a total. It does not give the maximum or each value.
Treating sales as profit.
Profit needs the cost. If the cost is not given, profit is unknown.
Rejecting a soft word like 'some' or 'likely'.
Soft words are safe when the reading is fair.
Quick revision
Read this the night before the exam.
Only the statement is evidence. Real-life truth does not matter.
Follows: restatement, arithmetic consequence, or a soft clear implication.
Fails: a new extreme word, a general claim from one case, an outside cause, a future guess, or an average read as a limit.
Only X can: it tells you who is out. Every X gets: a guarantee for each X.
With numbers, do the sum. Revenue is not profit. An average is not each value.
Practice: 19 questions
Sets of 10, mixed across the question types above. Every answer has a step-by-step explanation.
Topic test · 10 questions
Suggested time 8 min · wrong answers go to your mistake notebook automatically.