Given the statement : “Buses are the cause of more accidents than cars, and trucks cause fewer accidents than buses”, which of the following conclusions can we draw ?
- (a) There are more buses on the road than trucks.
- (b) Car drivers are more careful than bus drivers.
- (c) Truck drivers are more skilled than either car or bus drivers.
- (d) None of the above ✓ UPSC's answer
Why the answer is (d)
• The statement provides comparative data on the number of accidents caused by buses, cars, and trucks, but it does not provide data on the total number of vehicles on the road for each category.
• Without knowing the total fleet size, one cannot determine if the higher accident rate for buses is due to their greater number on the road or other factors, so option (a) is invalid.
• The statement does not mention driver behavior, such as care or skill levels, so options (b) and (c) introduce assumptions not supported by the text.
• Since none of the specific conclusions (a), (b), or (c) can be logically deduced from the given premises, the only valid conclusion is that none of the above follow.
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) There are more buses on the road than trucks.
- The statement does not provide information about the total number of buses or trucks on the road, only their relative accident rates.
- (b) Car drivers are more careful than bus drivers.
- The statement does not contain any information regarding the care or behavior of car drivers compared to bus drivers.
- (c) Truck drivers are more skilled than either car or bus drivers.
- The statement does not provide any data on the skill levels of truck, car, or bus drivers.
Asked in the CSAT Paper II of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2014, held on 24 August 2014. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.