Consider the following statements : 1. A man had a wife, two sons and two daughters in his family. 2. The daughters were invited to a feast and the male members of the family went out to take part in a picnic. 3. The man's father did not return from his work. Which of the following statements is true ?

(a) Only the man's wife was left at home.
(b) It is likely that the man's wife was left at home. ✓ UPSC's answer
(c) None was left at home.
(d) More than one person was left at home.

Why the answer is (b)

• Statement 1 establishes the family composition: the man, his wife, two sons, and two daughters.

• Statement 2 states that the daughters were invited to a feast and the male members (the man and his two sons) went to a picnic, implying they are away from home.

• Statement 3 mentions the man's father did not return from work, but he is not part of the immediate family unit defined in Statement 1, so his presence or absence is uncertain and not guaranteed to be 'at home' in the context of the family's daily routine.

• Since the daughters are at a feast and the males are at a picnic, the only member of the defined family whose location is not explicitly stated as being away is the wife.

• Therefore, it is likely that the wife was left at home, as no other family member is confirmed to be present, making option (b) the most logical inference.

Why the other options are wrong

(a) Only the man's wife was left at home.: Option (a) is too absolute because the man's father might have returned home, or the daughters might have returned from the feast, so it cannot be stated as a definite fact that *only* the wife was left.
(c) None was left at home.: Option (c) is incorrect because the wife's whereabouts are not specified as being away, making it highly probable she was home, thus contradicting the claim that *none* was left.
(d) More than one person was left at home.: Option (d) is incorrect because the daughters are at a feast and the males are at a picnic, leaving no confirmed evidence that *more than one* person was left at home.

Asked in the CSAT Paper II of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2015, held on 23 August 2015. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.