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)
• The family is the man, his wife, two sons and two daughters.
• The daughters went to a feast and all male members — the man and both sons — went to a picnic; the man's father had also not returned from work.
• Everyone whose whereabouts are stated is away; only the wife is unaccounted for, so she is probably at home — but the statements do not say so for certain.
• ‘Likely’ is therefore the right word — option (b); ‘only the wife’ (a) is stated as a certainty the facts do not give.
• Hence option (b).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) Only the man's wife was left at home.
- The statements never say the wife stayed home, so ‘only the wife was left’ cannot be asserted as certain.
- (c) None was left at home.
- Nothing says the wife left, so ‘none was left at home’ does not follow.
- (d) More than one person was left at home.
- All other members are stated to be away, so more than one person at home is not supported.
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.