Consider the following statement : “We shall go either for a picnic or for trekking”. Which of the following, if true, would falsify this claim ?
- (a) We go for a picnic but not for trekking
- (b) Activities such as picnic and trekking are encouraged by the health authorities
- (c) We go for trekking and not for picnic
- (d) We do not go either for picnic or for trekking ✓ UPSC's answer
Why the answer is (d)
• The statement 'We shall go either for a picnic or for trekking' is a logical disjunction (A or B), which is true if at least one of the activities occurs.
• To falsify a disjunction, both components must be false; that is, neither activity can take place.
• Option (d) states that we do not go for either activity, meaning both 'picnic' and 'trekking' are false.
• Since neither activity occurs, the original claim that at least one would happen is proven false.
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) We go for a picnic but not for trekking
- Going for a picnic satisfies the condition of going for 'either a picnic or trekking', so the statement remains true.
- (b) Activities such as picnic and trekking are encouraged by the health authorities
- The encouragement of activities by health authorities is irrelevant to the factual outcome of whether the group actually goes for either activity.
- (c) We go for trekking and not for picnic
- Going for trekking satisfies the condition of going for 'either a picnic or trekking', so the statement remains true.
Asked in the CSAT Paper II of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2016, held on 7 August 2016. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.