With reference to the above information, consider the following statements : 1. Some supporters of ‘party X’ knew Z. 2. Some supporters of ‘party X’, who opposed Z's campaign strategy, knew Z. 3. No supporters of ‘party X’ supported Z's campaign strategy. Which of the statements given above is/are not correct?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 3 only ✓ UPSC's answer
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Why the answer is (c)
• The given information says that the 'party X' supporters who knew Z and supported his campaign strategy did not agree to the alliance, and that some of them had friends in 'party Y'. So such supporters exist.
• Statement 1 ("some supporters of party X knew Z") is therefore true.
• Statement 3 ("no supporter of party X supported Z's strategy") contradicts the information, so it is not correct.
• Statement 2 (some who opposed Z's strategy knew Z) cannot be proved, but nothing in the information makes it false either.
• So the only statement that is definitely not correct is 3, option (c).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) 1 only
- Statement 1 is correct because the existence of supporters who knew Z and supported the strategy implies that some supporters knew Z.
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- Statement 2 is not necessarily false, and Statement 1 is correct, so this option is invalid.
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
- Statements 1 and 2 are not demonstrably false, so they are not 'not correct' in the sense of being logically invalid or contradictory to the premise.
Asked in the CSAT Paper II of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2017, held on 18 June 2017. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.