In a school, 60% students play cricket. A student who does not play cricket, plays football. Every football player has got a two-wheeler. Which of the following conclusions cannot be drawn from the above data ? 1. 60% of the students do not have two-wheelers. 2. No cricketer has a two-wheeler. 3. Cricket players do not play football. Select the correct answer using the code given below :
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3 ✓ UPSC's answer
Why the answer is (d)
• The data states 60% play cricket, implying 40% do not play cricket.
• The data states that a student who does not play cricket plays football, meaning 40% play football.
• The data states every football player has a two-wheeler, so 40% of students have two-wheelers.
• Conclusion 1 claims 60% do not have two-wheelers; since 40% have them, 60% do not, but this assumes no cricketer has a two-wheeler, which is not stated, so it cannot be definitively drawn as a logical necessity from the premises alone regarding the cricket group's possession.
• Conclusion 2 claims no cricketer has a two-wheeler; the data only links two-wheelers to football players, not excluding cricketers from owning them, so this cannot be drawn.
• Conclusion 3 claims cricket players do not play football; the data defines football players as those who do not play cricket, implying mutual exclusivity, but the question asks what *cannot* be drawn, and in strict logical deduction contexts for this specific UPSC question, the official key indicates all three are considered not strictly derivable or the phrasing implies uncertainty in the cricket group's attributes, leading to option (d).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- Option (a) is incorrect because the official key identifies that conclusion 3 also cannot be drawn, making the set incomplete.
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- Option (b) is incorrect because the official key identifies that conclusion 1 also cannot be drawn, making the set incomplete.
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- Option (c) is incorrect because the official key identifies that conclusion 2 also cannot be drawn, making the set incomplete.
Asked in the CSAT Paper II of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2019, held on 2 June 2019. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.