GATE EC 2016 Set 1 — Question 7
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General Aptitude → Verbal Aptitude → Reading Comprehension
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Question
In a world filled with uncertainty, he was glad to have many good friends. He had always assisted them in times of need and was confident that they would reciprocate. However, the events of the last week proved him wrong.
Which of the following inference(s) is/are logically valid and can be inferred from the above passage?
(i) His friends were always asking him to help them.
(ii) He felt that when in need of help, his friends would let him down.
(iii) He was sure that his friends would help him when in need.
(iv) His friends did not help him last week.
Which of the following inference(s) is/are logically valid and can be inferred from the above passage?
(i) His friends were always asking him to help them.
(ii) He felt that when in need of help, his friends would let him down.
(iii) He was sure that his friends would help him when in need.
(iv) His friends did not help him last week.
Correct answer
(B) (iii) and (iv)
Solution
Let's analyze each inference:
(i) "His friends were always asking him to help them." The passage states "He had always assisted them in times of need", which implies they asked for help, but "always asking" is an overstatement and not directly inferable.
(ii) "He felt that when in need of help, his friends would let him down." The passage states "he was confident that they would reciprocate. However, the events of the last week proved him wrong." This implies his confidence was misplaced, and they did let him down. So, this feeling is a valid consequence of the events.
(iii) "He was sure that his friends would help him when in need." This is explicitly stated in the passage: "he was confident that they would reciprocate." This is a valid inference about his prior belief.
(iv) "His friends did not help him last week." This is directly implied by "the events of the last week proved him wrong" regarding his confidence that they would reciprocate. This is a valid inference about what happened.Both (iii) and (iv) are directly inferable from the passage. (iii) describes his initial state of mind, and (iv) describes the event that contradicted it.Therefore, the logically valid inferences are (iii) and (iv).The final answer is
(i) "His friends were always asking him to help them." The passage states "He had always assisted them in times of need", which implies they asked for help, but "always asking" is an overstatement and not directly inferable.
(ii) "He felt that when in need of help, his friends would let him down." The passage states "he was confident that they would reciprocate. However, the events of the last week proved him wrong." This implies his confidence was misplaced, and they did let him down. So, this feeling is a valid consequence of the events.
(iii) "He was sure that his friends would help him when in need." This is explicitly stated in the passage: "he was confident that they would reciprocate." This is a valid inference about his prior belief.
(iv) "His friends did not help him last week." This is directly implied by "the events of the last week proved him wrong" regarding his confidence that they would reciprocate. This is a valid inference about what happened.Both (iii) and (iv) are directly inferable from the passage. (iii) describes his initial state of mind, and (iv) describes the event that contradicted it.Therefore, the logically valid inferences are (iii) and (iv).The final answer is
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