CMAT questions on Arguments

Test for a strong argument: it must be directly related to the question, rest on a serious and practical reason, and not be a mere slogan.

Argument I (No, privacy): a medical test before marriage is limited and has a clear public-health purpose. Calling it an intolerable intrusion is an exaggeration. Privacy concerns can be met through confidentiality, so this is not a strong reason to reject the idea. Weak.

Argument II (Yes, healthier children): pre-marital screening can detect genetic and infectious conditions, such as thalassaemia carriers or HIV. That lets couples take informed decisions and reduces the risk of serious illness in children. The reason is real, important and directly linked to the proposal. Strong.

Answer: Only Argument II is strong

Assertion: blood group O is called the universal donor. This is true, at least for red cells: O red cells can be given to patients of groups A, B, AB and O.

Reason: group O red cells carry neither the A antigen nor the B antigen. The recipient's anti-A or anti-B antibodies therefore have nothing to attack, so no clumping (agglutination) occurs. This is exactly why O can be donated to everyone.

The reason is worded loosely. Strictly, O cells lack the A and B antigens; they still carry the H antigen and may be Rh-positive. In the sense intended (no ABO antigens), it is true and it is the correct explanation of the assertion.

Answer: Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).

Statement: domestic demand for crude oil is rising faster than indigenous production. A supply gap is growing.

Conclusion I: import crude oil. This is one way to close the gap.

Conclusion II: reduce domestic demand. This is the other way to close the gap.

The statement does not say which way must be chosen. But the gap has to be met somehow, and these are the two complementary ways of doing it: increase supply from outside, or cut consumption. Neither follows on its own, yet one of them must happen.

When two conclusions are the only alternative ways of dealing with the same situation, the standard answer is "either I or II follows".

Answer: Either Conclusion I or II follow