Study Notes – Statement & Conclusion
(Reasoning Ability – Madhya Pradesh Forest Guard Program)
Why It Matters
In many exams, you’ll see a statement (a fact or observation) followed by several conclusions (what can be inferred).
Being quick at spotting the right conclusion saves you time and boosts your score.
1. What Is a Statement?
- Definition: A single, clear sentence that tells you something certain.
- Example:
“All X are Y.”
“If A happens, B will certainly happen.”
Everyday Analogy
Think of the statement as a road sign: it tells you what’s true on the road ahead.
2. What Is a Conclusion?
- Definition: A logical deduction that follows inevitably from the statement.
- Example:
From “All X are Y.” → “No X can be Z.” (If Y and Z can’t coexist.)
Everyday Analogy
A conclusion is the next step you can safely take after reading the sign.
3. How to Spot the Correct Conclusion
| Step | What to Do | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Read the statement | Write it down. | Keeps the fact fresh in your head. |
| 2. Identify the key terms | Look for words like all, none, every, some, only. | These words set the rule. |
| 3. Check each conclusion | Does it necessarily follow from the rule? | If it can’t happen, it’s wrong. |
| 4. Discard the impossible | Remove any conclusion that contradicts the statement. | Only one correct answer is allowed. |
4. Common Patterns
| Pattern | What It Means | Quick Test |
|---|---|---|
| All A are B | Every A is a B. | If C is not B → C is not A. |
| No A are B | Nothing that is A is B. | If X is B → X is not A. |
| Some A are B | At least one A is B. | You can’t say anything about A that isn’t B. |
| If A then B | Whenever A occurs, B must occur. | If B is false → A is false. |
5. Tiny Example
Statement
“All birds have feathers.”
Possible Conclusions
A. No bird has a tail.
B. Some animals with feathers are birds.
C. All animals with feathers are birds.
D. No animal that is not a bird has feathers.
Analysis
- From the statement, we know every bird has feathers.
- Conclusion A → Wrong. Birds can have tails.
- Conclusion B → Wrong. Feathers can belong to non‑birds (e.g., ducks).
- Conclusion C → Wrong. Ducks are birds, but there are feathered animals that aren’t birds.
- Conclusion D → Correct. If an animal is not a bird, it cannot have feathers, otherwise it would be a bird.
Answer: D
6. Quick Tips
- Look for “only” or “none” – they usually restrict possibilities.
- Remember “if…then” – the “then” part must be true whenever the “if” is true.
- Eliminate contradictions first – anything that clashes with the statement is immediately wrong.
- Practice – the more pattern recognition you get, the faster you’ll spot the right conclusion.
7. Practice Question
Statement: “All trees in the forest are evergreen.”
Which of the following is a valid conclusion?
- Some trees are not evergreen.
- No non‑evergreen trees exist in the forest.
- All evergreen trees are in the forest.
- Some evergreen trees are not in the forest.
Answer: 2.
Why? The statement says every tree in the forest is evergreen, so there can be no non‑evergreen trees in that forest. The others contradict the statement.
Summary
- Statement: A fact that is always true.
- Conclusion: What you can must accept if the statement is true.
- Method: Read, identify key words, test each conclusion, discard contradictions.
Keep these steps in mind, practice with a few questions a day, and you’ll master the Statement & Conclusion section in no time!