Assertion followed by reason is a specific type of logical reasoning where you are presented with two statements: an assertion and a reason. Your task is to analyze these statements and determine if they are true and, crucially, if the reason provided logically supports or explains the assertion. This type of question is common in logical reasoning tests and assessments.
Key Components:
The format always contains the following:
- Assertion: A statement that makes a claim or expresses a belief.
- Reason: A statement providing justification, explanation, or evidence for the assertion.
How to Approach Assertion-Reason Questions
Here's a breakdown of how to analyze and solve these types of questions, drawing from the provided reference:
- Evaluate the Assertion: First, determine if the assertion is factually correct. Is it a true statement based on known information?
- Evaluate the Reason: Next, check if the reason is also factually correct. Is the reason valid and accurate?
- Analyze the Connection: If both the assertion and reason are true, the final step is to ascertain if the reason logically explains or supports the assertion. Does the reason provide a good rationale for the assertion's claim?
Possible Outcomes and Responses:
- Both Assertion and Reason are True, and the Reason is the correct explanation: This is the ideal scenario where the provided reason accurately supports the assertion.
- Both Assertion and Reason are True, but the Reason is not the correct explanation: Here, both statements are true, but the reason does not logically connect to or support the assertion.
- Assertion is True, but Reason is False: In this case, the claim of the assertion is correct, but the justification given by the reason is incorrect.
- Assertion is False, but Reason is True: Here, the assertion is not a true statement, while the reason may be a correct statement, though it doesn't support the (incorrect) assertion.
- Both Assertion and Reason are False: Both statements are incorrect.
Examples:
Let's illustrate with a simplified example to show what assertion and reason questions look like:
| Statement | Type | |
|---|---|---|
| Assertion | The sky is blue | Claim |
| Reason | Because of the sun shining | Explanation |
In this case both the assertion and reason are true, however the reason provided is not the accurate explanation of why the sky is blue. Therefore, this example represents 'Both Assertion and Reason are True, but the Reason is not the correct explanation'.
Practical Application
Assertion-reason questions are often used to assess:
- Critical thinking: Analyzing statements and their relationships.
- Logical reasoning: Understanding cause-and-effect and supporting arguments.
- Analytical skills: Evaluating the validity of presented information.
Summary
According to the reference provided, assertion and reason reasoning presents a statement (assertion) and a supporting statement (reason), where one must ascertain the truthfulness of each and if the reason logically supports the assertion.
