Assertion-based questions are a specific type of question format commonly used in assessments. They present two statements: an Assertion (A) and a Reason (R). The task is to evaluate these statements and determine their relationship.
Understanding the Structure
Here's a breakdown of the core components of assertion-based questions:
- Assertion (A): This is a statement of fact or a claim. It may or may not be true.
- Reason (R): This statement provides an explanation or justification for the assertion. It may or may not be true, and it may or may not be a correct explanation for the assertion, if it's true.
How to Approach Assertion-Based Questions
To answer an assertion-based question correctly, you need to do the following:
- Evaluate the Assertion (A): Determine whether the assertion is true or false.
- Evaluate the Reason (R): Determine whether the reason is true or false.
- Assess the Relationship: If both the Assertion (A) and the Reason (R) are true, then decide whether the reason (R) correctly explains the assertion (A).
Common Answer Choices
Based on the analysis of the assertion and the reason, you typically choose one of the following options:
- (a) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) is a correct explanation of Assertion (A).
- (b) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not a correct explanation of Assertion (A).
- (c) Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
- (d) Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
- (e) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are false.
Example
Let's take an example to illustrate.
Assertion (A): The Earth revolves around the Sun.
Reason (R): The Sun is a star.
- The Assertion (A) is true.
- The Reason (R) is true.
- The Reason (R), that the sun is a star, does not directly explain why the Earth revolves around the Sun. The gravitational pull of the sun causes Earth to revolve around the sun. So reason R does not explain assertion A.
Thus, the correct answer would be option (b): Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not a correct explanation of Assertion (A).
Key Takeaways
- Assertion-based questions test your analytical and reasoning skills.
- They require careful evaluation of both individual statements and their relationship to each other.
- Understanding the different answer choices and how they apply to various scenarios is crucial for success.
