Logical Reasoning Questions for CLAT | QB Set 12

In welcome progress in the ‘Bulli Bai’ case, within days Mumbai cyber police has made arrests spread from Bengaluru to Rudrapur and Kotdwar. This time virulent sexual harassment is being addressed with the investigative urgency it demands. But that all the accused are students has caused yet another round of shock and dismay. A male engineering student, a female 12th standard pass preparing for engineering entrance exams, and a male BSc student — what could have brought them all together in a mission to shame, scare and dehumanise more than 100 Muslim women concertedly and brazenly?

Even if it turns out the students were prodded by others, that will not invalidate conversations the case has set off about the levels of poison and hate spreading through at least some of India’s young today. The young do have plenty to be distressed and even angry about. For many of them acute disruptions of the education and job cycle come on top of serious familial setbacks during the pandemic. The same pandemic pushed many deeper into online echo chambers that insist the main source of both their individual suffering and society’s general ills is a definable group, an Other. Polarisation coaxed by technology and particularly social media can be more extreme than any physical ghettoisation, and this is true across the world.

For all the homilies that adults spin about the young as architects of a better future, this case, even if it’s an uncommon case, is a grim lesson that toxic input produces similar output. Young Indians deprived of opportunities may find purpose only in religious or other forms of hatred, leading to more mob violence online and offline. Averting this dystopia requires work on multiple fronts: Tough policing of hate crimes, effective social media regulation, politics staying away from religious misadventures, and jobs, jobs, jobs.

1. Which of the following is an assumption made by the author in the statement “But that all the accused are students has caused yet another round of shock and dismay”?
(a) Students being involved in such disgusting acts is an uncommon occurrence.
(b) Such actions are usually undertaken by hardened criminals.
(c) Students are unlikely to be experienced in undertaking such actions.
(d) People are shocked when students are responsible of such wrongdoings.

2. Which of the following best explains the ‘input and output’ as referred to in the statement “For all the homilies that adults spin about the young as architects of a better future, this case, even if it’s an uncommon case, is a grim lesson that toxic input produces similar output”?
(a) Social media exposure and youth behavior.
(b) Youth behaviour and social media exposure.
(c) Violent crimes and religious hatred.
(d) Religious hatred and violent crimes.

3. It can be inferred that the author would most likely describe the perpetrators as all of the following except:
(a) Innocent and misguided
(b) Young and hateful
(c) Student and unemployed
(d) Misogynist and misanthrope

4. With which of the following, about the Bulli Bai case accused, will the author agree MOST?
(a) They are a symbol of the regional divide that is etched in the political landscape.
(b) They are emblem of the joblessness cause by the pandemic and a sinking economy.
(c) They are a reflection of the collapsing moral values and family structures.
(d) They represent a larger message on what social media jungle and toxic politics can do.

5. Which of the following is the most likely reason behind the author emphasizing so strongly on ‘jobs’ as the solution, in the last sentence?
(a) Jobs will distract the youth and drive away the pernicious thoughts.
(b) Jobs will raise the standard of living and luxury is the ultimate antidote for rebellion.
(c) Jobs will placate the angst and fill up the vacuum space of resentment.
(d) Jobs will increase networking and comradeship between diverse backgrounds.

Answers & Explanations

1. Ans. a
Sol. Option (a) — the author’s expression of shock and dismay of the public is largely related to the scholars being the accused. Therefore, the author must be assuming that students don’t indulge in such acts and it’s a rare occurrence, thus causing the dismay.

• Option (b): Students’ identity caused surprise, which does not mean that the only other alternative would be hardened criminals.
• Option (c): The shock is not about experience but the overall disposition (age, inexperience, upbringing, etc.).
• Option (d): The shock is also due to the nature of activity, so we cannot say that the author assumes that any wrongdoing by students causes shock.
  Hence (a).

2. Ans. a
Sol. When this statement is read in context of the preceding and succeeding statements in the passage, it becomes apparent that the input refers to the media exposure of the youth and the output is obviously the actions taken by them.
Hence (a).

3. Ans. a
Sol. Option (a): The author is not necessarily absolving the perpetrators by showcasing their helplessness and innocence. The author says that the present unique situation fuelled by pandemic and religious polarization is an important factor in influencing the youth but he does not excuse these perpetrators on account of their age and inexperience. He paints them as being hateful and vindictive.
Hence (a).

4. Ans. d
Sol. Option (a): The author does not connect the youth with the regional divide, rather with religious divisions.

• Option (b): Joblessness has been mentioned as one of the additional causes and not the main cause of the toxic behaviour.
• Option (c): Is irrelevant.
• Option (d): Is what the author is largely saying, as can be inferred from “Polarisation coaxed by technology and particularly social media can be more extreme than any physical ghettoisation.”
  Hence (d).

5. Ans. c
Sol. Option (c): In the context of the passage, it can be inferred that jobs will diminish the anger and resentment that youth feel. This anger is channelized by the toxic social media atmosphere towards some invisible Other. This is because their idle minds are easily manipulated. Therefore jobs will most importantly reduce such anger by channeling their energy in more constructive ways.
Hence (c).