Solving Assertion Reason questions...

Lamya Ibrahim

How to solve assertion-reason type questions?

Okay, so the pattern is:
A - if both assertion & reason are right and reason the correct explanation for assertion
B - if A & R are right, but R is not the correct explanation for A
C - if A is right, but R is wrong
D - if both A & R are wrong.

While solving these questions, it's easy when the answer's C or D. But when it comes to choosing between A and B, i.e. when both Assertion & Reason are correct, I seem to be getting it wrong

My method of solving this type was to add "because" at the end of assertion and continue with the Reason to see if it makes sense.

Eg: A: Restriction endonucleases are also called molecular scissors or chemical scalpels.
R: They attach themselves between the same two bases on the opposite strands and cause a break in two.

So, Restriction endonucleases are also called molecular scissors or chemical scalpels, because they attach themselves between the same two bases on the opposite strands and cause a break in two, which makes sense, so A is the right option.

However, while solving the following:

1. A: The branch of science which deals with the study of living organisms is called Biology
R: Living organisms always have cellular organisation, which may be unicellular or multcellular

My answer = B. Given solution = A

2. A: The genetic material in Tobacco mosaic virus is RNA.
R: RNA is a type of nucleic acid.

My ans. - B Given - A

3. A: The sum total of anabolic and catabolic activities is called metabolism.
R: Organisms with positive metabolism remain healthy.

Mine- B... Given - A

4. A: Night blindness is due to deficiency of vitamin A
R: Actually, the term vitamin means vital minerals.

My ans. = B Given = A

These are just a few of the many questions I got wrong. So how am I supposed to go about solving these? And even in these specific examples, I cannot understand how the second sentence can be the reason of the first. Any help would be really appreciated.

Bananana Republic

You know, honestly, you should go with your instincts. PC suggesting these answers? Or some site? Another book? Don't worry. Most of them give some weird answers. Stick to the theory, you don't have to answer the A-R q's, all of 'em at least. Like for the 4th one. Anyone with some knowledge of Bio n even a minuscule one of English would answer B. But what I've learnt is, n Lamya, u should know better than to take me at my word ;) is that, whenever the R seems not an explanation, usually u ought to look for a specific word. That holds the key. In the 4th, I'm assuming it's 'vital'. 3rd-'positive-healthy'. But of course, this is motivated reasoning, came in the weekend review :) I think though, either do only the ones u're sure of, or do the word thing.

Lamya Ibrahim

Well, my instincts sure didn't work for these, did they? Nope, not PC, nor a site - Dinesh Entrance guide. They've an entire section devoted to Assertion-Reasoning questions, and there are many more that don't make sense to me. Hopefully actual entrance exams give less ambiguous questions - or I'll have to skip 'em I guess =\Thanks for the tip anw.. weekend review? Don't think I saw that one - last week's?

Bananana Republic

Nay, long back. Probably when u were in India, or b4. N the 'tip', hehe..can only elicit a polite thx.

Lamya Ibrahim

That explains how I missed it. Ah, no, ANY tip is better than no tip, and yours kinda made sense to me too (I'm not trying to flatter you, please :P)

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