All Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) Practice

All Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) 13 / 557

The following question has a set of four statements. Each statement can be classified as one of the following:
(i) Facts, which deal with pieces of information that one has heard, seen or read, and which are open to discovery or verification (the answer option indicates such a statement with an F)
(ii) Inferences, which are conclusions drawn about the unknown, on the basis of the known (the answer option indicates such a statement with an I)
(iii) Judgements, which are opinions that imply approval or disapproval of persons, objects, situations and occurrences in the past, the present or the future (the answer option indicates such a statement with a J)
Identify the Fact (F), Judgement (J) and Inference (I) from these sentences.

Statements:

1. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fourth Assessment Report, published in 2007, concluded that warming of the climate system is unequivocal, attributing it with high confidence to observed increases in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations.
2. Given the historical inertia in transitioning away from fossil fuels in major economies, it is highly probable that current international pledges alone will not suffice to avert the most catastrophic consequences of climate change.
3. It is therefore imperative that national governments implement robust carbon pricing mechanisms and aggressively divest from fossil fuel subsidies to demonstrate genuine commitment to the Paris Agreement's long-term goals.
4. By 2023, the global average temperature had already risen by approximately 1.2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, according to the World Meteorological Organization.

Options:
(A) FIJF
(B) FIIF
(C) JIFJ
(D) FIFJ
(E) IFJF

Correct Answer: A

1. Statement 1 Analysis: This is a Fact (F). It presents verifiable information regarding the content and conclusion of a specific, published scientific report (the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report from 2007). The statement accurately recounts what the report stated, which can be objectively confirmed through document review.

2. Statement 2 Analysis: This is an Inference (I). It draws a conclusion about a future outcome ("will not suffice to avert") based on known conditions ("historical inertia in transitioning away from fossil fuels" and "current international pledges"). The use of "highly probable" signifies a logical projection or expectation rather than a certainty or a mere opinion.

3. Statement 3 Analysis: This is a Judgement (J). The statement contains several evaluative and prescriptive terms, such as "imperative," "robust," "aggressively divest," and "genuine commitment." These words express a strong opinion about what governments "should" or "must" do, indicating approval or disapproval of certain actions and their perceived efficacy, thus falling under the definition of a judgment.

4. Statement 4 Analysis: This is a Fact (F). It provides specific, quantifiable data about a past and current state ("global average temperature had already risen by approximately 1.2 degrees Celsius") and attributes this data to a credible, verifiable source (World Meteorological Organization). This information can be objectively confirmed and is not subject to interpretation or opinion.

Logical Trap: A common trap lies in Statement 2, which, while predictive and based on analysis, could be mistaken for a Judgement due to its critical tone regarding current efforts. However, "highly probable" frames it as a logical conclusion about likely future inadequacy given current trends, making it an Inference. Conversely, Statement 3 uses strong, directive language ("imperative," "aggressively"), which clearly marks it as a Judgement; students might incorrectly see this as an Inference if they focus solely on the proposed solutions rather than the prescriptive force behind them. Similarly, Statement 4 is a clear fact, but one might be tempted to infer 'inadequacy' from the temperature rise, thereby misclassifying the fact itself.

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