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Probability of Death Passage

XAT 2010 · Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning · Medium · Reading Comprehension

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Passage / data set

Analyse the following passage and provide an appropriate answer for the questions that follow.

When we speak of the "probability of death", the exact meaning of the experience can be defined in the following way only. We must not think of an individual, but of a certain class as a whole, e.g., "all insured men forty-one years old living in a given country and not engaged in certain dangerous occupations." A probability of death is attached to the class of men or to another class that can be defined in a similar way. We can say nothing about the probability of death of an individual even if we know this condition of life and health in detail. The phrase "probability of death", which it refers to a single person, has no meaning at all.

Question 1 of 3

Which of the following conclusions can be drawn from the passage?

  1. Singular, non replicable events can be assigned numerical probability value.
  2. Probability calculation requires data of the class of people or of events.
  3. The data about a class of events can be used to predict the future of any specific event.
  1. A.

    1 only

  2. B.

    2 only

  3. C.

    1 and 2

  4. D.

    2 and 3

  5. E.

    1 and 3

Answer

B

Explanation

The passage states that probability applies to a class of entities/events, not to a single non-replicable individual event. Thus, only statement 2 is supported.

Question 2 of 3

Which of the following statements would the author(s) disagree to the most?

The outcome of a boxing match to be held in Los Angeles between two boxers, Joe and Mark, belonging to two different boxing clubs can be analysed and an outcome can be assigned a numerical value:

  1. A.

    if assignment of the boxers' current fitness levels and their strengths is done by experts.

  2. B.

    by analysis of outcomes of fights between the boxers belonging to the two clubs.

  3. C.

    by analysis of outcomes of fights between the two boxers at different venues.

  4. D.

    by comparing of outcomes of fights between the two boxers against same opponents.

  5. E.

    by analysis of outcomes of fights between the two boxers at the same venue in Los Angeles.

Answer

A

Explanation

The author insists probability cannot be applied to an individual based on individual characteristics. Option A tries to evaluate a single individual fight based on individual fitness/strength, which the author strongly rejects.

Question 3 of 3

Which of the following statements would the author(s) agree to the most?

The outcome of a boxing match to be held in Los Angeles between two boxers, Joe and Mark, belonging to two different boxing clubs can be analysed and an outcome can be assigned a numerical value:

  1. A.

    if assignment of the boxers' current fitness levels and their strengths is done by experts.

  2. B.

    by analysis of outcomes of fights between the boxers belonging to the two clubs.

  3. C.

    by analysis of outcomes of fights between the two boxers at different venues.

  4. D.

    by comparing of outcomes of fights between the two boxers against same opponents.

  5. E.

    by analysis of outcomes of fights between the two boxers at the same venue in Los Angeles.

Answer

B

Explanation

The author emphasizes that probability applies to a broad class. Analyzing outcomes between classes (boxers of the two clubs) matches the author's framework.

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