He chanced upon such an opportunity when his old friend, Mr. Patel, a well-known publisher, offered Screwwala to publish a book based on his life experiences. Screwwala grabbed the opportunity; however, given his thorough nature, he took a three-year long sabbatical to finish the book.
During that period, Patel guided Screwwala at every step, reviewing every chapter personally. At the end, the book turned out to be a bestseller, and Screwwala became famous.
Patel had a new proposal for Screwwala: he wanted Screwwala to work on a detective novel. Patel promised him good money but proposed that Screwwala would only write the final chapter of the novel, after his co-authors had completed the first nine chapters. Screwwala was surprised at the offer; since he never tried writing anything creative, and definitely not fiction. He wanted to be sure whether he could actually measure up with the co-authors who were established creative writers.
Which of the following, IF TRUE, will be the MOST compelling reason for Screwwala to accept the offer?
Show Hint
- Screwwala is earning a decent royalty on the sales of his first book.
- Patel is an experienced publisher who mentored many successful writers in the past.
- Writing the novel will pay Screwwala to travel across the world.
- Screwwala loved taking up challenging assignments during his stint as an investment banker.
- Screwwala has enjoyed working on his first book and does not want to go back to investment banking.
The Correct Option is B
Solution and Explanation
Screwwala has been offered an opportunity to write the final chapter of a detective novel, but he is unsure if he should take it up, as he has no experience in writing fiction. Patel, who has a history of mentoring successful writers, is an influential figure and plays a key role in encouraging Screwwala.
Step 2: Evaluate each option.
- (A) The royalty from Screwwala’s first book is not directly relevant to his ability to take on the new writing project.
- (B) Patel’s experience in mentoring successful writers makes him a credible figure who can guide Screwwala in this new venture, making this a compelling reason to accept the offer.
- (C) Writing the novel to travel across the world does not provide a strong professional or personal incentive compared to working with a reputed mentor.
- (D) While Screwwala might have enjoyed taking on challenges as an investment banker, writing fiction is a different type of challenge and not directly related to his career.
- (E) The fact that Screwwala enjoyed working on his first book might be true, but it does not directly convince him to take on the novel project without further professional guidance.
Step 3: Conclusion.
The best reason for Screwwala to accept the offer is (B), as Patel’s experience in mentoring successful writers is a strong assurance that Screwwala will be supported and guided throughout the process.
Patel had a new proposal for Screwwala: he wanted Screwwala to work on a detective novel. Patel proposed that Screwwala would only write the final chapter of the detective novel, after his co-authors. Screwwala accepted the offer.
Though the project started on time, a few of the authors could not manage to submit their chapters within the given timeline. Hence, it created a delay for the authors to follow.
Having to wait endlessly for the other authors to finish their chapters, with no end in sight, Screwwala started getting impatient. In the meantime, he was offered another proposal from a rival publisher to write a travelogue on a country of his choice, which would involve all-expenses-paid trips. Because of his love for travel, Screwwala felt inclined to accept the offer. However, this would mean getting out of the contract of the detective novel, which could cause a serious friction with Patel.
Which of the following, IF TRUE, will be the MOST compelling reason for Screwwala to continue with the detective-novel project?
Though the project started on time, a few of the authors could not manage to submit their chapters within the given timeline. Hence, it created a delay for the authors to follow.
Having to wait endlessly for the other authors to finish their chapters, with no end in sight, Screwwala started getting impatient. In the meantime, he was offered another proposal from a rival publisher to write a travelogue on a country of his choice, which would involve all-expenses-paid trips. Because of his love for travel, Screwwala felt inclined to accept the offer. However, this would mean getting out of the contract of the detective novel, which could cause a serious friction with Patel.
Which of the following, IF TRUE, will be the MOST compelling reason for Screwwala to continue with the detective-novel project?
Show Hint
- Screwwala believes that he owes it to Patel for the help he has received in his journey as a writer.
- Patel did tell Screwwala that writing the detective novel would test his patience.
- Screwwala is not sure whether writing two books on similar topics consecutively will be well received.
- The rival publisher is not as well-known as Patel.
- Screwwala has already invested considerable time in the detective novel.
The Correct Option is C
Solution and Explanation
Screwwala has been offered a chance to switch projects, but he is unsure whether it would be a good idea, especially since it might not be well received. The other project (detective novel) is already progressing, but the delays in the submission of chapters are causing frustration.
Step 2: Evaluate the options.
- (A) Screwwala may owe Patel for helping him, but this doesn't directly impact his decision to continue with the detective novel.
- (B) Patel told Screwwala that it would test his patience, which might make him feel it’s part of the process, but it doesn't give him enough reason to continue.
- (C) Writing two books on similar topics consecutively could result in a lack of variety in his work and make it harder to attract attention, which is a strong concern for Screwwala.
- (D) The rival publisher not being as well-known as Patel is irrelevant compared to the potential benefits or drawbacks of switching projects.
- (E) While Screwwala has already invested time, this reason alone may not be enough to convince him to stay with the detective novel project.
Step 3: Conclusion.
The best reason for Screwwala to continue with the detective novel project is (C), since he is uncertain whether writing two books on similar topics will be well received, making it a more strategic choice to finish the current project.
While waiting for his turn to come to write his chapter for the detective novel, Screwwala started writing a travel blog. Because of his radiant style, the blog became popular. Hence, he started mulling over converting the blog articles into a book.
When Screwwala shared this idea, Patel sprung a surprise by pointing out to a clause in their contract. The clause forbade Screwwala from publishing anything else until the detective novel got published. Screwwala signed the contract without reading it as he trusted Patel as a good friend. Further, Patel offered Screwwala an extra sum of money if he would delay the publication of his travel blog articles as a book.
Screwwala felt betrayed. Which of the following will be the MOST compelling reason for Screwwala to continue with publishing his blog as a book, ignoring the contract with Patel?
When Screwwala shared this idea, Patel sprung a surprise by pointing out to a clause in their contract. The clause forbade Screwwala from publishing anything else until the detective novel got published. Screwwala signed the contract without reading it as he trusted Patel as a good friend. Further, Patel offered Screwwala an extra sum of money if he would delay the publication of his travel blog articles as a book.
Screwwala felt betrayed. Which of the following will be the MOST compelling reason for Screwwala to continue with publishing his blog as a book, ignoring the contract with Patel?
Show Hint
- Screwwala discovers that Patel replaced an originally contracted author from the project because of Patel’s differences with the author.
- It is never Screwwala’s nature to take it quietly when he realizes that he has been taken unfair advantage of.
- Screwwala feels that most readers who like his writing style are already regular readers of his blog as well.
- The rival publisher is not as well-known as Patel.
- Screwwala is frustrated with the slow progress of the detective novel and has lost interest in it.
The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
Screwwala feels betrayed by Patel, but he needs a strong reason to justify going against the contract. He has the option to continue with his blog book, but he must evaluate the consequences.
Step 2: Evaluate the options.
- (A) Discovering that Patel replaced an author because of his personal differences gives Screwwala a strong reason to feel that Patel is not as trustworthy, making it easier for him to break the contract.
- (B) While it’s true that Screwwala may not tolerate unfair treatment, it doesn’t offer a solid reason to go against Patel's contract, especially considering the legal ramifications.
- (C) Although his readers might be interested in his blog articles as a book, this doesn’t justify violating the contract or disrespecting Patel’s wishes.
- (D) The rival publisher’s lack of fame does not directly impact his decision.
- (E) Although Screwwala is frustrated with the detective novel, this reason alone doesn’t justify breaking the contract.
Step 3: Conclusion.
The best reason for Screwwala to continue with publishing his blog as a book is (A), as the revelation that Patel replaced another author due to personal differences gives him a compelling reason to break the contract.
Top Questions on Statements and Assumptions
Business schools’ (B schools) curriculums are filled with group assignments and case competitions. Even when students have just joined the B schools, corporate houses try 38 to catch good talent early by promising them internships based on case competitions. These competitions involve solving the problems presented by the organizations, analyzing the challenges they currently face, and presenting solutions in a manner that convinces the organizations’ representatives.
For students who are just joining a B school, the capability to actually solve such problems is quite limited. Because of that, the corporate houses generally are more focused on the presentations made by groups. Hence, the groups that communicate better, most often, win these competitions.
Abirami joins MBS, a B school. As a fresher, she believes she needs to learn a lot about how organizations work and wants to work with others who have joined MBS and have work experience.- XAT - 2026
- Decision Making
- Statements and Assumptions
An examination is taken by three kinds of students: Diligent (10%), Lazy (30%) and Confused (60%). Diligent students are 10 times as likely to pass the exam as Lazy students. If 40% of the students who passed the exam are Confused, what is the maximum possible probability that a Confused student passes the exam?
- XAT - 2026
- Decision Making
- Statements and Assumptions
- Recycling bins are placed in a mall and trash volume falls. Which assumption is necessary to claim recycling caused the drop?
- AILET BALLB (Hons.) - 2026
- Logical Reasoning
- Statements and Assumptions
- A company switches to a 4-day workweek and observes no productivity drop. Leaders claim the schedule is efficient. Which assumption is needed to support the leaders' claim?
- AILET BALLB (Hons.) - 2026
- Logical Reasoning
- Statements and Assumptions
- Recruiters prefer candidates from top-tier colleges, believing they perform better. Which assumption underpins this practice?
- AILET BALLB (Hons.) - 2026
- Logical Reasoning
- Statements and Assumptions
Questions Asked in XAT exam
- Arrange the following generations from the oldest to the youngest:
1. Generation X
2. Silent Generation
3. Generation Alpha
4. Baby Boomers
5. Millennials
- XAT - 2026
- Current Affairs
- Read the following scenario and answer the THREE questions that follow.
Brijbhushan, a microfinancier, lends money at the rate of Rs.10 per square meter to small farmers at a village. He charges an annual interest rate of 10%. All the farming plots in that village are rectangular, with areas varying between a minimum of 1000 square meters and a maximum of 10,000 square meters.
This year, Brijbhushan has lent money only to five farmers: Aditya, Binod, Chhuttan, Dabloo and Govind. The perimeter of Chhuttan’s plot is 250 meters, with the length and width being at a ratio of 4:1. Aditya’s plot has an area three times the area of Govind’s plot. The area of Aditya’s plot is also the average of the areas of Govind’s plot and Dabloo’s plot. The plots belonging to Aditya, Binod and Dabloo are of the same width, but of different lengths. Moreover, the length of Binod’s plot is the sum of the lengths of Aditya’s plot and Dabloo’s plot.- XAT - 2026
- Mensuration
Light Chemicals is an industrial paint supplier with presence in three locations: Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru. The sunburst chart below shows the distribution of the number of employees of different departments of Light Chemicals. There are four departments: Finance, IT, HR and Sales. The employees are deployed in four ranks: junior, mid, senior and executive. The chart shows four levels: location, department, rank and gender (M: male, F: female). At every level, the number of employees at a location/department/rank/gender are proportional to the corresponding area of the region represented in the chart.
Due to some issues with the software, the data on junior female employees have gone missing. Notice that there are junior female employees in Mumbai HR, Sales and IT departments, Hyderabad HR department, and Bengaluru IT and Finance departments. The corresponding missing numbers are marked u, v, w, x, y and z in the diagram, respectively.
It is also known that:
a) Light Chemicals has a total of 210 junior employees.
b) Light Chemicals has a total of 146 employees in the IT department.
c) Light Chemicals has a total of 777 employees in the Hyderabad office.
d) In the Mumbai office, the number of female employees is 55.
- XAT - 2026
- Pie Charts
An investment company, Win Lose, recruit's employees to trade in the share market. For newcomers, they have a one-year probation period. During this period, the employees are given Rs. 1 lakh per month to invest the way they see fit. They are evaluated at the end of every month, using the following criteria:
1. If the total loss in any span of three consecutive months exceeds Rs. 20,000, their services are terminated at the end of that 3-month period,
2. If the total loss in any span of six consecutive months exceeds Rs. 10,000, their services are terminated at the end of that 6-month period.
Further, at the end of the 12-month probation period, if there are losses on their overall investment, their services are terminated.
Ratan, Shri, Tamal and Upanshu started working for Win Lose in January. Ratan was terminated after 4 months, Shri was terminated after 7 months, Tamal was terminated after 10 months, while Upanshu was not terminated even after 12 months. The table below, partially, lists their monthly profits (in Rs. ‘000’) over the 12-month period, where x, y and z are masked information.
Note:
• A negative profit value indicates a loss.
• The value in any cell is an integer.
Illustration: As Upanshu is continuing after March, that means his total profit during January-March (2z +2z +0) ≥
Rs.20,000. Similarly, as he is continuing after June, his total profit during January − June ≥
Rs.10,000, as well as his total profit during April-June ≥ Rs.10,000.
- XAT - 2026
- Logical and Analytical Reasoning Skills
- Selvam Tutorials offers exclusive face-to-face evening classes from Monday to Friday for students who are preparing for various entrance exams. Selvam Dindigul, the owner, operates from his ancestral house, situated in the middle of the city. There are several instructors, but each teaches only one of the following courses: quantitative ability, verbal ability and decision making. Selvam usually recruits fresh graduates, or those instructors who are working with other tutorials and seeking a job change. As Selvam Tutorials has been expanding aggressively over the past few years, managing it alone becomes challenging for Selvam. Hence, he recruits Kanmani Guna, his niece, who has an online MBA with specializations in Accountancy and HR, as a manager. He asks Kanmani to introduce modern HR practices at Selvam Tutorials while managing cost effectively.
- XAT - 2026
- Premises