Comprehension
Vimla is the domestic help for Shreya and her neighbour Padma; both live in a posh gated community. Vimla not only cleans the house, but also cooks for both the families. Shreya treasures Vimla ever since she joined her family four years ago. Vimla joined Padma’s household this year.
Question: 1
Vimla is the domestic help for Shreya and her neighbour Padma; both live in a posh gated community. Vimla not only cleans the house, but also cooks for both the families. Shreya treasures Vimla ever since she joined her family four years ago. Vimla joined Padma’s household this year.
One evening Shreya trying to pay the pizza delivery was surprised to find a few five hundred rupee notes missing from her purse that she was sure were there earlier. She wants to ascertain if someone has stolen the money. On reflecting, the following facts crossed her mind:
1. In the last one year, Shreya had noticed cash missing on three occasions.
2. Shreya’s husband also shared that a few notes were missing from his wallet, though he was not sure if they were stolen.
3. Her eldest son had been pestering Shreya for more pocket money for the last three weeks; in the last few days, he had stopped doing so.
4. In the last one year, Vimla had received six mails from her family asking for money.
5. Her eldest son’s expenditure had gone up in the last few days.
Which of the following combinations of the above statements would DECREASE the likelihood that Vimla has stolen the money?
Vimla is the domestic help for Shreya and her neighbour Padma; both live in a posh gated community. Vimla not only cleans the house, but also cooks for both the families. Shreya treasures Vimla ever since she joined her family four years ago. Vimla joined Padma’s household this year.
One evening Shreya trying to pay the pizza delivery was surprised to find a few five hundred rupee notes missing from her purse that she was sure were there earlier. She wants to ascertain if someone has stolen the money. On reflecting, the following facts crossed her mind:
1. In the last one year, Shreya had noticed cash missing on three occasions.
2. Shreya’s husband also shared that a few notes were missing from his wallet, though he was not sure if they were stolen.
3. Her eldest son had been pestering Shreya for more pocket money for the last three weeks; in the last few days, he had stopped doing so.
4. In the last one year, Vimla had received six mails from her family asking for money.
5. Her eldest son’s expenditure had gone up in the last few days.
Which of the following combinations of the above statements would DECREASE the likelihood that Vimla has stolen the money?
2. Shreya’s husband also shared that a few notes were missing from his wallet, though he was not sure if they were stolen.
3. Her eldest son had been pestering Shreya for more pocket money for the last three weeks; in the last few days, he had stopped doing so.
4. In the last one year, Vimla had received six mails from her family asking for money.
5. Her eldest son’s expenditure had gone up in the last few days.
Which of the following combinations of the above statements would DECREASE the likelihood that Vimla has stolen the money?
Show Hint
In reasoning questions, focus on statements that provide \textit{alternative suspects or causes} when asked to decrease the likelihood of one person’s involvement.
Updated On: Aug 23, 2025
- 1 and 3
- 1 and 4
- 1 and 5
- 2 and 4
- 3 and 5
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The Correct Option is
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Identify statements related to Vimla
- (1) and (2) show general missing cash but do not directly point towards or away from Vimla.
- (4) strengthens suspicion against Vimla, since her family has been asking her for money.
Step 2: Identify statements that reduce suspicion on Vimla
- (3) Eldest son had been pestering for more money, but recently stopped. This suggests he might have found another source of money, possibly through theft, which decreases suspicion on Vimla.
- (5) Eldest son’s expenditure has gone up in the last few days, which also points towards the son having unexplained money. Again, this shifts suspicion away from Vimla.
Step 3: Conclusion
The combination of (3) and (5) provides an alternative explanation — the son could be responsible for the missing cash. Therefore, these two statements decrease the likelihood that Vimla stole the money.
\[ \boxed{\text{Correct combination: 3 and 5}} \]
- (1) and (2) show general missing cash but do not directly point towards or away from Vimla.
- (4) strengthens suspicion against Vimla, since her family has been asking her for money.
Step 2: Identify statements that reduce suspicion on Vimla
- (3) Eldest son had been pestering for more money, but recently stopped. This suggests he might have found another source of money, possibly through theft, which decreases suspicion on Vimla.
- (5) Eldest son’s expenditure has gone up in the last few days, which also points towards the son having unexplained money. Again, this shifts suspicion away from Vimla.
Step 3: Conclusion
The combination of (3) and (5) provides an alternative explanation — the son could be responsible for the missing cash. Therefore, these two statements decrease the likelihood that Vimla stole the money.
\[ \boxed{\text{Correct combination: 3 and 5}} \]
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Question: 2
Padma discovered some money missing from her purse. She suspects that Vimla has stolen it. She wants to prevent the stealing from happening again and is contemplating the following actions:
1. She should let it pass, since to err is human.
2. She should confront Vimla and tell her that she knows the truth and the act is unpardonable regardless of her past service and she is thinking of terminating her services.
3. She should tell Vimla that she is aware someone has stolen money from the house but is not sure who it is.
4. She should share with Vimla that neighbours think Vimla has stolen the money; she doesn’t, but is interested in finding out the truth.
5. She should directly ask Vimla if she stole the money, promising her no punishment if she confesses.
Arrange the following combinations of the above actions in the DECREASING order of appropriateness.
Padma discovered some money missing from her purse. She suspects that Vimla has stolen it. She wants to prevent the stealing from happening again and is contemplating the following actions:
1. She should let it pass, since to err is human.
2. She should confront Vimla and tell her that she knows the truth and the act is unpardonable regardless of her past service and she is thinking of terminating her services.
3. She should tell Vimla that she is aware someone has stolen money from the house but is not sure who it is.
4. She should share with Vimla that neighbours think Vimla has stolen the money; she doesn’t, but is interested in finding out the truth.
5. She should directly ask Vimla if she stole the money, promising her no punishment if she confesses.
Arrange the following combinations of the above actions in the DECREASING order of appropriateness.
2. She should confront Vimla and tell her that she knows the truth and the act is unpardonable regardless of her past service and she is thinking of terminating her services.
3. She should tell Vimla that she is aware someone has stolen money from the house but is not sure who it is.
4. She should share with Vimla that neighbours think Vimla has stolen the money; she doesn’t, but is interested in finding out the truth.
5. She should directly ask Vimla if she stole the money, promising her no punishment if she confesses.
Arrange the following combinations of the above actions in the DECREASING order of appropriateness.
Show Hint
In ethics/decision questions, start with non-accusatory, private dialogue; escalate only as needed. Avoid threats and public insinuations unless prior respectful steps fail.
Updated On: Aug 23, 2025
- 1, 5, 4
- 2, 4, 1
- 2, 5, 4
- 3, 5, 4
- 5, 2, 4
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The Correct Option is D
Solution and Explanation
Principles to apply: fairness and due process (no premature accusation), dignity and confidentiality, problem-prevention, and proportionality.
Assessing each action:
(3) States the problem without accusation and opens space for dialogue and fact-finding. This is the \emph{most appropriate} first step—respectful, non-threatening, and fair.
(5) A direct but calm inquiry can follow. Offering amnesty helps surface the truth and allows corrective action; while not ideal in all cases, it is more constructive than blaming or threatening. \emph{Second best}.
(4) Citing neighbours’ suspicions risks gossip and reputational harm; even with the caveat “I don’t think so,” it applies social pressure and weakens confidentiality. It may be used \emph{only after} private conversations fail. \emph{Third}.
(2) Accusatory and punitive upfront; violates due process and escalates conflict—\emph{inappropriate}.
(1) Ignoring the issue enables recurrence and fails the preventive goal—\emph{least appropriate}.
Thus the decreasing order of appropriateness among the given combinations is:
3, 5, 4, which matches option
D.
Final Answer: \[ \boxed{\text{D. 3, 5, 4}} \]
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