UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

A compound statement is formed when simpler statements are joined using logical connectives such as conjunction, disjunction or conditional. Its overall truth value depends on the truth values of the component statements and the nature of the connective. Propositional logic studies how these complex statements behave. Hence the kind of statement described in the stem is correctly called a compound statement.

Option A:
Option A, atomic statement, denotes a simple statement that is not built up from other statements and contains no logical connectives. It is the basic building block from which compound statements are constructed. Therefore it does not fit the description of being made from two or more simpler statements.

Option B:
Option B is correct because compound statements result from combining atomic propositions with connectives like “and” or “if...then”. Their complexity and truth conditions arise precisely from this combination, which is what the question highlights.

Option C:
Option C, predicate, is a term from predicate logic that refers to a property or relation that can be affirmed of objects. It is not itself the name for a whole statement constructed from simpler statements.

Option D:
Option D, categorical proposition, belongs to traditional logic and has the form “All S are P” or similar; although it can be complex, it is not defined simply by the presence of truth-functional connectives joining multiple simpler statements.

Statement C is wrong because in standard truth-functional logic the conditional “if p then q” is false precisely when p is true and q is false, not when p is false and q is true. Statements A and B correctly describe the conditions for truth of conjunction and inclusive disjunction, while D accurately explains the biconditional and E states the essential idea that compound truth values depend on component truth values. Hence, C alone is the incorrect statement, so the option that lists only C is correct.

Option A:
Option A is correct since it identifies C as the sole misstatement and implicitly accepts A, B, D and E as standard truth-table definitions. It preserves the conventional semantics of implication while rejecting the inverted condition given in C.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it also labels A as wrong, even though A correctly states that “p and q” is true only when both components are true. Treating A as incorrect contradicts the fundamental definition of conjunction.

Option C:
Option C is wrong because it adds D to the set of wrong statements, even though D accurately characterises “if and only if” as true when p and q share the same truth value. Including D among wrong statements undermines correct understanding of biconditional.

Option D:
Option D is also incorrect because by pairing B with C it misclassifies B, which correctly explains that inclusive “or” is false exactly when both disjuncts are false. This combination therefore rejects a correct connective rule.