A recent survey shows that 60% of tobacco users were advised to stop consuming tobacco. The survey also shows that 3 out of 10 tobacco users attempted to stop using tobacco. Based only on the information in the above passage, which one of the following options can be logically inferred with certainty? A. A majority of tobacco users who were advised to stop consuming tobacco made an attempt to do so. B. A majority of tobacco users who were advised to stop consuming tobacco did not attempt to do so. C. Approximately 30% of tobacco users successfully stopped consuming tobacco. D. Approximately 30% of tobacco users successfully stopped consuming tobacco.

GATE 2023 · General Aptitude · Logical Reasoning · medium

Answer: B. A majority of tobacco users who were advised to stop consuming tobacco did not attempt to do so.

1. Assign numbers for clarity: Suppose 100 total tobacco users. Advised = 60. Attempted = 30.
2. Analyse option A: A claims majority of the 60 advised made an attempt. At most 30 of the 60 attempted (since only 30 total attempted). 30/60 = 50% — that is NOT a majority (majority requires > 50%). So A is not certain.
3. Analyse option B: B claims majority of the 60 advised did NOT attempt. At least 30 of the 60 did not attempt (= 50%), and likely more. Since the passage does not say all 30 who attempted were from the advised group, the number of advised who attempted is at most 30, so at least 30 of 60 = at least 50% did not attempt. This is a majority. B is always true.
4. Eliminate C and D: C and D both mention 'successfully stopped consuming tobacco'. The passage never mentions success rates, only attempts. No inference about success can be made with certainty.