Basic Ability Logical Deduction and Syllogisms Questions and Answers

Question 1

Given the following premises, which conclusion creates a valid syllogism?
Premise 1: All novels are books.
Premise 2: Some reference materials are not books.

Accepted Answer

Some reference materials are not novels.

Answer

This is a valid conclusion because it logically follows from the premises. Since all novels are books, and some reference materials are explicitly excluded from the 'books' category, it must be true that those specific reference materials are also not novels. This follows the rule that if a term is distributed in the conclusion, it must be distributed in the premises.

Question 2

A valid categorical syllogism requires three terms: a major term, a minor term, and a middle term. In the syllogism below, what is the middle term?

'All mammals are warm-blooded animals. All whales are mammals. Therefore, all whales are warm-blooded animals.'

Accepted Answer

Mammals

Answer

The middle term is the one that appears in both premises but not in the conclusion. It serves to link the major and minor terms. In this case, 'mammals' connects 'whales' (minor term) and 'warm-blooded animals' (major term).

Question 3

Which of the following describes a syllogistic fallacy?

Statement 1: All dogs are mammals.
Statement 2: All cats are mammals.

Accepted Answer

Concluding 'Therefore, all dogs are cats.'

Answer

This is a syllogistic fallacy known as the 'Fallacy of the Undistributed Middle'. Both 'dogs' and 'cats' are related to 'mammals', but the premises do not establish any direct relationship between dogs and cats. Concluding that all dogs are cats is an invalid deduction.

Question 4

A marketing manager is presented with the following argument:
Premise 1: If we increase our social media budget, our website traffic will increase.
Premise 2: We increased our social media budget.
What is the logically valid conclusion?

Accepted Answer

Our website traffic will increase.

Answer

This scenario demonstrates a conditional syllogism, also known as Modus Ponens. The structure is 'If P, then Q. P is true. Therefore, Q must be true.' Since the condition (increasing the budget) was met, the consequence (increased traffic) logically follows.

Question 5

According to the rules of syllogisms, which of the following combinations of premises is not permitted in a valid argument?

Accepted Answer

Two negative premises

Answer

A fundamental rule of categorical syllogisms is that no valid conclusion can be drawn from two negative premises. If both premises are negative, they state that two things are separate from a third, which does not establish any connection between the first two things.

Basic Ability Test Practice Test

Basic Ability Test Practice Test

Basic Ability Logical Deduction and Syllogisms Questions and Answers