Basic Ability Test Basic Ability Logical Deduction and Syllogisms 2

Question 1

All mammals are warm-blooded. Whales are mammals. Which conclusion is valid?

Accepted Answer

Whales are warm-blooded

Answer

The syllogism directly concludes that whales, being mammals, must be warm-blooded.

Question 2

No reptiles are warm-blooded. Lizards are reptiles. What follows?

Accepted Answer

Lizards are not warm-blooded

Answer

Since no reptiles are warm-blooded and lizards are reptiles, lizards are not warm-blooded.

Question 3

If today is Tuesday, then tomorrow is Wednesday. Today is not Tuesday. What can you conclude?

Accepted Answer

Nothing can be concluded about tomorrow

Answer

Denying the antecedent is a logical fallacy; you cannot conclude anything about tomorrow without more information.

Question 4

Some athletes are vegetarians. All vegetarians avoid red meat. Which conclusion must be true?

Accepted Answer

Some athletes avoid red meat

Answer

The athletes who are vegetarians must also avoid red meat, so at least some athletes avoid it.

Question 5

Every square is a rectangle. Figure X is not a rectangle. What follows?

Accepted Answer

Figure X is not a square

Answer

If every square is a rectangle and X is not a rectangle, then X cannot be a square.

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